The market for new motorcycles grew by 13.2% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year – with 16,368 new vehicles, this is the highest growth level in fifteen years. Thanks in part to the Brussels Motor Show, 2026 got off to a strong start.
According to the mobility federation Traxio, increases were observed across all engine capacities, except for the heaviest class. A notable trend in Belgium is the success of the 125cc class, for which only a Category B driving license is required.
The most popular brands are Honda, BMW, and Yamaha, followed by Kawasaki and CFMOTO, while KTM and Moto Guzzi also performed well.
Flanders remains the largest region, accounting for 57.2% of total new motorcycle sales in the country. Wallonia shows slight growth, claiming a 37.1% share, while Brussels drops to 5.8%. Older motorcycles are no longer permitted to ride there, so this evidently encourages the purchase of newer motorcycles and scooters.
All provinces are performing well this year, with Walloon Brabant once again recording the strongest growth (+17.6%).
Second-hand market
The second-hand market, by contrast, fell sharply (-7.2%) during the second quarter, resulting in a slight decline of 2.0% (35,242 units) for the first six months.
This follows two consecutive years of growth after the massive slump recorded following the introduction of mandatory inspections for used vehicles in 2022. The abolition of that inspection, which was initially scheduled for July 2026 and later moved to September, will be postponed until early 2027.
All categories are declining, except for the 125 cc class (+3.2%); the over-1,000 cc category is even dropping by 8.5%. The 125 cc motorcycle segment remains the largest in the used market, with a market share of 32.9%.
Honda remains the leading brand
Honda remains the leading brand for used motorcycles (16.6%), ahead of Yamaha (12.9%), and BMW(12.0%).
Flanders was also the largest second-hand market during the first semester of 2026 (58.9%), with Wallonia at 33.8%, and Brussels at 7.4%.
Traxio registered increases in Brussels (+9.2%) and the provinces of Flemish Brabant (+6.0%), Hainaut (+2.4%), and Liège (+0.7%). The other provinces show declines ranging from -1.3% for East Flanders to -9.8% for Namur.
From next year onward, the second-hand market is likely to be shaken up further by the abolition of the technical inspection in Flanders. It remains to be seen what the other regions will do.
