What's the Tariff on Motorcycle?
Motorcycles from Japan and Europe.
Current Tariff Rate
12.4%
Pre-2025 Rate
2.4%
Rate Increase
+10pp
Price Impact
+12%
+$657
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$5,299
Kawasaki Ninja 400
After Tariffs
$5,956
Kawasaki Ninja 400
That's $657 more per unit — a 12% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Motorcycles face a relatively modest 12.4% tariff, reflecting their primarily Japanese and European origin rather than Chinese. Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki dominate the US market with Japanese-assembled sportbikes and standards, while Harley-Davidson remains the iconic domestic manufacturer. European brands — BMW (Germany), Ducati (Italy), KTM (Austria) — serve the premium segment. The 10% Section 122 baseline on top of existing 2.4% duties creates meaningful but not devastating price increases. However, the motorcycle market is already shrinking as younger Americans show less interest in riding, making any price increase problematic for an industry fighting demographic headwinds. Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson benefit from domestic production, though both source components internationally. The tariff may accelerate interest in Chinese-made electric motorcycles that were beginning to enter the market at dramatically lower price points.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
Japan
Made in USA
25%
Import Volume
$5.7B
Alternatives
US (Harley-Davidson, Indian), some Thailand assembly
📅 Tariff Timeline
1983
Reagan 45% tariff on Japanese heavyweight motorcycles (to protect Harley)
45%1987
Harley asked for tariff removal — company had recovered
2.4%2018
EU retaliatory tariff on Harley-Davidson exports
2.4% (US import)2025
Section 122 universal baseline added
12.4%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
13M
Annual Cost Per Household
$110
💡 Did You Know?
- •Reagan's 1983 motorcycle tariff is one of the rare cases where a tariff is credited with saving a US company — Harley-Davidson
- •Harley-Davidson itself asked for the tariff to be removed early in 1987, saying it had become competitive again
- •The average US motorcycle buyer is now 50 years old, up from 32 in 1990 — the industry faces an aging crisis
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 8711.50
- Current Rate
- 12.4%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 2.4%
- Tariff Type
- Section 122
Legal Authority
Section 122 (Balance of Payments)
Effective: April 2025
Baseline 10% tariff on imports to address balance of payments
The tariff on Motorcycle is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 12.4% tariff on Motorcycle is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 12.4% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $5,299 → $5,956
Related Products in Vehicles
Sedan / Car
27.5%
Toyota Camry (imported): $28,855 → $36,785
SUV
27.5%
Volkswagen Tiguan: $30,995 → $39,519
Pickup Truck
50%
Imported pickup: $42,000 → $63,000
Electric Vehicle
127.5%
Chinese EV: $25,000 → $56,875
Auto Parts
25%
Transmission assembly: $2,500 → $3,125
Tires (Passenger)
35%
Set of 4 tires: $600 → $810
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