The motorcycle market has completely transformed in 2025: from a weekend hobby, it has turned into a conditionally rational solution for daily trips. While the automobile market was in a fever due to tax changes, the two-wheeler segment has shown steady growth, becoming a real alternative to public transport.
Overall, 2025 was a period of significant recovery. The number of first registrations of new motorcycles reached 43,808 units, which is 17.2% more than last year. Imports of used equipment grew even faster — 6,601 registrations were recorded, which is a strong growth of 54.4%. The domestic market also did not slow down: 29,706 resales provided an increase of 13.8%.
Such activity is explained by the change in the consumption paradigm. Ukrainians are increasingly buying motorcycles as an affordable means of mobility for short distances, which allows them not to depend on the schedule of minibuses or traffic jams. The basis of demand is products of Chinese and Indian origin with an engine capacity of 125 to 250 cubic centimeters. cm. This is the most practical technique, where the need to "just ride" dominates over sporting ambitions or the desire to impress others.
December calm and seasonal dreams
December brought the expected seasonal decline in new vehicle registrations and imports. The number of new registrations fell by 35.8% compared to November (to 1,441 units), although compared to December last year it is still plus 45.6%. Imports of used bikes also fell by a quarter in the month ( 235 units), but showed a growth of one and a half times ( +152.7% ) compared to December 2024.
Domestic resales were the most stable: 1,535 transactions, which is even 6.4% more than in November. Winter is a traditional time for viewing summer photos and preparing equipment in garages, but statistics remind us that interest in the market persists even in the cold.
By individual subsegments, the dynamics of motorcycle sales looks as follows (MM — compared to the previous month, YY — compared to the same period last year):
- Domestic resales: +6.4% MM, +26.9% YY
- Used imports: −25.4% MM, +152.7% YY
- New imports: −35.8% MM, +45.6% YY
The most popular motorcycles in the domestic market
In the domestic market of used vehicles, a certain balance between reliability and availability is maintained. The leaders remain the Japanese giants Honda and Yamaha, followed by the Chinese Lifan and Geon. There was also demand for Suzuki and Kovi. The top ten active second-hand brands are Kawasaki, Mustang, Spark and the Indian Bajaj.
The most popular used motorcycles imported from abroad
The used vehicle import segment looks more "premium" and fan-oriented. Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki traditionally hold the top spots here.
- Check the history of your motorcycle by VIN code using CEBIA!
Next come Kawasaki and the iconic Harley-Davidson. BMW, Ducati, Triumph, KTM, and Indian are also in the top ten most popular imported bikes. This is exactly the small percentage of the market where people buy emotions, not just a means of transportation.
The most popular new motorcycles
In the segment of new technology, total pragmatism reigns. The entire top consists of brands that offer the most affordable "workhorses". The top three are Spark, Lifan and Mustang. They are followed by Forte, Kovi and Geon. High demand also remains for models from Tekken, Bajaj, Shineray and Loncin. These brands actually provide mobility for Ukrainian towns and villages.
Expertʼs comment
Ostap Novitsky, analyst at the Institute for Car Market Research:
"We see a market that is completely dependent on external supplies. The entire segment of new motorcycles, which currently prevails in Ukraine, is supplied exclusively by imports. Of course, it is difficult to compete with Chinese and Indian products on price today, but it is important to note: not a single locally produced product has slipped into the registration statistics of the State Registration Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the entire year.
The legendary KMZ (Kyiv Motorcycle Plant) has finally gone down in history, they never created anything new. As a result, our car market is stuck in a strange space between memories of past industrial greatness and dreams of modern technologies. And this place is now rapidly being filled by cheap Chinese "holes". Only a small proportion of buyers choose real Japanese, German or American bikes — and then mainly on the secondary market. A motorcycle in Ukraine has ceased to be an element of culture or a national product. It has become a utilitarian solution that is completely dependent on external manufacturers and global price trends.
Memories from the garage
The oldest motorcycles that found new owners last year
Sometimes cars appear on the secondary market that didnʼt just drive — they lived. They absorbed eras, roads, the smells of gasoline and the history of their owners. Last year, several real technical rarities found new owners in Ukraine. We have chosen the three most interesting ones — those that deserve a separate page in history.
- BMW R35 (1951): German restraint and technical honesty
The R35 was a motorcycle designed with simplicity and reliability in mind. The 346cc single-cylinder engine produced around 14 horsepower – not much by today’s standards, but more than enough to keep up with the pace on the roads of the time.
Its design was almost ascetic: a rigid frame without rear suspension, drum brakes, a minimum of decorative elements. But it was this simplicity that made the R35 a legend — it served for a long time and without whims.
BMW or EMW?
In the registration data of the State Central Register of Motor Vehicles of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this motorcycle is listed as the BMW R35, and we deliberately adhere to this wording. At the same time, it is worth explaining an important historical nuance. After World War II, the BMW plant in Eisenach found itself in the Soviet zone of occupation. Since 1949, R35 motorcycles have been produced there under the EMW (Eisenacher Motoren Werke) brand name — with a red emblem instead of the blue-white BMW. It was such EMW R35s that were officially supplied to the socialist countries, including the USSR.
The original BMW R35s with the BMW emblem were not centrally imported to the Union in the 1950s. Therefore, the copies that appear in the registers as BMWs today most often came to Ukraine much later — after the 1990s, as part of private imports or as collectible retro vehicles.
Thus, this motorcycle is more of a European guest with a long biography than a typical representative of the Soviet motorcycle fleet, even if it is listed in the documents as a BMW R35.
- IMZ M‑72 (1952): heavy, reliable, with an opposition that could do everything
The M-72 is one of the most famous Soviet motorcycles, based on the German BMW R71 design. Its 746 cc boxer engine produced about 22 horsepower — enough to pull a sidecar, luggage, and a little more on top.
The spring suspension, massive frame, and large wheel travel made the M-72 versatile: it felt equally confident on dirt roads and city streets.
The first owner of such a motorcycle in 1952 was a man who valued practicality. The M-72 could carry the family to the dacha, tools to work, and groceries from the market. It wasnʼt about speed, but about confidence and the ability to get anywhere.
This is a motorcycle that smells of grease, fresh garage paint, and long rides where the main thing is not the rush, but the road.
- ZiD K-125 (1951): light, simple and very lively
The K-125 is a motorcycle that started the dream of owning your own transport for many young guys in the 50s. Its 123 cm³ two-stroke engine produced only 3.25 horsepower — but these "three horses" were enough to race with the breeze along country roads and feel like the king of the track.
The design was as simple as possible: a minimum of parts, a light frame, easy maintenance. That is why the K-125 became so popular — it forgave mistakes, rarely broke down, and allowed the owner to disassemble and reassemble half of the motorcycle in the shed.
The first owner of such a K-125 was a young man who felt the freedom of movement for the first time. He took this motorcycle on first dates, to work in the district center, and fishing with friends. It smelled of gasoline, youth, and dreams that always begin on the road.
These arenʼt just old cars. These are stories that have been brought back to life by finding new owners.
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