Posts Tagged ‘motorcycle legislation’

Motorcycle News Safety and Sales in 2025 – Driver Testing Changes and a Shifting U.S. Market

Posted: February 6, 2026 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0
motorcycle industry news and notes on harley davidson, honda and other brands

Two things every rider should pay attention to right now:
how drivers are tested and what’s happening to motorcycle sales in the U.S.

Here’s the quick, no‑nonsense breakdown.

Maryland Targets Motorcycle Awareness on Driving Tests

What’s happening:
A Maryland State Senator has introduced a bill that would require motorcycle-related questions on every driver’s license exam.

Why it matters:

  • Most states, including Maryland, use randomized questions for license exams
  • That means a driver can currently pass without seeing a single motorcycle question
  • The proposal would mandate at least five motorcycle and traffic-related questions per test

Status:

  • As of early February 2026, the bill was still in committee

Why riders should care:
More awareness at the testing stage means fewer “I didn’t see them” excuses later. This is one of the rare policy moves that directly acknowledges motorcycles as a normal, everyday part of traffic.

U.S. Motorcycle Sales Decline—Again

The headline:
U.S. motorcycle sales fell 5% in 2025.

The context:

  • The U.S. is the 14th largest motorcycle market in the world
  • Typical annual sales: about 500,000 motorcycles
  • 2025 total sales: approximately 507,000 units. That’s not a collapse—but it’s another step backward.

Winners and Losers: Brand Performance in 2025

Top of the leaderboard (barely):

  • Honda retained the #1 spot
  • Margin: just 1,000 motorcycles ahead of Kawasaki

The twist:

  • Honda sales: down 12%
  • Kawasaki sales: up 12%

If trends continue, that lead may not last. Kawasaki is making up the ground with their smaller sportbikes

Harley-Davidson: Still Sliding

  • 2025 sales decline: 12.7%
    Another year, another drop. The brand still has loyalty—but the numbers show ongoing pressure. They rank 3rd in the US for sales

KTM Takes the Biggest Hit

  • Worst decline of the year: 25.4%.  That’s not a dip. That’s a warning sign. But now that they have stabilized it might make a turn around.

Big, Beautiful Bill—What It Means for American Motorcycles (and You)

Posted: July 2, 2025 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

If it passes as is, as of this date, of course.

If you’re a rider with your eye on a fresh set of wheels—or just want Uncle Sam to finally throw you a bone—then there’s a new piece of legislation that might just fire up your interest.

Nicknamed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” this proposed law is revving its way through Washington and could have a huge impact on American-made motorcycles and the folks who ride them. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s in the Bill?

At the heart of the bill is a tax break for people who buy U.S.-assembled motorcycles for personal use. Here are the key takeaways:

  • Interest Deduction on Motorcycle Loans Riders can deduct interest on motorcycle loans—up to $10,000 per year—from their taxes between 2025 and 2028. That’s money back in your pocket just for financing your bike.
  • Above-the-Line Deduction You don’t even need to itemize your taxes to claim it. This opens the door for a lot more everyday riders to benefit.
  • Income Limits Apply This isn’t for the high rollers—deductions start to phase out at $100K for individuals and $200K for joint filers.

In short: this bill is designed to support middle-class riders—the bread and butter of the American motorcycling scene.

Why It Matters

Over half of new bike buyers finance their rides. Whether it’s your first cruiser or your fifth sport tourer, this bill could shave serious dollars off your cost of ownership. That’s good news for:

  • American manufacturing: More demand for U.S.-assembled bikes.
  • Local dealerships and service shops: Increased business and stability.
  • DIYers and gearheads: You’ve got more to invest in mods and gear.

The Catch?

It’s not 100% clear if this deduction will apply strictly to American brands like Harley-Davidson and Indian, or also to foreign brands that assemble bikes here in the States (think Honda or BMW in Ohio). Either way, assembly location matters—so keep your eyes on that factory tag.

My Thoughts

At IJustWant2Ride.com, we’re all about making the riding life better—safer, smarter, and just a little more rebellious. The Big, Beautiful Bill isn’t perfect, but it’s a rare bit of legislation that benefits the riding community.

We’ll be keeping an eye on how this bill evolves. In the meantime, if you’ve been dreaming about a new ride in your garage, 2025 might be your year.