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The U.S. Motorcycle Market

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

Motorcycle Sales

ATV photo by Martin Barber - CC-BY

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

Download registration numbers in an Excel spreadsheet or a PDF document.

Motorcycle Market Share

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

Demographics of a New Bike Rider

Age Gender
20 years and younger 1% Male 90%
21-25 7% Female 10%
26-30 9%
31-40 22%
41-50 30%
51-60 23%
61-70 7%
71 and older 1%

Marital Status
Married 65%
Single (never married) 17%
Widowed 2%
Divorced/separated 16% (7)

Additional Motorcycle Statistics

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

• 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 the United States This report was published by TF Market Research on January 10, 2008
• The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) 2007 Statistical Annual This 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?

• Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales, shipments and revenues

Quezi research

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

• 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)

U.S. Motorcycle Sales 2008

• "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

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.

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)

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)