Are motorcycles on the decline?

The MoCo’s retail motorcycle sales were down 4.3 percent globally and 5.2 percent in the United States in 2019, continuing a pattern of several years of decline.

Why Harley sales are down?

Retail sales in the United States – the company’s biggest market – fell for the 16th straight quarter, resulting in an 8 percentage-point decline in big-motorcycle market share. The decline comes at a time when motorcycle sales have gone up on the back of a demand for socially distanced recreational outdoor activity.

What is the number one motorcycle in the US?

Harley-Davidson is the number one motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. The name alone conjures up the stinging scent of burnt gasoline and the roaring sound of bulky chrome and steel bikes glinting in the sun.

Why are motorcycle sales down nearly 10 percent?

Both major U.S. motorcycle manufacturers announced quarterly financial results yesterday and domestic motorcycle unit sales for both companies were down nearly 10 percent as the U.S. market remains weak.

Why are Harley-Davidson’s sales slowing?

One contributor to the weak sales were delays in getting approval to sell motorcycles built at Harley’s plant in Thailand in the European Union countries to avoid the retaliatory tariffs that Europe slapped on selected U.S. goods last year.

What is Harley-Davidson’s biggest weakness?

But the most persistent problem for Harley-Davidson remains the weakness in sales of new motorcycles in the U.S. market. Indian says initial demand is strong for the FTR 1200 and the dirt-track-inspired model will help the company even more in Europe than in the U.S. market.

What are the challenges facing Harley-Davidson and KTM in motorcycle sales?

Both companies face similar challenges, however, especially in their motorcycle sales, with declining domestic demand and a complex, shifting and somewhat unpredictable situation with tariffs. Both have plans for navigating those hazards, and as the steadily declining sales numbers show, they need those plans to start gaining traction before long.