“They’re easy to operate, useful in multiple terrains for work or play and-like boating-you can bring multiple people along to enjoy the ride,” he said. Boeder said the UTV’s instant popularity is no surprise. Three years later, Polaris jumped in with the RZR, and the race was on. However, the ’04 introduction of the Yamaha Rhino broadened the class’s appeal to outdoorsmen and off-roaders. Almost 20 years ago, the vehicles were touted for industrial and commercial uses, such as construction, farming and ranching, and turf maintenance. “In fact, vehicles that can straddle the line between utility and sport seem to be popular in most segments of the powersports industry.” “While dual-sports still represent only 10% of the total two-wheeler market, it is interesting to note the increasing number of models being offered by OEMs,” Boeder added. Plus, they combine a relatively low purchase price, a standard operating platform and utility. First, they’re adept on both mountain trails and roads. Dual-sport sales are up, with most brands doing well, and the off-road market is holding its own, with much of the interest centered on motocross bikes from Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki.”īoeder cited several factors contributing to the growing popularity of dual-sport models among both novice and experienced consumers. Also, motorcycles we deem as standards are seeing increased interest from consumers, with Yamaha, Kawasaki and Triumph leading the way. “On-road, we’re seeing the cruiser segment experiencing declining sales growth in sport bikes benefiting from small-displacement models from Honda, Kawasaki, KTM and Suzuki and touring bikes are also experiencing declining sales, although with BMW, Honda, Moto Guzzi and Suzuki bucking the trend. “While Harley continues to lead the pack with nearly 30% market share in motorcycles, it appears that brands such as Kawasaki, Honda and KTM are experiencing growing sales in an otherwise subdued market atmosphere,” Boeder said. Harley-Davidson currently dominates motorcycle market share, while Polaris tops UTV sales. By contrast, PPM’s recent estimates show a record 458,000 UTVs sold in the United States in 2018, up 5.9% from 2017 and a 95.3% gain from 2006. “However, the relatively young UTV market has been on a tear during that same time.”īoeder cited statistics from the Motorcycle Industry Council indicating that there were approximately 457,000 new motorcycles and scooters sold in the United States last year, a 2.8% drop from 2017 and a 55.3% drop from the 1,022,000 units sold in 2006. “While motorcycles represent the most mature segment of the powersports market, sales of new two-wheelers have tumbled during the past decade,” said Greg Boeder, senior partner of Power Products Marketing (PPM), a powersports market research and analysis firm. Interestingly, much of the current growth is attributable not to motorcycles, the category’s traditional stalwarts, but to the rise of utility-task vehicles (UTVs), also commonly called side-by-sides. According to research by Global Market Insights, the industry is expected to trend upward from $11 billion in 2018 to $14.5 billion by 2025. Of the many categories that comprise the aftermarket, powersports stands out with consumers for its ability to offer fun, utility and outdoor recreation. Although motorcycles still account for the bulk of powersports vehicle sales, side-by-sides are currently propelling the category’s overall growth. The ’19 Honda Talon is the latest entry into the UTV segment. By Mike Imlay Upward Trend in Powersports Motorcycles Stay the Course While UTVs Reach New Heights
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