10 Top Selling Motorcycle Brands in USA for 2023

Regarding motorcycle brands, American companies tend to dominate the market. The most famous name on the list is Harley-Davidson. The other best motorcycle companies in the U.S. are BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. They all offer a variety of models that cater to different riding styles and needs. Harley-Davidson is well known for its classic bikes, while BMW provides performance machines perfect for weekend warriors and street racers. Honda offers a wide range of motorcycles, from standard cruisers to sportbikes explicitly designed for racing. Kawasaki has been building quality Hondas since 1969, and their motorcycles are highly respected by riders worldwide because they deliver great value for your money. With so many choices available to consumers, deciding which bike is best for you can be challenging.

Finally, remember that safety is always first when choosing a motorcycle brand. So research each one carefully before making a purchase! Listed below are the ten most famous motorcycle brands in the United States.

List of Top 10 Motorcycle Brands in the US for 2023

1. Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson motorcycles are one of the most iconic American brands. Harley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1903 and has since grown into an international company that manufactures and sells motorcycles worldwide. William Harley and Arthur Davidson founded the company. However, it took the founders 2 years to release the first production-ready model, Harley-Davidson Model No. 1®. In 1906 in the 1st Harley-Davidson factory, 50 bikes were built.

In recent times, the company reached its peak in 2020. The company had a 30.6 percent market share in US.

Today, Harley continues to produce iconic motorcycles, such as CVO (custom V-twin oversize) bikes and Street750s, known for their unique styling and performance characteristics. In addition, the brand offers customers a variety of options when it comes to customization, such as paint jobs, exhaust systems, handlebars, etc., which gives motorcyclists great freedom to express their individuality on two wheels. With nearly 21% market share, Harley Davidson is top selling motorcycle brand in the U.S.

• Harley Davidson Street Glide
• Harley Davidson Road Glide Special
• Harley-Davidson Iron 883
• Harley Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic
• Street Bob

2. Honda

Honda motorcycle brand has a long history of innovation and producing high-quality motorcycles. The company was founded in 1946 by Honda Soichiro near Hamamatsu, a coastal city in Honshu, Japan. The Honda Motor Company was started in 1948. The company began producing bikes in 1949. The first motorcycle Honda C-100 was introduced in 1953. The U.S. subsidiary of the company began manufacturing in 1979.

The company also offers an extensive selection of rider gear, such as helmets, riding jackets/pants/gloves. There is even a range of accessories available, like luggage.

Honda has close to 17.5% USA motorcycle market share. Top-selling Honda motorcycles –

• Honda NT 1100
• Honda CB500 I
• Honda CB650R

3. Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. was started in 1955 and is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. Genichi Kawakami founded the company. The company was initially into musical instrument manufacturer, which has been developed to date. Its first product YA-1 125cc motorcycle, was launched in 1955 with a 125 cc 2-stroke, single-cylinder engine. The company also produces motorized bicycles, scooters, utility boats, 4-wheel ATVs, go-kart engines, electrical generators, surface mounters, and many more products.

Yamaha holds close to 11.3% U.S. motorcycle market. Best-selling Yamaha bikes –

• Yamaha MT-07 I
• Yamaha Tenere 700
• Yamaha MT-07 Tracer
• Yamaha XSR125
• Yamaha V-Star 250

4. Kawasaki

Kawasaki is a well-known motorcycle brand that produces high-quality bikes. The company was founded in 1896 by Soichiro Kawasaki, and it has since become one of the leading brands in the world. However, the first complete motorcycle B8 two-stroke 125cc bike, was produced in 1961. One year later, it launched a 250cc disc-valve motorcycle, ‘Samurai,’ that generated a lot of interest in U.S.

Kawasaki motorcycles are known for their unique design and performance, and they are popular among enthusiasts around the globe. The range of Kawasaki motorcycles includes street bikes, dirt bikes, offroaders, cruisers, dual sport models, super mobiles (Airtrucks), adventure vehicles (SUVs), and more. In addition to producing quality bikes, Kawasaki also sponsors competitive racing teams throughout the world. With a 12.8% market share, Kawasaki is #4 on the list. Kawasaki’s best-selling models –

• Kawasaki Z900
• Kawasaki Ninja H2® R
• Kawasaki Concours® 14 ABS
• Kawasaki KX™ 85
• Kawasaki Vulcan® 1700 Voyager® ABS

5. Suzuki

Suzuki motorcycles are among the most popular and well-known bikes on the market. Initially started producing small bikes in Japan in 1937, Suzuki became one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers. In 1936, Suzukis made their first four-stroke engine bike, a significant motorcycling breakthrough. In addition to motorcycles, Suzuki manufactures scooters, ATVs, snowmobiles, tractors, trucks, and other heavy equipment.

Suzuki has a long history of innovation that has helped it stay at the forefront of motorcycle technology for over sixty years. This includes its revolutionary dual sport bike design allowing riders to take full advantage of off-road terrain and urban streets. The company continued to progress with innovations such as fuel injection, automatic transmissions, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD). They became one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers by the 1990s and today produces some of the most iconic models on the market.

