Record year for new bike sales!

Motorcycle dealers have had a year to remember as 2014 was confirmed as the UK motorcycle industry’s most successful year since 2009, in terms of new bike sales. And the UK's best-selling motorcycle? That's the Honda CBF125.

According to the most recent set of new registration statistics, distributed by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), 101,277 new bikes were registered during the last 12 months.

The impressive sales figures for 2014 are an increase of more than 10% on 2013 with the strongest growth being seen in the 651 - 1,000cc sector which has seen almost 20,000 new bike sales in 2014. Healthy but not nearly as vibrant as the most popular sector which is, no prizes for guessing, 51 - 125cc whose 37,905 sales is equal to a 37.4% market share.

Five of the top six models sold in 2014 were 125cc machines with Honda’s trusty, A1 licence friendly and huge mpg earning CBF 125 taking the top spot closely followed by its twist-and-go stable mate, the Honda PCX 125.

In fact, Japanese bikes take eight of the top ten places in the highest seller list with only BMW’s R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure getting among them.

Commuters are clearly a key market for new bike sales, a statement which is backed by the fact that Greater London was the area responsible for the highest number of new bike sales, with 12% of them attributed to the UK capital.

2014 Best-Selling Bikes

There is also an upward trend for the number of powered two wheelers (PTWs) being used on the road.  Government statistics show the number of PTWs licensed for the road has increased to 1,326,500 – the highest figure registered for 5 years, and nearly double the number on the road in 1994

Did you buy a new bike last year? If so, which one did you choose?