Motorcycle Overview July 2019

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders have reported that car registrations fell 4.6% in May and the year to date are negative to the tune of 3.1%. So in the great scheme of things as we see below, at the moment our industry is holding its own.

The registration numbers for the first quarter of the year in the EU are now available. Comparing our domestic total PTW market to the others in the big five sees us in growth of 10% (27,131) registrations, but the lowest increase, with France on 61,939 (up 31.6%), Italy with 58,672 (up 17.2%), Germany 46,883 (up 15.7%)  and Spain 41.131 (up 20.5%).

New Market

After the early part of the year saw upbeat numbers released from the MCIA, there has been the first negative monthly return of the year. This year the 10,871 was a reduction of 61 units (-0.6%). For a change the increase in Mopeds registrations was an increase, as is the Y-T-D on 21.6%. When comparing the month and Y-T-D figures, there is generally some consistency over the different styles, the only exception being Adventure Sport, which has the largest growth in the year so far, but has reduced very slightly for the month bring reviewed (May). Perhaps nothing to drastic should be read into this as there has been several new models, plus a leap in the model it replaced and pre-reg by some manufacturers have already placed the sector in a 15.5% win position during the first third of the year.

May 2019 and Year to Date - New Registrations by Style

Mopeds	Registrations		%	Market Share (%)		Year to date		YTD	Market Share (%)
	May-19	May-18	Change	May-19	May-18	2019	2018	% Change	2019	2018
Scooter	400	378	5.8%	82.1%	83.1%	1,905	1,610	18.3%	81.3%	83.5%
Other	87	77	13.0%	17.9%	16.9%	439	317	38.5%	18.7%	16.5%
Totals	487	455	7.0%	100.0%	100.0%	2,344	1,927	21.6%	100.0%	100.0%

Machines in the 51-125cc lightweight and 126-650cc middleweight categories were still showing increases in line with the Y-T-D numbers, with respective rises of 7% (to 3,273) and 12.2% (to 2,092), but the larger capacities dropped with 651-1000cc loosing 11.9% (to 2,743) and over-1000cc with a loss of 7% (to 2,248). Although some explanation could be down to a couple of styles predominantly featuring in the larger capacities. Custom down 24.9% and touring a negative 25.4% are types that would see early season purchases as opposed to riders replacing half way through the year.

May 2019 and Year to Date - New Registrations by Engine Band

Engine Band	Registrations		%	Market Share (%)		Year to date		YTD	Market Share (%)
	May-19	May-18	Change	May-19	May-18	2019	2018	% Change	2019	2018
0-50cc	515	476	8.2%	4.7%	4.4%	2,454	2,018	21.6%	5.1%	4.5%
51-125cc	3,273	3,058	7.0%	30.1%	28.0%	13,817	12,690	8.9%	28.9%	28.4%
126-650cc	2,092	1,865	12.2%	19.2%	17.1%	10,479	9,056	15.7%	21.9%	20.3%
651-1000cc	2,743	3,115	-11.9%	25.2%	28.5%	10,982	10,744	2.2%	23.0%	24.0%
Over 1000cc	2,248	2,418	-7.0%	20.7%	22.1%	10,090	10,187	-1.0%	21.1%	22.8%
Total Registrations	10,871	10,932	-0.6%	100.0%	100.0%	47,822	44,695	7.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Perhaps a model new in the choice for the naked, retro or custom type buyer and yet still affordable should come as no surprise that after a much awaited launch that was slightly delayed in supply, has hit the charts for three months on the trot. Not reading long term changes in the top dog for the type is difficult to avoid, but remember it’s early yet. That said the new kid on the block in the form of Royal Enfield’s new twin Interceptor is having a good time at the moment.

