Q1 USA On-Highway Motorcycle Sales + 7.8 %
The Motorcycle Industry Council( MIC) is reporting that among the leading brands they monitor for new sales statistical purposes, sales of new motorcycles and scooters increased by 4.2 % through the first quarter of 2026( vs. Q1 2025). ATV sales increased 2.5 % among leading brands to give a total powersports retail sales performance of + 3.8 % for the quarter. Motorcycles and scooters accounted for 74.7 % of total new-unit sales
through Q1, and ATVs represented 25.3 %. The good news was that on-highway motorcycles were up by 7.8 % at 63,308 units for the quarter, with offhighway motorcycles essentially flat at-0.9 %( 29,870 units). The ADV(‘ Dual Sport’) sector saw a return to growth with 16,149 units sold(+ 4.2 %). Scooters continue their sharp decline at-22.5 % for the quarter( just 1,743 units).
USA Q1 Units Sales
Vehicle Type |
General |
2026 |
2025 |
Unit |
% Change |
|
Type |
|
|
Change |
|
Motorcycle |
Scooter |
1,743 |
2,250 |
-507 |
-22.5 |
Motorcycle |
On-Hwy |
63,308 |
58,708 |
4,600 |
7.8 |
Motorcycle |
Dual |
16,149 |
15,498 |
651 |
4.2 |
Motorcycle |
Off-Hwy |
29,870 |
30,131 |
-261 |
-0.9 |
Motorcycle |
Total |
111,070 |
106,587 |
4,483 |
4.2 |
ATV |
ATV |
37,613 |
36,681 |
932 |
2.5 |
Total |
Grand Total |
148,683 |
143,368 |
5,415 |
3.8 |
KKR / PIMCO HDFS Deal Eliminated $ 5.5bn of HDI Balance Sheet Debt
In a mid-April Audio Webcast for investors, Harley-Davidson Financial Services( HDFS), management was keen to make it clear that dealer support remains unchanged. The ' capital light ' model that the changes implemented are entirely on the corporate side and " strategic value driven," explained Johnathen Root, CFO / CCO of Harley-Davidson Inc. Some 9.8 % ownership equity in HDFS was sold to investment groups PIMCO and KKK to unlock the capital that was funding consumer debt. " Dealer and customer financing operations will remain largely unchanged. HDFS will still play a strategic role in supporting motorcycle sales." The new funding structure will be largely invisible to dealers and customers, " with motorcycles continuing to get financed in the dealership," added Charles Do, SVP at HDFS. In the future, HDFS expects to sell about two-thirds of new retail loans to its partners, while retaining the remaining one-third. The company will continue to originate and service all loans, earning servicing fees in the process. " We anticipate the transaction will
Jonathen Root- Chief Financial and Commercial Officer, HDI
transform HDFS into a less capitalintensive and derisked business model," said Root. Stating that the new structure " affords a high degree of optionality in how we fund and run that business and an opportunity to grow the loan assets over time." The restructuring also strengthened Harley ' s overall financial position. Consolidated net debt declined from $ 5.9bn at the end of 2024 to approximately $ 400m at the end of 2025. See also NewsBrief on page 10.
18 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER- JUNE 2026