Choppers Motorcycles

The U.S. Motorcycle Market

Motorcycle Industry Research and Statistics

More than a million motorcycles were sold in the United States in 2007. Statistics, sales figures, trends, size and volume of the motorcycle, scooter and ATV market are provided below. Updates for the year 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are also provided at the end of this knol.

U.S. Motorcycle Market

The U.S. motorcycle market is worth $14.6 billion (2007)and is expected to reach $21 billion by 2011. (1)

Motorcycle Sales

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, 1.11 million motorcycles were sold in the United States in 2007, down from 1.19 million in 2006. (2) U.S. Motorcycle Sales, 1992 - 2009

ATV photo by Martin Barber - CC-BY

WebBikeWorld provides a graph showing U.S. motorcycle sales figures from 1992 to 2009. These are gross numbers, including motorcycles (street bike, dual-sport and off-road) and scooters. ATV Sales

Sales of ATVs have declined. 759, 000 ATVs were sold in 2007 down from 912, 000 in 2004.(3)

Scooter Sales

131, 000 new scooters were sold in the U.S. in 2007.
70, 000 new scooters were sold in the U.S. in 2002.
42, 000 new scooters were sold in the United States in 2000. (4)

Motorcycle Registrations

6, 634, 506 motorcycles were registered in the United States in 2006. This figure does not include publicly owned vehicles. It represents only private and commercial registrations. (5) Motorcycle Registrations by State

Download registration numbers in an Excel spreadsheet or aPDF document.

Motorcycle Market Share

Motorcycles

BMW R 26, 1959 (Photo by Celesteh - CC-BY)

Harley-Davidson28%
Honda25%
Yamaha17%
Suzuki13%
Kawasaki11%
KTM2%
BMW1%
Triumph1%
Ducati1%

ATVs
Honda 30%
Yamaha 20%
Polaris 20%
Suzuki 11%
Kawasaki 9%
Arctic Cat 7%
BRP 3%(6)

Demographics of a New Bike Rider

AgeGender
20 years and younger 1% Male90%
21-257%Female 10%
26-30 9%
31-40 22%
41-50 30%
51-60 23%
61-70 7%
71 and older 1%

Marital Status
Married65%
Single (never married) 17%
Widowed2%
Divorced/separated 16%(7)

Additional Motorcycle Statistics

• Motorcycle and scooter unit sales by month and year
• ATV market

Motorcycle Industry Fee-based reports

• US Motorcycles 2008This report provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts.

• Motorcycles in theUnitedStatesThis report was published by TF Market Researchon January 10, 2008
• The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) 2007 Statistical AnnualThis reports offers 25 pages of industry statistics and information.
• 2008 U.S. Motorcycle Dealers Industry Report
  This report features 2008 current and 2009 forecast estimates on the size of the industry (sales, establishments, employment) nationally and for all 50 U.S. States and over 900 metro areas.
• Motorcycle, Bike & Parts Manufacturing in the US
  This report from IBISWorld provides a detailed analysis of the Motorcycle, Bike & Parts Manufacturing in the US, including key growth trends, statistics, forecasts, the competitive environment including market shares and the key issues facing the industry.
• 2009 U.S. Motorcycle & Bicycle & Parts Manufacturing Industry Report
• 2009 U.S. Motorcycle Dealers Industry Report
  
My motorcycles research on"Google Answers"

• Size of Market for Motor Scooters
• Worldwide Motorbike Sales Figures
• Scooter Sales Statistics
• US Market for Electric Bicycles
• ATV Exhibitions in the USA and Canada
• How many vehicles are on the road in the USA?

Relatedknols

• Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales, shipments and revenues

Quezi research

• How many motorcycles are stolen each year in the United States?

Related articles

• Rising Fuel Prices and Recession Fears Spur Nationwide Interest in Motorcycles and Scooters
  Market Watch, Aug. 11, 2008

• Dealer network for N.E.-made electric scooter expands tenfold as gas prices rise
  Boston.com: July 25, 2008

Updates

• Sales of cruisers, sport bikes, tourers and off-highway or dirt models are all down in 2008 compared with last year.
• Scooters and dual sports bikes have seen 50% and 30% gains, respectively.
• According to preliminary results of the Motorcycle Industry Council's 2008 owner survey 12.6% of motorcyclists and scooterists are now women, a 29% increase from 2003. (8)

Scooter Sales 2008 Due to increased fuel prices, people are now buying scooter as an alternative transportation vehicle instead of as a recreational product. A scooter gets between 60 and 100 miles per gallon. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, scooter sales were up 66% in the first half of 2008.Yamaha had a 99.8% increase in U.S. scooter sales from September 2007 through July 2008 over the same period in 2007.(9)

U.S. Motorcycle Sales 2008

-----------------------------
Dual Sport 45, 250 Off Road 146, 779 Street Bikes 611, 133 Scooters 76, 748 Total 879, 910
----------------------------- Source: webBikeWorld Blog e-bikes
According to the 2009 edition of Electric Bike Worldwide Reports, in 2008 American consumersbought170, 000 e-bikes, with an estimated 200, 000 set to move this year.(10)

