“The latest government data shows that there are more motorcycles registered now than we’ve ever seen before,” notes Buckner Nesheim, MIC Director, Research & Statistics. “Almost twice as high as in 1975 and nearly three and a half million more than in the mid-2000s, a time when we saw six consecutive years of million-plus new unit sales.” The 2022 data – the latest available – comes from the Federal Highway Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. It includes first-time registrations and renewals.
“Periods of strong sales in the past and the durability of modern motorcycles have added greatly to the total number of bikes registered and currently in use,” Nesheim said. “And those motorcycles continue to feed the industry by creating demand for powersports parts, tires, fluids, and service. The owners will still be coming into dealerships and shops to keep their bikes running. In many cases, they’ll see new models on showroom floors that they might someday buy, to replace their older machines or add to their collections. And many riders will need to keep their riding gear updated – another opportunity to make sales. Nearly 10 million motorcycles registered across America are fueling our industry.”
MIC members can see the page with this data inside the latest MIC Motorcycle Statistical Annual, available online. It’s free for members and $3,000 for non-members. “This is the industry’s most comprehensive assessment of the U.S. motorcycle market, from examining the market volume, to motorcycle usage, motorcycle owner profiles, and more,” concludes Nesheim. “It’s packed with data that gives a good reflection of what motorcycling is like in the United States.”
