Motorbike sales are surging in Slovakia, putting the country on course for its strongest year on record.
Official dealers sold 4,938 motorcycles in the first half of 2026, up by 556 YoY, according to the Slovak Automotive Industry Association (ZAP SR). The figures exclude privately imported bikes.
If the usual seasonal pattern holds, sales could reach about 8,230 this year, beating the record of 8,119 set in 2024.
Dealers say the boom is no longer confined to a few weeks before summer.
“Warmer winters mean that motorcycles are now selling throughout the year,” said Tomas Hudec of Moto Kubo, which sold Yamaha, Kawasaki, Aprilia and Vespa. “Sales are lower in winter, but they never completely stop.”
Honda dominates the Slovak market, accounting for almost one in three motorcycles sold this year. Its most popular model is the PCX125 scooter, with almost 300 sold in the first six months.
Small scooters have an important advantage in Slovakia: motorists who meet the legal requirements can ride automatic motorcycles of up to 125cc with a standard category B car licence.
Honda’s PCX125 starts at EUR 3,090, while prices of most of the company’s motorcycles have remained broadly unchanged despite inflation.
Best-selling motorcycle and scooter brands:
– Honda – 1,486;
– Yamaha – 537;
– CFMoto – 318;
– Kawasaki – 305;
– BMW – 286;
– Aprilia – 283;
– Voge – 224;
– Sym – 205;
– KTM – 142;
– Suzuki – 116.
Yamaha has about 11% of the market, with its NMAX, XMAX and RayZR scooters among its strongest sellers. Aprilia’s SR GT 125 has also proved popular.
Demand is not limited to small urban bikes. BMW’s R 1300 GS leads sales among larger motorcycles, while Chinese manufacturer CFMoto is making inroads with cheaper alternatives to established European and Japanese brands.
The market began to expand rapidly during the pandemic, when motorcycles offered a way to travel and spend time outdoors despite restrictions. Before 2020, annual sales were only around 5,000.
But what began partly as a leisure trend had become a transport choice.
Longer periods of warm weather have extended Slovakia’s riding season, particularly in the south. At the same time, high car prices and commuting costs have made scooters and motorcycles more attractive.
“A decent new motorcycle can be bought for under EUR 10,000,” Hudec said. “For that price, you would get an older used car.”
Scooters typically consume around two to three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and can offer commuters a way around congestion in larger cities.
Motorcycle ownership has also become slightly easier since 2024, when Slovakia extended the interval between mandatory technical inspections from two to four years. (The Slovak Spectator)