Highlights of the 2008 MIC Motorcycle/ATV Owner Survey

• "Since 2003, the number of motorcycles owned and used in America grew 19 percent to approximately 10.4 million."
• "Female ownership of motorcycles crossed the 10-percent mark, increasing from 9.6 percent in 2003 up to 12.3 percent in 2008. Younger generations have even more female riders. Some 15 percent of Gen X motorcycle owners are women, and for Gen Y, it's 14 percent. "
• "The median household income of motorcycle owners exceeds that of the average American. Two-wheel households average $59, 290 while the U.S. average is $50, 233."
• "Of all motorcycles in use in 2008, 46 percent were purchased new, up 7 percent since 2003." (11)

U.S. Motorcycle Sales 2009

-----------------------------------
Dual Sport 26, 257 Off Road 105, 103 Street Bikes357, 691 Scooters 31, 451 Total 520, 502
----------------------------------- Source: webBikeWorld Blog 2010 "The U.S. motorcycle market continued to struggle as it declined 36% in February 2010 compared to the same month last year."(12)

Q1 2010 Sales Figures:

Total motorcycles sales through March 2010 are estimated at 152, 431 units, compared to the 197, 249 units sold in Q1 for 2009.

Type	2010 Q1	2009 Q1	Change	% Change
ATV	56, 875	76, 455	-19, 580	-25.6%
Dual	5, 309	6, 020	-711	-11.8%
Off-Hwy	19, 749	28, 876	-5, 127	-20.6%
On-Hwy	66, 322	84, 576	-18, 254	-21.6%
Scooter	4, 176	5, 322	-1, 146	-21.5%
Motorcycle Total	95, 556	120, 794	-25, 238	-20.9%
Industry Total	152, 431	197, 249	-44, 818	-22.7% (13)

Motorcycle, ATV and scooter sales remain below 2009 levels through September 2010 Year-to-date results through September, in comparison to a year-ago, include:
On-highway bike sales are down approximately14 percent, with more than 265, 000 units sold;
ATV sales have dipped more than 23 percent, with more than 186, 000 units retailed;
Off-highway motorcycle sales have declined the most of any segment, down more than 21 percent;
Scooter sales have dropped the least of any group, down nearly 11 percent;
Dual-purpose motorcycle sales have fallen nearly 14 percent.
September sales were off slightly more than 15 percent, with on-highway bike sales faring better that month, down 11.5 percent.(14)
BMW Motorrad USA

"BMW Motorrad USA posted a nearly four percent growth in sales in 2010, despite a continued double digit downturn in the U.S. motorcycle market. BMW sales were bolstered by the February launch of the BMW S 1000 RR superbike, which has redefined the limits of sportbike performance." (15)

2010
Motorcycle Sales Down 15.8% in 2010
"Total motorcycle sales were down 82, 198 units, at 439, 678" (16)

(16)

2011
"Motorcycle sales among major brands rose 7.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same period last year, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council's Retail Sales Report." (17)

2011 First Quarter Motorcycle Sales in the United States

(18)

References

1. State-of-the-Cruiser Address Optimism Gets a Caution
   Motorcycle.com, Apr. 28, 2008
2. Honda to end US motorcycle production, shift work to Japan plant
   International Herald Tribune: February 27, 2008
3. ATV accidents killed more than 100 kids in '06 Most fatalities tied to vehicles going too fast, riders not wearing helmets
   MSNBC, Feb. 14, 2008
4. Mileage increases appeal of scooters
   Poughkeepsie Journal, August 16, 2008
5. STATE MOTOR-VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS - 2006
   United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration
6. Honda maintains top position
   Powersports Business, Market Data Book 2007
7. An in-depth study on the new bike buyer
   Powersports Business, Market Data Book 2007
8. Women drive increase in sales of motorcycles, survey shows
   LA Times - November 20, 2008
9. Scooter sales skyrocket 66%
   CNN Money
10. Riders of electric bicycles plug in and pedal
    TwinCities.com
11. Motorcycling in America Goes Mainstream (May 18, 2009)
    Motorcycle Industry Council
12. BMW Motorrad USA Posts Strong February Sales (March 19, 2010)

Smart Cycle Shopper 13. First Quarter 2010 Motorcycle Sales Down 21% March 2010 Sales Down 5% Asphalt & Rubber(April 28, 2010) 14. New unit retail sales remain below 2009 levels
Powersports Business, October 22, 2010 15. BMW Sales Grow In Down Market Cycle News Janaury 18, 2011 16. Motorcycle Sales Down 15.8% in 2010 Motorcycle USA (Jan 20, 2011) 17. U.S. Motorcycle Sales Rise During the First Quarter
Motorcycle Industry Council: April 26, 2011 18. 2011 U.S. Motorcycle Sales Improve Web Bike World : April 2011