Motorcycling's UK numbers tell a story

I've been riding since I was six, starting off-road. I passed my test 36 years ago, raced Supersport at club level and spent the 2000s competing in a UK 8-hour endurance series. So when the meeting summary from the MCIA's All Special Member Group meeting landed in my inbox, Here's a summary and my thoughts.

More bikes in use than in recent years

The UK motorcycle and scooter parc is at its highest level in recent years. New registrations dipped in 2025, but the forecast for 2026 is up, and scooters are leading the recovery.

Most of the volume is in used bikes, which outsell new by a wide margin. For dealers and the aftermarket, that ownership cycle matters as much as the showroom.

The rider base is getting older

Most licence holders are now in their fifties or older. I'm one of them. Without new riders coming through, the total number of licence holders is set to shrink over the next two decades.

There is good news underneath. Test passes are rising, most new licences go to riders under 40, and the number of women getting their licence is growing fast.

Licensing is holding growth back

The route to a road licence looks very different now from when I took my test. MCIA calls licensing reform its number one ask. Its proposals are ready and the consultation has closed. The hold-up is political.

A slow, complex route to a licence has a cost. The police presentation on e-mobility made the point that without a practical legal route, otherwise law-abiding people end up riding illegally.

The illegal market is filling the gap

Seizures of illegal e-bikes and e-scooters are running into the thousands in London alone. Fires linked to these vehicles are a growing concern. Imports tested at UK ports have been found dangerous, and some are capable of motorway speeds.

ACC Nick Caveney's message was clear: policing cannot enforce its way out of a badly regulated market. He wants a legal gateway, point-of-sale registration and accountability for suppliers.

Two wheels make sense right now

Motorcycles and scooters take up less road space, produce fewer emissions and cost less to run. The cost of living and higher fuel prices are helping to grow the market. Two wheels are still the only mode of transport with no purchase support.

Your helmet matters more than its price

Racing taught me that a helmet is the last thing to compromise on. The data makes the same case for road riders.

Although riders represented just 0.9% of overall traffic throughout 2025, they accounted for 25.1% of fatalities, claiming 386 lives. Head trauma causes 38% of these catastrophic injuries.

The DfT's SHARP scheme, run by TRL, has tested more than 670 helmets over nearly 20 years. Its findings show price is a poor guide to safety. In one TRL study, a £64.99 helmet scored five stars and a £190 helmet scored one. Check the rating at sharp.dft.gov.uk before you buy.

Resilient, stable, positive

That was MCIA's own summary, and the trends support it. The harder part is what happens next.

The riders the industry needs are already showing up. More are under 40, more are women, and rising costs are drawing people to two wheels as practical transport. That changes who you're talking to and what they need to hear.

For brands and dealers, it means meeting newer riders on their terms: affordable, practical and safe. With used bikes outselling new by a wide margin, many will start in the used market, not the showroom.

For the industry as a whole, it means backing licensing reform with one voice. Every rider pushed towards an illegal e-bike is a customer the legitimate market has lost, and a risk on the road.

I started on two wheels at six and I've never stopped. The next generation deserves the same chance, with a clearer, safer route to the road.