Has Motorcycle Ridership Gone Up in the Last Few Years in the US?

Motorcycling is becoming a norm. Even today, there are more cars than motorcycles in the US. It is very evident on roads and highways. Most people are not familiar with the essence of motorcycling. They don’t know how beneficial motorcycling can be.

The motorcycling industry around the world is growing and becoming bigger over time. Many motorcycle manufacturers are getting the limelight for their efforts in this field. Almost every motorcycle brand is unique and has its vision.

In the U.S., the motorcycle market dynamics are different. People have very different interests and tastes when it comes to motorcycling. Some people don’t consider motorcycling safe. At the same time, some prefer luxury cars. Most riders don’t seem to accept any motorcycle brand other than Harley-Davidson.

However, the main question is: “Has motorcycle ridership increased in the last few years in the US?” To answer this question, we must look at the important statistics and reality. Continue reading this article to learn whether motorcycles have become popular in the US in the last few years.

The simple answer to this question is “Yes.” Motorcycle ridership has gone up in the US in the last few years. To better understand how well motorcycle brands promote motorcycling, we need to look at some official stats.

The United States is among the biggest motorcycle market in the world. The motorcycle industry in the US is very old. The first two-wheeled vehicle concept originated in the late 1990s in the US.

American motorcycle brands are also among the oldest manufacturers in the world. These include Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles.

However, the market dynamics started to change over time, and many different brands, particularly the Japanese marque, started taking over the American motorcycle market.

Let’s talk about some of the most important facts and statistics by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) to have a clear picture:

• The number of registered motorcycles is constantly on the rise in the U.S.

• The number of registered motorcycles, as observed in 2023, has doubled to what it was in 2002 despite the slight decline in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.

• The number of registered motorcycles in the US in 2002 was 4.3 million.

• The number of registered motorcycles in the US in 2023 is 8.8 million.

• The two U.S. states with the most number of registered motorcycles are California, New York, and Florida.

• The most popular and high-selling motorcycles in the US are Cruisers and Touring bikes.

• The US motorcycle market is the 14th largest market in the world.

• In 2024, the overall motorcycle sales in the US have remained positive.

• Though there is not much of an unexpected increase in sales, the market is still good.

• Honda is going great in the U.S. motorcycle market in 2024.

• Scooters are very uncommon in the US.

• Electric motorcycle sales are still not up to the mark.

• The electric motorcycle sales in the US are still very slow.

• However, considering the previous figure, it has increased a great deal in the first half of 2024.

• Honda is able to increase its market share in the U.S. even in 2024.

• Harley-Davidson motorcycles’ registration has also increased.

The statistics and facts clearly show how motorcycle ridership is increasing in the US. There may be years when sales were dropping, and there are also years when the number of motorcycles registered decreased.

The new motorcycle sales also decreased in the U.S. during certain periods. A drop in motorcycle sales and registrations was observed during the Covid-19 period.

These statistics are accurate and highly relevant to analyzing the popularity of motorcycles in the US. However, these statistics and facts are not the only deciding factors in how well the motorcycle market is in the US. They may also not always paint a clear picture of motorcycle ridership in the US.

The used motorcycle market has also flourished in the past few years. Along with that, the number of miles riders travel has also increased. American riders love traveling long miles and going on motorcycle tours.

The recent adventure motorcycle riding trend has influenced many riders to start learning about ADV motorcycles.

Also, the number of motorcycles on the road may be less than that of cars in the US. However, compared to what it was a decade ago, motorcycle ridership has gone up.

Motorcycles are becoming one of the most useful modes of transport. They are widely used for daily commuting, city traveling, cruising, adventure riding, off-roading, and long-distance touring.

Several factors have played a role in making motorcycles more popular than ever in the US. Let’s discuss these factors and learn how they have influenced more people towards motorcycling. 

For a long time in the US motorcycle market, there was only one major player, Harley-Davidson, also known as the National American Motorcycle Brand. It continued producing motorcycles even during wartime to assist the US Army.

Over time, Harley-Davidson became a household brand, and it seemed impossible for other motorcycle brands in the US to make a mark.

Later, Japanese motorcycle brands started taking over the global motorcycle market. They started competing with the world’s most renowned motorcycle brands. They produced high-performance motorcycles of different types and categories, and their motorbikes were also very reliable and affordable.

Due to the inclusion of Japanese and European motorcycle brands in the American motorcycle market, riders now have tons of options to choose from. The US riders who only relied on Harley and Indian Motorcycles now have so many options to choose from depending on their budget and riding preferences.

