Talk about ending the year with a bang. The latest MCIA figures have dropped and they’re painting an extraordinary picture. Modern Classic motorcycle sales didn’t just grow in December – they blasted off, with a stratospheric 302.7% leap that put 1,486 new heritage-inspired machines on UK roads.
Against the backdrop of UK motorcycle dealership closures and flat growth, the retro segment has utterly dominated in December from a growth perspective.
Even Adventure bikes, traditionally the heavy hitters, had to settle for a comparatively modest 103.5% bump with 2,277 units. It’s at the intersection of spooked wheels and selective riding modes, where the action was.
Total Motorcycle Sales UK, 2024
December 2024’s total registrations reached 11,206 units for all motorcycles in the UK. That’s more than double the previous year’s figure. Commenting on the figures Symon Cook, Head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) said “… the December surge helped total registrations for 2024 surpass those of 2023”. The final flourish pushed total UK motorcycle registrations to 116,399, narrowly beating 2023’s numbers by 2.5%. Honda retained its crown with 1,923 December sales, followed by Yamaha (928) and Suzuki (848).
However, it’s the surge in the Modern Classic numbers that’s as sweet as the burbling note of a 270° cranked, British twin with an aftermarket exhaust. It’s perhaps a statement about what matters more to today’s riders — especially new riders.
In a world obsessed with the next big thing, there’s something deeply satisfying about machines that embrace the past and offer a purer (nearly) gadget-free riding experience – where BHP and CC matter not.
As we kick off 2025, the message from riders to manufacturers is crystal clear – ‘… give us something with character’. And if manufacturers are listening, we can expect many more retro machines laying rubber on asphalt in the coming year and beyond.
Stay tuned in 2025 as Renchlist delves deeper into what’s making this segment tick.