May 2019 and Year to Date - Highest Registering Model by Style

Mopeds	Highest Registering Model by style	May-19
Scooter	Lexmoto ECHO 50	86
Other	Lexmoto HUNTER 50 TD 50 Q	16

Motorcycles	Highest Registering Model by style	May-19
Adventure Sport	Honda CRF 1000	178
Custom	Harley-Davidson SPORTSTER X 1200	61
Naked	Royal Enfield INTERCEPTOR INT 650	144
Scooter	Honda PCX 125	281
Sport/Tour	Kawasaki Z1000 SX	172
Supersport	Honda CBR 650 R	94
Touring	BMW R 1250 RT	48
TRAIL/ENDURO	KTM 300 EXC TPI	95

Tricycles	Highest Registering Model by style	May-19
SCOOTER	Piaggio MP3 300 YOURBAN LT	9
OTHER	Harley-Davidson TRI GLIDE ULTRA 1868	8

May 2019 - Highest Registering Model by Engine Size

Engine Band	Highest Registering Model by Engine Band	May-19
0-50cc	Lexmoto ECHO 50	86
51-125cc	Honda PCX 125	281
126-650cc	Royal Enfield INTERCEPTOR INT 650	144
651-1000cc	Honda CRF 1000	178
Over 1000cc	Kawasaki Z1000 SX	172

May 2019 - New Registrations by Brand

Major Brands	May-19
Honda	2,102
Yamaha	1,201
Triumph	1,010
Kawasaki	788
BMW	773
KTM	620
Lexmoto	596
Suzuki	544
Harley-Davidson	500
Ducati	372

Used Market

The sentiment from research over the last month has not really kick up much difference in opinion than the previous few months, it’s not bad, it’s not fantastic and in the main most are saying it’s just ok. Stock is not mentioned as a problem and as we are now in July, the weather has been poor and talk is of stock management becoming more important as the sands of time inevitability fall to the imminent slowdown of autumn. That said there is as yet no negative opinion to the reported prices at the moment and no talk as yet of adjustments down, just some care in not paying too much. With dealer feedback and auction results taken into consideration there are no major sweeping changes in the reported prices this month.

Auctions

As with dealer research, the auctions taking place over the last month are not pointing to any major shift in any overall movement in stock prices. As always at this time of year the quality of dealer entries are low, as rarely would quality stock be disposed of within the trade while there is still a chance of finding a retail customer. The quality entries are the ones from big dealer groups where a car type stock control is in operation and time limits for bikes held in stock are applied. The exception of course being finance house disposals, the main being Black Horse. The quality of these due to the possibility they are PCP handbacks are high and when added to the BMW entries the 2016 registered models account for 130 of the 154 sold units. Not jumping the gun and saying these are all end of contract returns, but only a handful have over 10k on the odometer and are with the exception of a couple, clean and ready for retail. The end result from the sale at BCA Peterborough was 101% of CAP mileage/ condition adjusted figures with 91% of the offered, selling.

End Notes

On the back of talk in the media about climate targets for the UK and the odd mention of electric PTW in this section this month’s end notes are dedicated to the EV talk around in very recent times. It's worth a mention about performance increases that could have concerned some potential users in the past. A new lap record for Mugen in the TT Zero in the hands of Michael Rutter, during the race he went through the Sulby speed traps at 176mph, which is faster than the Supersport bikes from earlier that day.

The sale of EV’s in the first quarter of the year around the EU make for interesting reading as to where they are being used, or not.  Looking at the new registrations around the EU there is a distinct difference between countries who look to be playing the game, or not. Currently the UK are in the “Nots”. Could this be the type of users in the different countries’ perhaps? Or the availability of charge points? Perhaps there needs to be incentives in place to “force” users to EV’s. In Finland where hydro-electric is the preferred generation method and electricity costs are reasonable, the government has been promoting EV use for over twenty years now. The following are the incentives in place: no purchase /import tax since 1990, exempt from VAT since 2001, 50% reduced company car tax and exemption from VAT on leasing payments since 2015. Add on no road tolls for EV since1997 or ferries from 2009, free municipal parking since 1999 and bus lane access since 2005 and perhaps saving the planet for some, is attracting the masses by saving money! Ok this is cars, the leisure users in this country are perhaps not concerned with saving a couple of quid on the fortnightly trip to a burger van, but with the right incentives and accessibility perhaps commuting types would be open to change. Charge points in UK 18,200, France 25,000 and Netherlands 37,000 do have to go some way to explaining the registration differences.

