Smaller motorbikes are proving to be big business in a flat market that has seen buyers deterred by the iffy weather and distracted by the general election and Euros football.
Total UK motorbike sales, excluding mopeds and three-wheelers, were 0.8% down at 58,888 in the first half of this year.
Modern classic, adventure and faired sport road motorbikes all showed sales gains, at the expense of others.
The latest Motor Cycle Industry Association statistics show one sector is showing significant growth.
The 126 to 500cc class saw sales for the first half of the year up 23.7% to 11,498 registrations. All the other capacity classes showed dips but at least they were in single figures.
This successful sector is outsold only by the 51 to 125cc class which includes lots of learner-friendly scooter-commuters.
Dave Willis said the market was a little down on last year and sales had not been helped by the mixed weather, Euros football, general election and Olympics.
“Some people’s minds have been elsewhere,” he said.
“But, in a flat market, one sector has outperformed the rest and that is the mid-capacity range of motorbikes.”
The boosts in mid-capacity and modern classic motorbikes, the latter up 15.8% to 7,457 registrations in the first six months, are dominated by new Triumph 400s and Royal Enfield’s 350s and new Himalayan.
These mid-capacity machines are proving popular with new A2 licence-holders, and riders returning to two wheels, looking for affordable fun and older riders downsizing their motorbike or wanting a second, or even third, daily runabout bike.
Look at the monthly PCP payments and you can see their appeal.
Our brands are also looking to reap the rewards of this sales trend.
Kawasaki is well placed with the new Z500, Ninja 500 and Eliminator 500 which share a 451cc engine, which also goes into the new Z 7 and Ninja 7 Hybrids.
And the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR 400 has been a huge hit with buyers.
Meanwhile, KTM offers the 390 Duke, Adventure and RC390 and there are more models on the way.
Suzuki is currently limited to the Burgman 400 scooter.
We also take in mid-capacity used models from most manufacturers as trade-ins so are well placed to meet this new demand.
Manufacturers will also be aware of the success of the sub-500 sector and looking to get in on the act.
“Hopefully it might encourage them to bring some motorbikes into the UK that we don’t currently get in this market,” he added.
Visit orwell.co.uk to link to our new bike franchises and orwell.co.uk/used-bikes-ipswich to see our used bikes which include sub-500 models.