Motorcycle

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), approximately 1,050,000 motorcycles and scooters were sold in the United States in 2004. This figure represents a nearly five percent increase from the number of bikes sold just a year earlier. What's more, it is estimated that there are more than six-and-a-half million motorcycles currently registered to U.S. citizens. These numbers clearly show that Americans are buying motorcycles. But what motorcycle company tops the U.S. sales charts? According to data collected by the MIC for 2004, the top four sellers in order of units sold are Honda, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Suzuki. With approximately 24 percent of U.S. sales, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company is the only American-based company in the top four. Of course, with a legacy of innovation and success in the American market that extends back over 100 years, that is no surprise. Moreover, Harley's U.S. sales figures continue to grow steadily, year after year, increasing by more than seven percent between 2003 and 2004.Although impressive, however, these numbers are not enough to top the numbers reported by Honda. Honda motorcycle sales accounted for fully 27.4 percent of all U.S. sales in 2004, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. Yamaha motorcycle sales came in third. They garnered 17.4 percent of the U.S. market. Finishing off the top four spots is Suzuki, with a 10.8 percent share.