2024 has seen a big change in UK motorcycle buying habits. For years, decades almost, after sub-125cc scooters (which remain the best-selling category due to their easy accessibility as A1 machines making them ‘go-to’s for both learners, commuters, and delivery riders) big adventure bikes, headed by BMW’s R1250GS, have been the best-selling bikes of all.

But, not anymore...

According to the latest registration figures provided by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA), while overall sales have declined slightly, as have those for sub-125s, 751-1000cc bikes and 1000cc+ machines, one capacity class stands out for a big RISE in popularity – 125-500s, which includes a raft of hugely popular new 400s.

To be specific, according to MCIA figures, overall UK bike sales for 2024 up to the end of November are slightly down, at 101,662, compared to 104,548 in 2023.

Within that, 50-125cc remains the best-selling capacity class, totalling 33,436 (although that’s down 6.5% from 35,757). Last year’s second most popular class, 751-1000cc, is also down by 7.4% from 18,900 to 17,507. All whilst the third biggest selling category, the 1000cc+, is also down - this time by 10.8% from 17,754 to 15,880 registrations.

Triumph Speed 400

But wait for it—the 125-500cc category is actually up by a whopping 20.2% (from 15,910 registrations in 2023 to 19,119 so far in 2024), enough to make it the second most popular category overall.

And, within that 125-500cc category, there is one new bike that has proved hugely popular stands out to me – Triumph’s new Speed 400… (oh, and its scrambler sibling, the Scrambler 400X, so, yes, there’s actually two).

Again, according to official MCIA figures, this time up to the end of October, the overall best-selling over-125cc bike in the UK in 2024 was the Triumph Speed 400. If you add in the Scrambler 400X version, the Triumph’s dominance is even greater.

When launched in January, the all-new, single-cylinder, 40bhp, £5195 Speed 400 was an immediate over-125cc best seller, something it repeated in May, July, and August. When joined by the £5795 Scrambler 400 X in March, the more off-road-styled version repeated the trick.

Triumph Scrambler 400X & Speed 400

Crucially though, the new Triumphs are not the only ones. Honda’s A2-friendly CB500 family remains popular; Kawasaki has recently launched some enticing sub-500 models and, in particular, resurgent Royal Enfield recently launched not only its Meteor and HNTR 350 singles but also the Scram 411 and new Himalayan 450 adventure bike, all of which have proved hugely popular.

But why is this happening? What’s the appeal of these bikes and is it likely to continue? We spoke to two sales specialists to find out…

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 (2025)

Ryan Mills, sales manager of Triumph dealer Webbs of Peterborough says:

“When customers come in and see them, I think the overall build quality and finish impresses.'

“I think also that when they ride it a lot of Enfield customers, buyers of the 350s which are like 20 horsepower, these are 40, so that impresses, too. I think they’ve just hit the right marketplace, really. I think the price and what the bike gives for the money is something the customer is after. I think Triumph timed it perfectly.'

“As far as customers, generally, it’s been the older end of the spectrum. The majority of our customers have been buying them as another bike. A lot of them have a bigger bike, and this is used as a second bike, an everyday bike. to just jump on and ride to the shops, commute, whatever.

“Initially the Speed 400 was more popular because of the seat height. The Scrambler, what we’ve found, when we did the open weekend and we got them into the showroom etc, the Scrambler became more popular, people were just a bit concerned about how tall the Scrambler was, once they found it wasn’t too bad it became more popular.”

“I genuinely think they’re great, which is why I moved over here…” added James Parker-Bishop, sales executive at Sycamore Royal Enfield.

“My and my girlfriend at the time bought two 411 Himalayans, quit our jobs and spent four months on the road doing 35 different countries – and lots of people are going that way. A lot of the time, unless you’re just sitting on motorways all the time, you don’t need a 1250GSA, you want something light and semi-disposable.

“Customers are a large mix, to be fair. They’re sort of like ‘personality bikes’. You can get one of those for five grand, chuck another grand at it and it’s all yours. And you can have more fun on one wringing its neck than by nursing a 1000 at quarter throttle.

“The 450 Himalayan particular stands out, mostly ‘cos the old one had such a following. My demo is constantly out on the road…”

Royal Enfield 411 Himalayan

So, are we about to see a new ‘golden age’ of 400s, reminiscent of the Japanese supersport grey imports of the early 1990s?

Only time will tell, but this time they’re likely to be cheaper, simpler… and possibly more stylish.