UK vehicle statistics / CPI

How many CPI SM 50 motorcycles are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 12 licensed and 229 SORN vehicles in the UK within the CPI SM 50 generic-model group.

Looking at a SM 50?

Population figures cannot tell you whether one particular car is taxed, MOT-valid or safe to buy.

Check its registration free for the official tax, MOT and mileage record. If the car is still worth pursuing, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.

Wondering whether one particular SM 50 is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.

Is the SM 50 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 176 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 12 in 2026 Q1, down 93%. That is down 48% in the five years since 2021 Q1.

A falling population is worth knowing before you buy: it usually means fewer donor cars, fewer specialists and slower parts supply, and it is why a good example of a scarce model can hold its price while a neglected one is hard to sell at any price.

Before you buy

  • Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 93% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 176. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual SM 50 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.

Quarterly licensed and SORN counts

Every quarter DfT has published for this model group, newest first.

QuarterLicensedSORN
2026 Q112229
2025 Q412228
2025 Q311229
2025 Q212227
2025 Q117221
2024 Q416228
2024 Q318240
2024 Q221250
2024 Q120250
2023 Q416252
2023 Q315255
2023 Q217256
2023 Q121254
2022 Q418256
2022 Q316257
2022 Q219257
2022 Q119257
2021 Q420254
2021 Q320257
2021 Q219254
2021 Q123251
2020 Q429250
2020 Q330245
2020 Q233240
2020 Q135243
2019 Q437244
2019 Q340246
2019 Q242243
2019 Q145245
2018 Q455241
2018 Q358238
2018 Q255235
2018 Q154242
2017 Q459236
2017 Q360235
2017 Q267234
2017 Q179221
2016 Q483211
2016 Q391204
2016 Q291206
2016 Q1103198
2015 Q4106193
2015 Q3111186
2015 Q2126180
2015 Q1139179
2014 Q4153155
2014 Q3176148

Other CPI models

See how many of every CPI model are left

Common questions

How many CPI SM 50 motorcycles are left in the UK?

12 were licensed and 229 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many CPI SM 50 motorcycles are SORN?

229 are declared SORN, alongside 12 licensed, at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the SM 50 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 176 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 12 in 2026 Q1, down 93%. That is down 48% in the five years since 2021 Q1.

Does this say whether one SM 50 is a good buy?

No. These are population figures for the model group. Enter that vehicle's registration for its own free MOT, tax and mileage record.

Source and limitations

Source: Department for Transport and DVLA, df_VEH0120_UK. Released 2026-07-15 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

DVLA make and model fields are administrative data and can contain omissions or inconsistencies. These statistics describe model groups, not an individual registration.

Confidential cells marked [c] represent between 1 and 4 vehicles and are treated as zero in aggregates, so totals can be slightly understated.