Motorcycling isn’t dead. But in the United States, it’s getting weaker by the year.
New data from early 2025 shows U.S. motorcycle sales dropped 9% compared to the same period last year—the worst start in over ten years. Used bike sales are falling too, which almost never happens. While riders in places like India, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are buying bikes in record numbers, Americans are stepping away.
So what’s going on? And more importantly—can it be fixed?
Let’s break it down.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
In 2024, India sold 20 million motorcycles—and that market is still growing by more than 3% every year. Latin America saw a 20% jump in sales. Globally, about half the world’s population uses a motorcycle or scooter as their main way to get around.
But in the U.S.? The trend is going the other way.
- Canada’s motorcycle sales are down 21%.
- Europe is down 8%.
- The median age of a U.S. rider is now 47—up from 40 in 2009 and just 32 in 1990.
- Only 6% of riders are under 25, compared to 16% thirty years ago.
This isn’t just a dip. It’s a slow fade. And if nothing changes, the community that keeps motorcycling alive—riders, shops, trainers, gear makers—could shrink beyond repair.
Experts call this a “demographic time bomb.” The core riders are aging out, and almost no young people are stepping in to replace them.
Reason #1: It’s Just Too Expensive
Let’s talk money—because that’s often the first roadblock.
Since 2020, the average price of a new motorcycle has jumped over 40%. A basic bike that once cost $8,000 now costs $11,000 or more. And that’s before you add:
- Insurance: For a 20-year-old, it can cost $2,000 a year—more than rent in some cities.
- Gear: A safe helmet? $500–$900. Boots, jacket, gloves? Another $600–$1,000.
- Training courses, registration, maintenance—it all adds up fast.
Now imagine you’re 22, working a part-time job, paying student loans, and trying to afford rent in a city where a studio apartment costs $2,000 a month. A motorcycle isn’t a dream—it’s a luxury you can’t justify.
Compare that to a $20 Uber ride or a $100 monthly transit pass. For many young people, that’s the smarter choice.
Reason #2: Motorcycles No Longer Feel Like Freedom
In the 1970s and 80s, motorcycles stood for rebellion, adventure, and freedom. Think Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, or Tom Cruise on a Kawasaki in Top Gun.
Today? The image has changed.
Most people see motorcyclists as middle-aged men in leather, not young explorers. Ads often show riders in their 50s or 60s. TV shows tie bikes to danger or reckless behavior. Even safety campaigns—while well-meaning—focus on risk and death, not joy or discovery.
For Gen Z and younger millennials, motorcycles don’t scream “freedom.” They whisper “expensive, loud, and risky.”
And honestly? They’re not wrong. We’ve spent decades telling kids, “Don’t ride—it’s dangerous!” Then we act surprised when they don’t want to.
Reason #3: The Riding Community Can Be Unwelcoming
Here’s the hard truth: some riders push newcomers away.
You buy a small 250cc bike to learn safely? Someone online calls you a “coward.”
You use an automatic transmission? “Real riders use a clutch!”
You wear bright gear for visibility? “You look like a clown.”
This kind of gatekeeping is everywhere. It turns entry-level riding into a test of toughness, not a path to fun.
But remember when you were new?
You stalled. You dropped the bike. You wore jeans instead of armor. Someone let you try—maybe even lent you a helmet.
That’s how love for riding starts. Not with judgment, but with patience and space to learn.
When we mock beginners, we don’t protect the sport. We kill it.
But There’s Hope—And It’s Quiet, Electric, and Under $1,000
Walk through any U.S. city or suburb today, and you’ll see something new: kids on electric minibikes.
These aren’t full motorcycles. Most have pedals (even if nobody uses them). They look like bikes, but they’ve got small electric motors, go 15–25 mph, and cost as little as $800.
Parents buy them because:
- They’re quiet (no loud exhaust)
- They’re clean (no gas, no fumes)
- They’re safe enough for teens to ride on bike paths
And guess what? These kids love them.
They ride in groups after school. They jump curbs (carefully). They race each other on trails. Some even hack their bikes—just like we used to tweak carburetors or swap sprockets.
The tools are different, but the spirit is the same: tinker, explore, go fast, have fun.
This is how riding begins. Not with a $25,000 superbike—but with a machine that’s small, affordable, and fun.
The Industry Is Missing the Point
Right now, big motorcycle brands are focused on high-end electric bikes—machines that cost $30,000 or more, with 200+ horsepower and tech borrowed from race tracks.
But who’s buying those? Mostly riders over 50 with deep pockets. Not 18-year-olds with a summer job.
Meanwhile, the bikes that could hook the next generation—light, simple, under $3,000—are being ignored.
Remember the Honda CT70 or Trail 90? Small bikes from the 1970s that let kids ride safely on farms, dirt roads, and neighborhoods. They weren’t fast. But they were possible.
Today, we need their modern version: a $2,000 electric mini-moto from Honda, Yamaha, or KTM—built for teens, easy to ride, street-legal on bike paths.
Until then, third-party e-bike makers are filling the gap.
How We Save Motorcycling
Saving motorcycling in the U.S. doesn’t mean clinging to the past. It means making room for the future.
Here’s how:
1. Stop Gatekeeping—Start Gardening
Instead of judging new riders, welcome them. Praise them for starting small. Offer tips, not criticism. Be the rider who hands over the keys—not the one who says “you’re not ready.”
2. Make Bikes Affordable Again
Manufacturers should offer real entry-level bikes under $3,000. Not stripped-down versions of big bikes—but purpose-built, lightweight, electric or gas, street-legal machines for beginners.
3. Embrace Electric—Even If It’s Quiet
Yes, e-bikes don’t rumble. But the feeling of freedom is the same. The wind in your face, the road under your wheels, the world opening up—that’s what hooks people, not the sound of the engine.
4. Work With Cities, Not Against Them
Push for more bike lanes, safe riding zones, and laws that allow small e-motos on paths. Make it easy—and legal—for young people to ride.
5. Tell Better Stories
Let’s show motorcycling as it really is: fun, practical, and open to everyone—not just tough guys in leather jackets.
Final Thought: Leave the Gate Open
Motorcycling isn’t dying because bikes are bad. It’s fading because we made it hard, expensive, and unwelcoming.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
The kids on those little electric bikes? They’re not killing motorcycling.
They’re discovering it.
They feel that same rush we did—the first time the world flew by and they realized: “I can go anywhere.”
Our job isn’t to guard the gate.
It’s to hold it open—and cheer them on as they ride through.
Because if we do, motorcycling won’t just survive.
It’ll come back to life—different, quieter, cleaner… but very much alive.
Want to see a bike that gets it right?
Check out the new Honda Dax—a small, fun, retro-inspired bike that’s easy to ride and built for joy, not just speed. It’s the kind of machine that reminds us why we fell in love with two wheels in the first place.
And if you’re riding today—thank you.
Now go find a new rider, give them a wave, and say:
“Welcome. The road’s better with more of us on it.”
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