Motorcycle Sales Figures:

 Motorcycle sales figures for the US tell an intersting story.  In the early years, the motorcycle was a new enterprise somewhat connected with the automotive and bicycle fields.  Between the world wars, sales dwindled because people bought cars.  The sport of motorcycling continued because of the enthusiast.  Certainly, many machines were used at utilitarian vehicles and the police and military used motorcycles, but for the general public, this era was the time that the "true"enthusiast emerged.  After WWII, this was especially true.  The post war years created a new enthusiast driven market which has continued to be strong!

Motorcycles in blue, cars in black.  Figures are estimated.  Automobile figures are confusing because of the mixture of cars, light trucks, SUV,s, etc. This includes vehicles before WWII. Figures vary greatly depending on the source. Figures are for "general comparison" only.  When you look at registered vehicles for street use, automobile numbers greatly increase.

 1900       4,192 automobiles were sold

1901      an estimated total of 8 motorcycles were sold in the US, no figures are available for 1900!

1910       19,305 motorcycles sold in the US   1915     63,645 estimated m/c sales        

1910      459,000 cars sold                            1915   717,000 cars sold 

1920     38,189                                              1925     26,929

1920    1,45 million cars sold                           1925     3.1 million cars sold

1930     27,422                                              1935     14,071

1930     2.48 million cars sold                          1935      2.34 million cars sold

1940     21,286                                              1945     14,048

1940     2.1 million cars sold                            1945     (war)

1950     20,355                                              1955     60,000 (estimated)

1950     6.5 million cars sold                            1955    8.4 million cars sold

1960     45,000 (estimated)                            1965   609,000 (Japanese invasion) 

1960     7 million cars sold                               1965  9.3 million cars sold

1970     1.125 million sold                               1975   over 2 million

1970     8.4 million cars sold                            1975   8.9 million cars sold 

1980    710,000                                              1985   700,000 (estimated)

1980     6.9 million cars sold                             1985   11 million cars sold

1990    303,000                                              1995   309,000

1990    9.3 million cars sold                              1995   8.64 million cars sold

2000    710,000                                              2005   1.140 million

2000    9 million cars sold                                2005   7.7 million cars sold

2010    439,678                                              2015   500,695  

2010    5.6 million cars sold                             2014   7.7 million cars sold

In 2016, motorcycles ridden on the streets comprised only 3% of all vehicles.   

US Car registration figure averages: (figures do not include trucks)

1900     8,000                 1910          460,000              1920     8.1 million

1930    23 million            1940          27.5 million         1950      40 million

1960    62 million            1970          89 million            1980    122 million

1990   134 million           2000         226 million           2010    250 million

2016   269 million (some trucks included after 1990 because of SUV's & pickups)