Apart from cruisers and touring bikes, people can now have access to high-performing sports bikes, naked bikes, adventure bikes, dirt bikes, and whatnot.

It not only raised the competition in the US market, it allowed riders to have better options.

Affordability has also become a major factor in why more and more people have switched to riding motorcycles. It is a known fact that Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle are among the most expensive motorcycle brands. A specific class of motorcycle riders wants to be able to afford to ride most of their models.

However, due to tough competition and the entry of many motorcycle brands in the US market, motorcycle prices have decreased. There are many affordable options currently available in the market if you cannot afford a Harley or Indian.

Most motorcycle manufacturers also realized the huge gap in the U.S. motorcycle market. There were only a very few beginner-friendly motorcycles in the market.

Currently, almost every manufacturer produces motorcycles for beginners. There is a whole market of beginner-friendly motorcycles existing in the US. More and more new and young riders are starting to ride motorcycles thanks to the low-powered, lightweight, and easy-to-handle motorbikes.

There are many operational motorcycle riding institutes teaching riding skills and techniques to all riders. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or expert rider; you can always enroll in a motorcycle riding course.

These riding schools not only help you become a better rider and learn to ride, but they can also help you get your motorcycle license. Motorcycle riding has become a much safer activity thanks to these motorcycle institutes.

In the old times, motorcycles only came with an engine, a basic frame, an uncomfortable seat, a few springs, and drum brakes. Riding motorcycles was considered unsafe for a long time, especially when compared to cars.

It was quite difficult to stop these old motorcycles once they attained a good speed. Also, the handling was very poor as these motorcycles did not support much leaning. Riding for a long duration was also very painful and could hurt your back due to the absence of shock absorbers and well-padded seats.

However, almost every problem has been solved by modern-day motorcycles. Today’s motorcycles are as luxurious and well-equipped as cars. The modern bikes feature:

• ABS

• Traction control

• Wheelie control

• Tire pressure monitoring system

• Quick shifter

• Engine management system (EMS)

• Engine mapping

• Throttle by wire

• Ride modes

• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

These modern features and safety rider aids make motorcycling safe and have also helped make rides more comfortable. Also, motorcycle manufacturers have designed motorcycles of different types and categories for different purposes. These include:

• Cruisers : For highway and open road cruising.

• Touring Bikes : Ideal for long-haul journeys and cross-country rides.

• Sports Bike : For sporty-style quick and aggressive rides.

• Naked bikes : These are the same as sports bikes without fairings.

• Adventure Bike : For both on- and off-roading.

• Dual Sport Bike : For both on- and off-roading.

• Dirt Bike : For pure off-roading.

Though these modern features have substantially increased motorcycle prices, motorcycle accidents, and fatalities have decreased.

The adventure motorcycle segment has become very popular in the US in the last few years. Riders find the ADV bikes very impressive in performance, capabilities, and versatility. ADV bikes are very fun, making adventure rides thrilling.

ADV bikes are more geared towards on-road performance. However, they are also good for light off-roading. If you are experienced and can handle a large bike, you can confidently take these bikes for off-road adventures.

Adventure motorcycles have opened the door for many adventure possibilities to explore different places. The U.S. is full of nature, beautiful sceneries, and undiscovered spots that must be explored. Adventure motorcycles can reach such spots and places where cars cannot.

Due to their being highly capable motorcycles, ADV motorcycles are in good demand. More riders want to go on adventure rides and have fun in the outdoors.

Being considerably smaller and lightweight than cars, motorcycles consume less fuel. They are among the most cost-effective transportation modes. On top of being affordable to purchase, motorcycles are also cheaper to maintain and operate than cars.

The oil changes, repair costs, and parts are affordable compared to cars, making motorcycles a popular mode of transport.

To cope with the emission standards and to discourage petrol consumption for the betterment of our mother nature, the motorcycle industry is also shifting towards electrification. There are many notable motorcycle brands that have started producing electric motorcycles.

However, the electric motorcycle industry is currently failing to make a mark. It is in a very initial phase. The development and progress seem to be very slow compared to what electric cars have achieved.

However, there is still hope. Harley-Davidson came up with its electric motorcycle, known as the LiveWire. The Japanese Big Four manufacturers, including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki, work together on various clean energy projects.

They have successfully produced hydrogen-powered motorcycles to promote the “Go Green” slogan.

Motorcycle culture in America has also helped ridership increase in the last few years. The love for motorcycles in certain parts of the US is on another level.

The motorcycle culture is not new. People love talking about motorcycles and sharing their ride experiences. Also, motorcycling hasn’t remained an individual activity. Riders love to ride in groups.

