This article will assist you in selecting one of the top ten motorcycle manufacturers worldwide. Motorcycle sales have increased dramatically recently, and it appears that riding motorcycles will remain quite popular in the future. There are no signs that the upward trend will stop anytime soon. According to several analysts and authorities, the most well-known companies will consistently experience record-breaking sales. Over the past 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the motorcycle industry. Motorcycle sales are projected to rise in response to a surge in demand, as people adapt to the state of the global economy, since motorcycles offer a more affordable means of transportation, particularly in developing countries where many people cannot afford cars. Based on available statistics, revenues are expected to reach $156.9 billion by 2026. The factors that contribute to our ranking of the top 10 motorcycle brands worldwide include affordability, features and usefulness, and the unrealized potential of these vehicles as dependable and efficient daily modes of transportation.
1. Yamaha
Yamaha is the top-selling motorcycle brand worldwide, ranking first on the list. The origins of the Yamaha brand can be traced back to Torakusu Yamaha, who founded Japan’s first piano manufacturer in the late 1800s, fueled by his passion for reed organs. However, when it began producing motorcycles in 1955, Yamaha quickly became a household name and an iconic figure. Although Yamaha now sells a wide range of products, including ATVs, snowmobiles, golf carts, and several other goods, the company is best known for its sport and off-road motorcycles, such as the YZF-R1 sportbike and the entry-level TW200 dual-sport, which has been available in the US since 1987. Yamaha offers several motorcycle models for you to choose from.
2. Honda
Honda’s “mono-zukuri (the art of manufacturing)” and the company itself were born from motorcycles. Honda has supplied consumers with more than 400 million bikes worldwide under the motto of “making products close to the user” by utilizing mono-zukuri, which is deeply embedded in every culture and place.” The media has already seen (and tested) the new Navi, a user-friendly, reasonably priced motorcycle suitable for novice riders, as well as the upgraded Grom, both of which are 2022 Honda products. They both belong to the miniMOTO vehicle family. The Super Cub C125, another miniMOTO, the Gold Wing, the Rebel, the Fury, the CBR, and the NC750X are also part of the 2022 Honda lineup.
3. Ducati
High-performance racing, state-of-the-art technology, and innovative design have always been priorities for Ducati motorcycles. In 1946, twenty years after its founding, Ducati began producing motorcycles, despite having recently marked its 90th year in operation. The Bologna-based company’s other notable innovations include the advanced Desmodromic valve trains, excellent ride quality electronics, and high-performance engines with safety measures that let you control the engine’s power. Although the company primarily sells street-oriented products and caters to blacktop bases, it also ventures into off-road terrain with a range of adventure bikes and a distinct Scrambler branch.
4. BMW
German motorcycles first entered the market in 1923, five years before the Munich-based company produced its first car. BMW’s original 180-degree twin boxer engine layout, which is still available today over a century later, powers a wide range of bikes. The engine is called a boxer because the flat twin’s horizontally opposed pistons move in tandem from the crankshaft, resembling a boxer warming up. In addition to the GS models, the excellent sport-touring RTs and R-model roadsters are also powered by boxers. BMW’s latest 2021 R18 cruiser, one of the best luxury motorcycle brands, is equipped with the company’s largest boxer twin ever—a pair of 901 cc cylinders that total 1,802 cc.
5. Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, perhaps one of the most well-known motorcycle brands worldwide, ranks among the top ten motorcycle brands sold globally. The Davidson brothers collaborated with William Harley to develop a motor bicycle in 1903, using a modest shed as the company’s first workspace. However, you might be surprised to hear that the history of the Harley-Davidson brand was not one of instant popularity and success. By the 1920s, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with dealers spread over 67 nations. However, in the 1950s, competition from superior Japanese motorcycles nearly forced the company into bankruptcy. That all changed when Vaughn Beals, Willie G. Davidson, and a group of investors bought the company from AMF and revitalized it in the 1980s. Over the past 35 years, the company has improved its design and production techniques, propelling it to the top of the motorcycle industry. Millions of dollars were invested in giving Harley-Davidson a more contemporary look, rubber-mounted engines, and five-speed gearboxes.
6. Kawasaki
The company now known as Kawasaki Heavy Industries was founded in 1878 at a Japanese shipyard. The company quickly diversified into the railroad and aviation industries before creating its first motorcycle in 1961. Off-road motorcycles and bikes that can be used on and off-road are all readily accessible. Among these are the KLX and KX lines, with the latter available in many junior variants for aspiring racers. The popular and profitable Ninja and its various versions make up most of Kawasaki’s current portfolio. As one of the most reliable motorcycle companies, sport motorcycles are the company’s main product line.
7. Suzuki
Among the top motorcycle producers, Suzuki is undoubtedly one of the top 10 motorcycle brands worldwide in terms of sales. The Japanese company has made a name for itself since 1952 with its unique motorcycles. It continues to produce updated iterations of these revolutionary models and designs today, blending popular favorites with state-of-the-art technology. The highest model in the GSX-R series of ultra-high-performance motorcycles, the GSX-flexible R1000R delivers class-leading power smoothly and controllably throughout a wide rpm range. With its compact chassis, you can ride a backroad or compete on a racetrack thanks to its exceptional suspension feel, fast handling, and good braking control. Modern electronic rider aids make it easier to cut through the wind when riding the distinctive, aerodynamic GSX-R bodywork.
8. Triumph
The original Triumph, one of the most well-known motorcycle manufacturers of the 20th century, ended in the early 1980s. Triumph was revived as a modern British company in the 1990s, promising to create its own identity instead of producing imitation sport motorcycles or cruisers. Today, there is an impressive array of two- and three-cylinder bikes available, including models in the adventure, cruiser, cafe racer, modern classic, and roadster categories. The stylish Street and Speed Triple naked bikes, the off-road-ready Tiger 900, and the formidable 2,500cc Rocket 3 cruiser with its claimed 163 pound-feet of torque comprise the three-cylinder roster. Triumph offers several twin-cylinder options, including the Thruxton, Bonneville, Scrambler, Speed, and Street Twins.
9. KTM
This Austrian company’s off-road bikes are well known for their ability to win races and dominate their respective divisions. KTM manufactures vehicles specifically for the motocross, cross-country, enduro, and dual-sport off-road racing categories because it takes the sport of off-road racing very seriously. Since KTM takes the sport of motorcycle competition very seriously, all its consumer models are built to be competitive. The KTM motorcycle lineup also includes loud, bare-chested naked motorcyclists known as Dukes with displacements between 200 and 1290 cc, 2- and 4-stroke off-road racers, dual-sport motorcycles with displacements between 350 and 500 cc, and adventure tourers ready for dirt.
10. Indian Motorcycle
Surprisingly, Indian Motorcycles is the name of one of the most well-known and enduring American companies. The original Indian Motorcycle Company was established in Springfield, Massachusetts, and operated from 1901 until its demise in 1953. Later, various prospective manufacturers acquired the Indian name. The company claims that the latest Indian bagger is equipped with a 108-cubic-inch liquid-cooled V-twin engine producing 128 foot-pounds of torque and 122 horsepower. Whenever you’d like, you can rev the engine to 6,000 rpm. Offering every state-of-the-art high-tech feature necessary to win the race and rank among the top 10 motorcycle brands worldwide, the Challenger boasts a large TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity, incredible music that can be played loudly, and a smooth ride with 4.5 inches of rear suspension travel.