Suzuki has a 4.9% motorcycle market share in the USA. Some of the top-selling Suzuki motorcycles are –

• DL 1000 AL4
• GSX-R750 L5
• GSX-R1000 L5
• GSX-S1000A L6 ABS
• UK 110 NE

6. BMW

BMW Motorrad started manufacturing motorcycle engines in 1921 for other companies. After 2 years, in 1923, it launched its first-ever bike, the BMW R 32, powered by a flat-twin engine with a top speed of 95 km/h. BMW sold 3000 units in the first three years of production. The company has since grown to become one of the largest motorcycle brands in the world, with factories all over the world. BMW Motorrad produces high-quality motorcycles known for their innovative design and quality construction.

The BMW Motorrad lineup includes sports, touring motorcycles, and dual-purpose bikes that are perfect for urban environments. Many of the bikes in the lineup feature cutting-edge technology, such as onboard navigation systems and powerful engines that allow them to reach high speeds quickly.

With close to 3.7% market share, Suzuki is #6 on the list. Some of the top BMW Motorrad bikes are as below –

• BMW R1250GS
• BMW R 1250 GSA
• BMW M1000RR
• BMW F850GS Adventure
• BMW K1600B /GT/GTL

7. Indian Motorcycles

Polaris is a well-known manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs. It owns the Victory and Indian Motorcycles brand, which it purchased in April 2011. Since January 2017, Polaris has started manufacturing motorcycles in the Indian Motorcycle subsidiary. Indian motorcycles are 100% made in America, with the assembly line and complete powertrains located in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Osceola, Wisconsin. Along with Honda Motor and Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycles is the leading player in the heavyweight motorcycle segment.

In 2021, Indian Motorcycles hit a new high with 35,385 global sales, up 7.8%. Polaris is expanding its base in North America, opening several new stores in the last few years. Some of the major countries where the brand is doing well are Belgium, Italy, Greece, and the UK.

Below are some of the top-selling Indian Motorcycles in 2023 –

• Scout – 1133cc V-Twin engine
• Scout Bobber Sixty – 1000cc engine that puts out 76hp power
• FTR 1200 – 1203cc V-Twin engine that gives 120hp power
• Chieftain Dark Horse – 1890cc engine
• Roadmaster – 116 V-Twin engine

8. Ducati

Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati, the parent company of the present Ducati, was founded by Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons in 1926. After 24 years, in 1950, Ducati “Cucciolo” was launched, the company’s first Cucciolo-based motorcycle. The 48 cc bike weighed 98 lb and had a top speed of 40 mph.

Ducati offers a wide range of models, from sport bikes to naked street bikes, and they all boast cutting-edge technology and excellent fuel economy. Their engines are known for their reliability and power. Aside from motorcycles, Ducati also produces other products such as apparel items (such as jackets), helmets, racing equipment (such as wheels), etc. Ducati top-selling bikes –

• Ducati Multistrada V4
• Ducati DesertX
• Ducati Panigale V4

9. Triumph

The first motorcycle from the company came out in 1902 that was fitted with a Belgian Minerva engine. Within a year, the company sold 500 pieces. Within two years, Triumph had an entirely new in-house design for its motorcycle and started its production. By 1905 the bike was launched. The company sold 250 pieces of the bike in less than a year.

Triumph is a British motorcycle brand. The company produces motorcycles of various styles and makes, including sports bikes, tourers, cruisers, dirt bikes, dual-purpose motorcycles, and more. The Triumph lineup includes models like the Daytona 675R (a sport bike), Street Triple R (a street motorcycle), Thruxton 1000RR (an adventure bike), Scrambler 1200RS (a cruiser ), Speed Triple 900SX Race Edition (a racebike), Tiger 800 XCi S.E. Sport Tourer Limited Edition(tourer). There is also the T140 Trike which was designed specifically for urban commuting – it’s lightweight yet durable enough to handle rough roads and crowded city streets. Let’s have a look at some of the top Triumph motorcycles-

• Triumph Rocket 221 3R & 3GT
• Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
• Triumph Daytona Moto2 765
• Triumph Trident 660
• Triumph Street Twin EC1 Special Edition

10. Moto Guzzi

Moto Guzzi is a luxury motorcycle brand that was founded in 1921. The company offers motorcycles of different styles and sizes and accessories such as clothing, luggage, and additional gear. Moto Guzzi also manufactures its line of electric motorcycles.

Today’s Moto Guzzis come in various models that cater to all types of riders. There are naked bike versions for those who prefer riding stripped down to the essentials and more refined iterations, including ABS brakes and air conditioning. Some of the most popular models available today include the Panigale R (race tune), Griso1200 S Touring Bike (standard model), V7 Sport Classic Motorcycle ( sporty street bike ), V7 Grand Tourismo Premium Motorcycle, Eldorado Speedmaster Professional Induction Edition. Below are some of the top Moto Guzzi bikes –

• Moto Guzzi V7
• Moto Guzzi California
• Moto Guzzi MGX-21
• Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer
• Moto Guzzi V85 TT