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 motorcycles since 1961, 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. Note that the U.S. motorcycle market has shifted significantly, with Kawasaki overtaking both Honda and Harley-Davidson to become the #1 selling brand in 2025 — the first major shake-up of the leaderboard in decades.
List of Top 10 Motorcycle Brands in the US for 2026
1. Kawasaki

Kawasaki is a well-known motorcycle brand that produces high-quality bikes. The company’s motorcycle history began in 1961 with the B8 two-stroke 125cc bike, after the larger Kawasaki Heavy Industries was founded in 1896. 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 Kawasaki sales up roughly 14% in 2025, the brand surged to the #1 spot in the U.S. market — driven largely by competitively-priced models like the Ninja 500 (starting around $5,399) and the Z650, which became the country’s top-selling individual motorcycle. Kawasaki’s best-selling models –
- Kawasaki Ninja 500
- Kawasaki Z650
- Kawasaki Z900
- Kawasaki Ninja H2® R
- Kawasaki Vulcan® 1700 Voyager® ABS
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 was the #1 best-selling motorcycle brand in the U.S. in 2024 but slipped to #2 in 2025 after a roughly 8-12% decline in sales, as Kawasaki overtook the top spot by a margin of fewer than 1,000 units. Honda remains the global leader in motorcycle volume, having sold around 4.9 million units in Q1 2025 alone. Top-selling Honda motorcycles –
- Honda CRF300L
- Honda Rebel 1100
- Honda NT 1100
- Honda Gold Wing
- Honda CB650R
3. 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, 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. After leading the U.S. market for years, Harley-Davidson fell to the #3 position in 2025 following a steep ~13-16% sales decline — though the brand still commands roughly 27% of the U.S. market by revenue and dominates the heavyweight touring segment with about 75% market share above 600cc. The Street Glide remains Harley’s best-selling individual model.
- Harley Davidson Street Glide
- Harley Davidson Road Glide
- Harley-Davidson Nightster
- Harley Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic
- Street Bob
4. 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 held the #4 position in the U.S. motorcycle market for 2025 with a relatively flat performance (down just 0.4%), holding steadier than most rivals during a tough sales year. Best-selling Yamaha bikes –
- Yamaha MT-07
- Yamaha Tenere 700
- Yamaha Tracer 9 GT
- Yamaha XSR125
- Yamaha V-Star 250
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’s U.S. sales declined approximately 13-15% in 2025, placing the brand in 5th position. Some of the top-selling Suzuki motorcycles are –
- Suzuki V-Strom 1050
- Suzuki GSX-R750
- Suzuki GSX-R1000R
- Suzuki GSX-S1000
- Suzuki Hayabusa
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.
BMW Motorrad finished 2025 in 6th place after a roughly 11-12% decline in U.S. sales. Some of the top BMW Motorrad bikes are as below –
- BMW R 1300 GS
- BMW R 1300 GS Adventure
- BMW M 1000 RR
- BMW F 900 GS Adventure
- BMW K 1600 B / GT / GTL
7. Indian Motorcycles

Indian Motorcycles was acquired by Polaris in April 2011, who then revived the iconic American brand and began full-scale manufacturing in 2013. In October 2025, Polaris announced the sale of its majority stake in Indian Motorcycle to Los Angeles-based private equity firm Carolwood LP, with the deal expected to close in Q1 2026 — making Indian a standalone company once again under new CEO Mike Kennedy. Polaris will retain a small minority equity position. Indian motorcycles are 100% made in America, with the assembly line and complete powertrains located in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Monticello, Minnesota. Along with Honda Motor and Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycles is the leading player in the heavyweight motorcycle segment.
Indian Motorcycle was one of the few bright spots in the U.S. market in 2025, posting growth of around 4.9% while most rivals declined. The brand generated approximately $478 million in revenue for the 12 months ending June 2025. 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 2026 –
- Scout – 1250cc V-Twin SpeedPlus engine (refreshed for 2025 generation)
- Sport Chief – 1834cc Thunderstroke engine that produces 122 hp
- FTR – 1203cc V-Twin engine that gives 120hp power
- Chief Dark Horse – 1890cc Thunderstroke engine
- Roadmaster – PowerPlus 112 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
- Ducati Monster
- Ducati Streetfighter 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 660 (a sport bike), Street Triple R (a street motorcycle), Thruxton 1200 RS (a modern classic), Scrambler 1200 X (an adventure cruiser), Speed Triple 1200 RS (a roadster), and Tiger 900 (an adventure tourer). Triumph has also expanded with smaller-displacement bikes like the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X aimed at new and returning riders. Let’s have a look at some of the top Triumph motorcycles-
- Triumph Rocket 3 R & 3 GT
- Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
- Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro
- Triumph Trident 660
- Triumph Speed 400
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 modern rider aids. Below are some of the top Moto Guzzi bikes –
- Moto Guzzi V7
- Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello
- Moto Guzzi MGX-21
- Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer
- Moto Guzzi V85 TT
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- Honda XR150L: $3,299
- Yamaha TT-R125LE: $3,649
- CFMoto 300NK: $4,299
- Yamaha V Star 250: $4,799
- Royal Enfield Hunter 350: $4,099