There are several motorcycle clubs and riding groups operating in several parts of the US. You must have heard about several notable motorcycle clubs if you live in the US. Some well-known MCs have chapters in almost every U.S. state. Also, there are thousands of registered club members.

Motorcycle club culture has helped in increasing the popularity of motorcycles. There are thousands of aspirant looking to join their local motorcycle club.

There are also motorcyclists who don’t like the motorcycle club culture. They believe it is too much of a responsibility to become a club member, especially if you hold a rank in an MC.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a part of an MC; almost every motorcyclist in the US is a part of the motorcycle culture.

One thing common about most motorcyclists is that they love to keep their motorcycle in good shape and shining always. This helps motivate other people to look cool and start riding motorcycles.

Motorcycles make riders look cool. People have started accepting this as a fact. Motorcycles are cool machines, and with the right riding gear, they make you attractive. They have not only become a style statement for many, but motorcycles have also become quite capable machines.

Try riding a motorcycle if you plan to attract a girl to a car. Ask the girl to accompany you as the passenger. There is a better chance that she will say “Yes” to you on a motorcycle.

Modern-day motorcycles are stylish, aggressive, cool, attractive, bold, and muscular, and they produce addictive sounds. Some top-end motorcycles are also more expensive than most cars.

Moreover, with wider riding gear options to buy from and dedicated biker styling, riders look cooler than car drivers. Also, the sense of freedom you get while riding a motorcycle hits differently. You feel closer to nature as the wind passes your hair and body.

Considering their small and compact sizes, motorcycles are easier to park. They take up less space compared to large vehicles. One of the biggest problems most people face is the lack of garage or parking space. So many people in the US can't park a car safely at home.

Modern American motorbikes are quite large and heavy, but they are still smaller than cars. You can easily park them safely even if you don’t have a garage. You can buy a motorcycle cover or even park under the tree.

Also, if you live in a busy state or city, you will never find an empty parking lot. It becomes very difficult to find a safe, empty spot where you can park a car. Meanwhile, unlike a car, there are many places or spots where you can easily park a bike.

This has helped people understand the usefulness of using a motorcycle for daily commuting and city traveling.

Being smaller and compact, motorcycles are also easy to maneuver through the traffic and tight spaces. They can help you save time by helping you reach your destination early.

This is among the best advantages of riding a motorcycle, especially if you live in a busy town where traffic jams are common. You do not have to always wait in the queue with cars as you can easily make your way between the two lanes.

According to most experts, adventure motorcycles are among the fastest-growing motorcycle segments. They are not new and have been around for more than four decades. However, the ADV motorcycle's popularity has recently seen a surge.

Adventure bikes are highly popular in areas where riders have so many places to explore and where nature has so much to offer.

The future for motorcycles never seems to diminish. It was flourishing for a long time to come. However, you may switch to the electric motorcycle segment or motorcycles that run on clean energy, like hydrogen-powered bikes.

Currently, motorcycles’ popularity is increasing. They are becoming more advanced and safer thanks to the inclusion of rider aids and safety equipment. The future of motorcycles seems bright, thanks to the constant upgrades and more focus on the new generations.

Harley-Davidson is the most used motorcycle brand in the USA. It has the largest U.S. market share, reaching up to 27.1%. Even though this National American motorcycle brand is not selling as per the expectations and previous records, it is still the most popular motorcycle brand in the US.

Harley-Davidson specializes in producing motorcycles loved by Americans. These include cruisers and touring bikes. However, They have also stepped into the adventure motorcycle segment and are producing sporty-style bikes.

Besides Harley, Honda is also emerging as one of the top US brands with continuous growth in sales. Other Japanese manufacturers, including Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki, are also doing good in the US.

BMW and Ducati also have a good reputation in the US motorcycle market.

Motorcycles are gradually gaining momentum and are becoming more popular over time. They are considerably fewer in numbers compared to cars on the roads. However, the number of registered motorcycles is increasing almost every year.

People in the U.S. are more practical now. They want a means of transportation that offers several benefits and is easier to operate. Motorcycles are economical as they are cheaper to buy and consume less fuel than cars.

Above all, motorcycles offer several other benefits, as highlighted in this article. They are easier to park and maneuver. Motorcycle technology is also constantly evolving. Electric motorcycles are becoming a thing now. Motorcycles have also become much safer now thanks to the superior rider aids.

Motorcycles have a bright future. Ridership has gone up in the last few years in the US, and riders are expected to ride more.