Buying a new motorcycle in the United States is becoming a more expensive proposition, and the change is not limited to premium machines. According to Statista’s latest U.S. motorcycle market data, the average price per motorcycle was modeled at $11,980 in 2025.
Statista’s forecast also points to a continued increase through 2031, although the expected rise is relatively modest compared with the sharp price movements seen in some individual models.
That nearly $12,000 figure provides a useful snapshot of where the new-bike market stands, but it should not be interpreted as the price of the typical motorcycle sitting on every American showroom floor.
It is a modeled market-level price-per-unit figure, and actual retail prices vary enormously depending on engine size, category, brand, equipment, and destination fees. For buyers, the bigger issue is what is happening underneath that average.
A rider looking for a basic motorcycle can still find machines below $7,000, while premium adventure bikes, touring motorcycles, and performance models can easily exceed $15,000 or even $25,000.
What has changed is that several motorcycles occupying the middle of the market are becoming more expensive, putting additional pressure on buyers who previously viewed roughly $7,000 to $11,000 as a comfortable new-bike range.
Tariffs, currency movements, transportation expenses, and manufacturer pricing decisions are all contributing to that pressure.
At the same time, the U.S. motorcycle market is not growing rapidly enough to simply absorb every increase. Motorcycle sales fell 7.6% in 2025, according to Motorcycle Industry Council data reported by RevZilla, with 486,468 new motorcycles sold by major manufacturers.
That combination creates a challenging market. Motorcycle sales declined, while the average value of each bike remained elevated.
For buyers, however, there is one particularly interesting opportunity. 2025 holdover motorcycles can sometimes provide a way around the higher prices attached to newer inventory.
Why New Motorcycles Are Getting More Expensive
Tariffs have become one of the most visible factors affecting motorcycle pricing. The U.S. trade environment changed substantially during 2026, and imported motorcycles and components have been exposed to additional costs.
Viking Bags’ 2026 motorcycle pricing analysis identifies tariffs, currency movements, and supply-chain expenses as major forces affecting prices. The publication also notes that manufacturers have responded differently, with some increasing prices and others using specific surcharges.
The impact is particularly relevant because a large portion of motorcycles sold in America are manufactured outside the United States.
Japanese manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki have substantial U.S. sales but rely heavily on overseas production. European brands, including BMW, Ducati, KTM, and Triumph, are similarly exposed to international manufacturing and currency movements.
That means a motorcycle can become more expensive even when the underlying product has not changed dramatically.
Currency exchange rates add another layer. When the U.S. dollar becomes less favorable against the currency in which a manufacturer incurs production costs, the American price can rise even before tariffs or shipping expenses are considered. Then there are the costs that consumers do not immediately see.
Motorcycles require imported components, electronics, metals, and other materials. Even manufacturers assembling motorcycles in the United States can face higher production expenses if the parts entering their factories become more expensive.
Those costs do not necessarily appear as a separate line on the window sticker. Instead, manufacturers can incorporate them into MSRP.
The result is a market where a motorcycle that once occupied a comfortable middle-price position can move closer to premium territory.
That does not mean every motorcycle has increased by the same percentage. In fact, the market is becoming more complicated.
Riders Share’s 2026 analysis places many new mid-range motorcycles between roughly $8,000 and $15,000, while entry-level motorcycles can still be found from approximately $4,500 to $7,000.
This is why the $11,980 Statista figure needs context. It is an average market price, not a recommendation that buyers should expect every new motorcycle to cost $12,000.
A buyer looking at a 300cc standard motorcycle may spend considerably less. Someone shopping for a large adventure bike or premium touring motorcycle may spend substantially more. The important point is that the center of the market has become more expensive.
The $7,000-to-$14,000 Squeeze
The middle of the motorcycle market may be where buyers feel the greatest pressure. This is traditionally where many riders have looked for motorcycles offering enough performance for highway travel without the price and weight of flagship machines.
It includes middleweight naked bikes, sportbikes, smaller adventure motorcycles, and several cruiser models.
Some of these motorcycles are now approaching or exceeding $14,000 once pricing changes, equipment, and additional dealer costs are considered. That creates a strange situation.
A buyer who wants to spend $8,000 may find plenty of used motorcycles but fewer new motorcycles with the exact combination of size, equipment, and brand they want. Moving to a higher budget opens up more choices, but it also means taking on a significantly larger financial commitment.
