The UK motorcycle registrations September 2026 figures show total registrations up 6.8 per cent year on year. The petrol-engined 51 to 125cc band grew by 17.0 per cent, ahead of the overall market. Source: MCIA.
What is the headline from the September 2026 figures?
Total registrations reached 12,111 in September 2026, compared with 11,335 in September 2025, up 6.8 per cent. This total covers motorcycles, mopeds and tricycles, with scooters included within those categories rather than added separately. From January to September, registrations totalled 87,685, against 76,649 over the same period in 2025, up 14.4 per cent. Source: MCIA.
Within those totals, motorcycles accounted for 11,477 registrations in September, against 10,788 a year earlier, up 6.4 per cent. Their January to September total was 83,775, compared with 72,996, up 14.8 per cent. These motorcycle registrations form part of the overall market total, not an additional count. Source: MCIA.
Moped registrations reached 568 in September, compared with 486 a year earlier, up 16.9 per cent. From January to September, they totalled 3,424, against 3,224, up 6.2 per cent. Tricycles recorded 66 registrations in September, up 8.2 per cent. Source: MCIA.
For earlier coverage in this series, read our August registrations report and July registrations report.
In MCIA’s release of 7 October 2026, Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA, said the association would ‘urge the government to respond positively as it considers the review of rider licensing and training’.
Is the learner 51 to 125cc band still growing?
Yes. The petrol-engined 51 to 125cc band recorded 3,752 registrations in September, against 3,207 a year earlier, up 17.0 per cent. This was faster than the overall market’s 6.8 per cent increase. After growing more slowly than the market in August, the band was ahead again this month. From January to September, registrations reached 27,519, compared with 22,271, up 23.6 per cent and ahead of the overall market’s 14.4 per cent growth. Source: MCIA.
For learners and commuters in London and Hertfordshire, these UK figures give context, not a measure of local training demand. They count registered vehicles, not new learners. Keep your planning focused on the journeys you intend to make and the skills you need to develop.
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) is training, not a test. Read about our CBT courses in London when planning your training, or our CBT guide for delivery riders when considering delivery work.
What do September’s best-selling bikes tell us?
The Honda PCX 125 was September’s best-selling model overall, with 272 registrations. The Honda CB 125 F was the best-selling naked motorcycle, with 206, and the BMW R 1300 GS was the best-selling adventure motorcycle, with 201. Source: MCIA.
Scooters of all sizes recorded 2,667 registrations in September, compared with 2,558 a year earlier, up 4.3 per cent. From January to September, registrations totalled 19,339, against 17,177, up 12.6 per cent. These scooters are already included within the overall registration figures, and the scooter total is not a count of learner machines alone. Source: MCIA.
For a new rider, the practical training question is: ‘Should I learn on an automatic or a geared bike?’ Start with the type of machine you intend to ride and your previous experience, rather than a model’s position in the registration figures. Discuss any uncertainty with us before choosing your training.
An automatic does not require you to operate a manual clutch or select gears. Learning on a geared motorcycle includes practising how to coordinate those controls when moving off and changing speed. In either case, make time to develop observation, braking and low-speed control. A registration ranking cannot tell you which bike suits you or how much practice you need.
Where is the strongest growth in the wider market?
Competition motorcycle registrations reached 572 in September, compared with 450 a year earlier, up 27.1 per cent. From January to September, registrations totalled 4,564, up 22.5 per cent on the same period in 2025. Source: MCIA.
Naked motorcycles recorded 2,417 registrations in September, against 2,114 a year earlier, up 14.3 per cent. Their January to September total was 17,727, up 15.2 per cent. Source: MCIA.
Adventure motorcycles recorded 2,964 registrations in September, compared with 2,858 a year earlier, up 3.7 per cent. From January to September, registrations totalled 20,205, up 23.4 per cent. Source: MCIA.
Among petrol-engined capacity bands, the 126 to 500cc band recorded 2,169 registrations in September, against 1,937 a year earlier, up 12.0 per cent. The 751 to 1000cc band reached 2,585, compared with 2,098, up 23.2 per cent. Source: MCIA.
Other capacity bands fell. Petrol-engined registrations in the 501 to 750cc band totalled 1,218 in September, down 6.0 per cent. The over 1000cc band recorded 1,618, against 2,054 a year earlier, down 21.2 per cent. Source: MCIA.
Growth was uneven across the market. Body styles and engine-capacity bands are different views of registrations, so their totals must not be added together.
You may start with CBT and later decide to become a full-licence rider. That is a personal goal, not a prediction based on registration figures. Read about our DAS full motorcycle licence training when considering that next step.
What happened to electric registrations?
Electric registrations fell both in September and over the year to date. September recorded 284 registrations, compared with 347 a year earlier, down 18.2 per cent. From January to September, registrations totalled 2,251, against 2,541 in the same period in 2025, down 11.4 per cent. These are overall electric registration figures, not a motorcycle-only total. Source: MCIA.
Within the electric total, motorcycles up to 11kW recorded 174 registrations in September, against 238 a year earlier, down 26.9 per cent. From January to September, registrations reached 1,500, compared with 1,729, down 13.2 per cent. Source: MCIA.
Petrol-engined registrations totalled 11,827 in September, up 7.6 per cent year on year. Source: MCIA.
Keep these market movements separate from the question of which machine suits your journey. Consider your route, the riding you intend to do and, for an electric machine, how charging would fit into your routine. Registration figures do not answer those practical questions for you.
The CBT and licence rules continue to apply to electric mopeds and motorcycles according to their vehicle category and power, as explained in our electric moped licence and CBT guide.
What does this mean for someone commuting in London?
Start by deciding what the bike is for: travelling to work, local trips or a mixture of journeys. Think about your route and when you will travel, and read our London Commuting Cost Index when comparing your commuting options.
Understand the licence route for the machine you intend to ride, and discuss your previous experience with us before booking. Explore our seven training centres in London and Hertfordshire when planning where to train.
Train for the conditions your commute may involve, including busy junctions, low-speed traffic, wet roads and riding after dark. Discuss these with your instructor and identify where you need more practice.
Frequently asked questions
Did UK motorcycle registrations rise in September 2026?
Yes. Total registrations of motorcycles, mopeds and tricycles reached 12,111, against 11,335 in September 2025, up 6.8 per cent. Within that total, motorcycle registrations rose 6.4 per cent to 11,477, from 10,788. Scooters are included within these categories, not added separately. Source: MCIA.
Is the 51 to 125cc market growing faster than the overall market?
Yes. The petrol-engined 51 to 125cc band grew by 17.0 per cent in September, compared with 6.8 per cent for the overall market. From January to September, its growth was 23.6 per cent, against the market’s 14.4 per cent. August’s monthly comparison was the reverse: the band grew more slowly than the overall market. It was ahead again in September, without that alone establishing a trend. Source: MCIA.
Which was the best-selling motorcycle in the UK in September 2026?
The Honda PCX 125 was the best-selling model overall, with 272 registrations. The Honda CB 125 F was the best-selling naked motorcycle, with 206, and the BMW R 1300 GS was the best-selling adventure motorcycle, with 201. These rankings are not advice on which bike to choose. Source: MCIA.
Did electric registrations rise in September 2026?
No. Overall electric registrations fell to 284 in September, against 347 a year earlier, down 18.2 per cent. From January to September, they totalled 2,251, compared with 2,541 in the same period in 2025, down 11.4 per cent. Electric registrations therefore fell both in the month and year to date. These are overall electric figures, not a motorcycle-only total. Source: MCIA.
