U.S. motorcycle sales were down 14.7% over the first quarter compared to the same period last year, reports the Motorcycle Industry Council.

The industry group, which collected data from 20 reporting manufacturers, says American consumers bought 93,375 motorcycles and scooters in the first three months of 2013, down from the 109,425 vehicles purchased in the same period of 2012.

Sales were up very slightly for off-road motorcycles, but dual sports, streetbikes and scooters all saw a double-digit percentage decrease. It is notable that there was an increase in off-road models, as that particular segment had been shrinking in recent years. Continue Reading »

The Motorcycle Industry Council reported a 2.6% increase in motorcycle sales in the U.S. market for 2012. According to the industry group’s figures, American consumers purchased 452,386 motorcycles in 2012 compared to 440,899 motorcycles in 2011. The news was a bit of a surprise, considering the MIC had previously forecast a slight decline for 2012.

The 2012 sales results marks the second consecutive year of growth for the U.S. market and a larger increase than the 0.3% year-over-year increase reported in 2011. Growth is always good but the industry remains well behind the peak period in the middle of the last decade that saw four consecutive years with sales topping the 1 million mark. Continue Reading »

For years now, the motorcycle industry has had to design its motorcycles and their exhaust systems to stay below government-mandated sound levels, particularly with off-road motorcycles. The burgeoning electric vehicle industry may bring about the opposite now, with governments proposing minimum sound levels for the mostly silent-running electric cars and motorcycles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a which operates under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is proposing new minimum sound standards for electric and hybrid-powered vehicles to provide an audio cue to warn pedestrians of approaching vehicles. The concern is primarily with electric vehicles traveling at slow speeds as they generate little noise. The proposal has been in the works for a while now, stemming from the bipartisan Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010. NHTSA estimates the proposals would result in 2800 fewer pedestrian injuries over the life of each vehicle model year. Continue Reading »

U.S. motorcycle and ATV sales were up 3.6% in the first six months of 2012 including a 2.8% uptick for two-wheelers, according to numbers released by the Motorcycle Industry Council. The sales growth is good news for the U.S. motorcycle industry but the first half percentage increases were lower than the 6.7% increase from the opening three months.

The MIC, which represents the major motorcycle manufacturers in the U.S., reported first half sales of 375,628 units compared to 362,492 units in the first six months of 2011. Excluding ATVs, U.S. sales on motorcycle and scooter totaled 266,061 units in the first half, compared to 258,762 units in the same period last year. Continue Reading »

The Motorcycle Industry Council has developed a new protocol for determining the range of electric motorcycles. The MIC’ had previously established protocol for measuring range in city riding, but the new protocol adds a range test for freeway riding.

The “Highway Commuting Range” test is for electric motorcycles capable of a top speed of at least 26 mph and measures how far a motorcycle can travel before it suffers a “significant degradation in performance”. The purpose is to provide a realistic range expectation so consumers can make informed decisions when shopping for electric motorcycles.

“The electric vehicle segment of the motorcycle market is at a crucial point,” says Paul Vitrano, MIC general counsel. “As an organization that promotes the prosperity of the motorcycle industry, we have a rare opportunity to provide support to this fledgling segment of the market. This new MIC protocol for determining range for electric motorcycles is a step in the right direction toward providing consumers with reliable information they need to make purchasing decisions.” Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson reported a 20.3% increase in motorcycle sales over the first quarter of 2012, including a 25.5% increase in the United States.

According to Harley-Davidson‘s first quarter report, The Motor Company sold 59,677 motorcycles, worldwide, up from the 49,595 motorcycles reported in the same quarter of 2011. U.S. sales accounted for 39,762 units, up from 31,691 sold in the first three months of 2011.

Based on the industry-wide sales figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Council, Harley-Davidson accounted for approximately 36.3% of all first quarter motorcycle sales in the U.S. including about 51.6% of all streetbike sales. According to Harley-Davidson, more than a third of its sales were to customers who were new to the brand. Continue Reading »

The Motorcycle Industry Council announced a new procedure for measuring the top speed of electric motorcycles so consumers can fairly compare the performance of different models.

Until now, electric motorcycle manufacturers used a variety of testing methods to calculate maximum speeds, some more accurate than others.

“Manufacturers have used a variety of means for calculating top speed, presenting a challenge for shoppers interested in what an electric bike can really do,” says Tim Buche, president and CEO of the MIC. “Some methods used right now may not give an accurate measurement, even under similar test conditions. The more that electric motorcycle makers adopt this protocol, the more it can help buyers who are taking a good look at this emerging segment.” Continue Reading »

The Motorcycle Industry Council reports U.S. motorcycle sales increased 6.7% over the first quarter of 2012.

According to the MIC’s latest quarterly report, American consumers purchased 109,425 motorcycles in the three months ending March 31, 2012, compared to 102,547 units the year before.

The MIC also reports ATV sales have increased for the first time in years, increasing 5.0% to 50,107 units. ATV sales have been fading as consumers looked to side-by-side instead. The MIC does not report side-by-side sales however. Continue Reading »

The Motorcycle Industry Council released its first ever U.S. motorcycle industry sales forecast but the news is not positive.

The MIC, which represents various leading motorcycle OEMs as well as several manufacturers of parts and accessories, usually releases quarterly sales figures for the U.S. market but, until now, had never released industry-wide future sales projections. While sales were up a slim 0.3% in 2011, the MIC’s new Business Advisory & Forecast predicts a modest decline in new motorcycle sales in 2012.

“While our market stayed essentially flat last year, unemployment numbers and stagnant incomes are making consumers more cautious about large purchases,” says Tim Buche, MIC president. “Even with low interest rates making this a great time to buy for many people, overall economic uncertainty is leading us to predict we’ll have fewer sales in 2012.”

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The U.S. motorcycle industry saw a 4.6% decrease in year-on-year sales over the first six months of 2011, thanks mostly to a 17.3% drop in ATV sales. Motorcycle and scooter sales however saw a 1.7% bump in the first half .

Unfortunately, most of that gain in two-wheeled vehicle sales was due to a strong first quarter that saw a year-on-year increase of 7.2%. Second quarter motorcycle and scooter sales totaled 156,215 units, down 1.6% compared to 158,686 units sold in the second quarter 2010.

Compiled by the Motorcycle Industry Council, the figures represent sales over the six months ended June 30, 2011, from 19 reporting manufacturers: Aprilia, Arctic Cat, BMW, Buell, Can-Am, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husaberg, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Polaris, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, Victory and Yamaha.

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