The market’s sales figures suggest consumers are responding. According to MIC data reported by RevZilla, all four major motorcycle categories declined in 2025. On-highway motorcycles fell 6.5%, dual-sport motorcycles dropped 10.4%, off-road motorcycles declined 5.9%, and scooter sales fell 29.4%.
Higher prices are not the only reason for those declines. Interest rates, inflation, and weaker consumer confidence also affected purchasing decisions. Still, price is becoming harder for manufacturers to ignore.
The interesting part is that the U.S. market is not simply moving toward more expensive motorcycles.
Smaller motorcycles are gaining attention because they offer buyers a way to enter the market without taking on a five-figure purchase.
Recent MIC data showed that sportbike growth in 2025 came from motorcycles below 750cc, while smaller adventure motorcycles also performed strongly. That gives manufacturers an incentive to maintain products that sit below the market’s $12,000 average.
For consumers, those motorcycles can make more financial sense. A smaller motorcycle usually requires less fuel, may cost less to insure, and can be less expensive to maintain. The purchase price is also easier to manage, particularly for first-time riders.
That is one reason the current market cannot be judged simply by the average price. There are still bargains, but buyers need to look more carefully for them.
Why 2025 Holdovers Could Be the Best Deal
The most practical opportunity for buyers facing today’s prices may be motorcycles that have already been sitting at dealerships.
A 2025 holdover is a new motorcycle from the previous model year that remains unsold when newer models arrive. Dealers have already paid to put that motorcycle into inventory, and they may have a stronger incentive to move it rather than keep tying up floor space and capital.
That creates negotiating opportunities. A 2025 motorcycle may have essentially the same engine, frame, suspension, and equipment as a mechanically similar 2026 model, yet the older model-year designation can make it harder for the dealer to sell at full MSRP.
This does not guarantee a massive discount. The size of the savings depends on the model, local demand, dealer inventory, and whether the manufacturer is offering incentives.
A highly desirable motorcycle with limited supply may barely receive a discount, while an unpopular color or heavily stocked model could receive substantially more attention from a dealer trying to clear inventory.
The key is to compare the out-the-door price, not simply the advertised MSRP. A discount of $1,000 can disappear quickly if documentation fees, freight charges, or accessories are added elsewhere in the transaction.
Buyers should also compare a holdover with the newest model carefully. If the newer motorcycle receives meaningful mechanical or electronic upgrades, the older bike may not be the better deal even with a discount.
But when the differences are minor, the older motorcycle can provide excellent value. This is especially relevant in a market where new-bike prices are elevated.
A buyer who finds a 2025 motorcycle discounted by $1,500 or $2,000 is effectively avoiding part of the price inflation affecting new inventory while still receiving a factory-new vehicle with no previous owner.
Another option is the used market. The slowdown in new motorcycle sales has encouraged more consumers to consider pre-owned bikes instead.
That does not mean every used motorcycle is cheap, because popular models can maintain strong resale values. But comparing a lightly used motorcycle with a new one can reveal significant differences in total cost.
The smartest strategy in 2026 is therefore not necessarily to avoid motorcycles priced around $12,000. It is to understand what that number represents and then look for opportunities around it.
Statista expects the U.S. motorcycle market’s average price to rise only modestly from its 2025 level through 2031, projecting an increase of about $80 over that period.
That suggests the market-level average may not explode upward indefinitely. However, individual motorcycles can continue experiencing much larger changes depending on tariffs, equipment, and manufacturer strategy.
For buyers, timing matters. A rider who does not need the newest model can potentially save money by shopping 2025 holdovers. Someone who wants the latest technology may need to accept a higher price or wait for manufacturer incentives.
The nearly $12,000 average therefore tells only part of the story. The U.S. motorcycle market still has affordable motorcycles, but the comfortable middle ground between entry-level machines and premium bikes is becoming harder to find.
That makes comparison shopping more important than ever. Check multiple dealers, compare the previous model year, calculate the full out-the-door price, and do not assume that a newer model automatically provides better value.
In today’s market, the best motorcycle deal may not be the one with the lowest advertised MSRP. It may be the nearly new-looking motorcycle that has been sitting on a dealer’s floor since last year, waiting for a buyer willing to negotiate.
