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My Car Check Trade motorcycle market overview July 2015

My Car Check Trade motorcycle market overview July 2015

Strong growth in new market and signs of used demand weakening

 

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"Growth has been largely driven by the adventure sport and naked style categories, with a better showing from the supersport sector than many expected."-Rob Hobson

My Car Check Tradeis the trade valuations arm of CDL Vehicle Information Services. Based on cutting-edge industry data and feedback from independent and franchised dealers, these monthly bulletins highlight the most significant trends in the UK motorbike and scooter markets.

My Car Check Trade's motorcycle expert, Rob Hobson, commented:"With six months of the year already behind us, it is worth considering how 2015 is going. The new market continues to record strong growth. Up to the end of May, 47,837 new bikes had been registered, an increase of 11.3% year on year.

"This growth has been largely driven by the adventure sport and naked style categories, with a better showing from the supersport sector than many expected. Perhaps the surprise is that both the sport tour and tour sectors are down slightly. A positive note, as far as dealer profit and turnover is concerned, is that five of the top ten individual models are over 750cc. A few years ago this chart was packed with 125cc models.

"A particularly interesting aspect, considering that Honda continues to be the leading brand in terms of numbers in this country, is the response from its network to the recent NMDA dealer survey. This showed a level of concern about the overall performance of the franchise.

"Elsewhere, there is talk of a need to conform to standards, such as new floor tiles, for dealers wanting to continue with a certain brand. While image is important, perhaps ripping up perfectly good flooring shouldn't be a priority in what is still a pretty difficult marketplace.

"As far as the used market is concerned, it does seem to have gone a little bit flat over recent weeks. Although there is still demand for used stock, there is a feeling that retail demand has weakened slightly.

"The Isle Of Man TT period is often cited as a key point in the year as far as workshop demand and sales are concerned. The popularity of the event continues to grow and the fantastic sight of a whole range of bikes, from 125cc to super exotica, rolling off the ferries certainly highlights what the bike market is all about.

"We have not made any major changes to values for this month, although anything bought now will need to be retailed quickly, or at least kept an eye on, as we expect demand to slow as we head into the second half of the year.

"Despite the likely fall in demand, we don't foresee any major changes ahead in terms of values, simply due to the limited number of clean, low mileage used bikes available. We expect more private sales as normal as the year progresses and, while traders may try their luck with reduced bids, most buyers will have to pay the going rate to own them."

My Car Check Trade provides buyers and sellers with all the vehicle price data they need: ready to retail, trade, average, retail and Cat D. As a free bonus, it also provides the annual road tax cost and key DVLA information, including the make, model, colour, engine size, body style, fuel type and date of registration.

Simply enter a car, van or motorcycle registration and the vehicle's mileage to get an accurate valuation and additional information in an instant. Once signed up you can check as many vehicles as you like at no extra cost.