Cumulative registrations of mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles in the EU only electric vehicles January - March 2019 ( - data not available)

Country	Mopeds Q1 2018	Mopeds Q1 2019	Change %	Motorcycles Q1 2018	Motorcycles Q1 2019	Change %	Quadricycles Q1 2018	Quadricycles Q1 2019
Austria	151	213	141%	46	116	252%	0	0
Belgium	1,366	2,474	181%	34	59	174%	72	94
Bulgaria	-	-		-	-		-	-
Croatia	14	36	257%	1	1	100%	2	12
Cyprus	-	-		-	-		-	-
Czech Republic	16	88	550%	13	18	138%	7	42
Denmark	81	-		1	-		0	-
Estonia	-	-		-	-		-	-
Finland	37	103	278%	1	3	300%	1	1
France	1,570	3,726	237%	366	581	159%	214	100
Germany	-	-		173	504	291%	131	146
Greece	-	-		2	8	400%	26	13
Hungary	1	2	200%	6	3	50%	1	3
Ireland	2	4	200%	0	0		1	11
Italy	310	521	168%	146	245	168%	148	135
Latvia	1	7	700%	0	0		0	1
Lithuania	1	14	1400%	0	0		0	1
Luxembourg	6	44	733%	7	3	43%	1	4
Malta	-	-		-	-		-	-
Netherlands	1,574	2,448	156%	129	150	116%	0	0
Poland	167	306	183%	7	26	371%	2	5
Portugal	0	24		4	5	125%	0	0
Romania	-	-		-	-		-	-
Slovakia	-	-		-	-		-	-
Slovenia	6	21	350%	1	3	300%	17	12
Spain	919	1,087	118%	309	502	162%	47	43
Sweden	-	-		5	20	400%	60	76
UK	89	139	156%	34	48	141%	-	-
TOTAL	6,311	11,257	178%	1,285	2,295	179%	730	699

Recently a new patent applications filed by BMW could be pointing to a new scooter based on the principle of the C1 roofed scooter. Never a big seller at the time perhaps due to being before its time, it was much talked about particularly innovations not the “norm”, roofs and seatbelts spring to mind. This time though it’s electric. With safety features and perhaps a licence class that allows a car driver to use it, the threat of increasing low emission zones around the country might see it more favourably received twenty years on from the original C1 which was only offered between 2000 and 2002. Shock of its appearance and the £4k price tag (a sizable lump at the turn of the century) didn’t help sales, but times move on and the manufacturer has continued with it current electric model (C Evolution) despite a slow take-up, so perhaps this time it might have a bigger audience. They also have filed a patent for a front hub mounted electric drive system, which could possibly be mounted to their future GS adventure bikes.

Yamaha in conjunction with Taiwanese e-scooter maker Gogoro are developing the EC-05, which will feature removable batteries for quick, road side swaps. Apparently almost all of the inner-workings of the new bike, including the powertrain, have been designed and built by Gogoro, with Yamaha focusing on the design of the bike. It will only be available in Taiwan on release in August with the rest of the world TBA. Gogoro have a 97% share of the electric scooter market in their domestic market and are already in Berlin and Paris courtesy of ride sharing apps, so perhaps we’ll see a few from the first of the “big four” sooner rather than later.

Zero Motorcycles recently opened its first exclusive showroom in Europe in the centre of Barcelona and will stock the American brand's full range of motorcycles, accessories and official apparel line.

More locally to us, after a recent announcement for crowdfunding, Arc, the manufacturer of "the world’s most advanced electric motorcycle", has now opened for public investment. There has apparently been more than 2,000 expressions of interest and the boost in investment through a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in St Athan, South Wales will add to the backing of a number of blue-chip investors, including Jaguar Land Rover’s Venture Capital fund InMotion Ventures.

Finally it’s not often motorcycling gets any sort of positive press in this country, but in the Queen's birthday honours list serial adventure rider Nick Sanders was made an MBE for his services to endurance cycling and motorcycling. He has been an adventurer for 33 years recording and documenting the journeys for books and film. Amongst his achievements, in 2005 he completed a world record motorcycle circumnavigation of the world in 19 days and four hours. He has ridden around the world seven times and rode a motorcycle the length of the Americas eight times and currently holds the record for a double transit from Alaska to Ushuaia and back which took 46 days.