New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market Size, Share and Outlook - Growth Analysis Report and Forecast Trends (2026-2035)

Market Overview

The New Zealand two-wheeler market is being tested by cost rather than by lack of interest. Registrations of larger motorcycles have slid, riders are protesting higher mandatory injury levies, and dealers are responding with a sharper focus on mid-capacity, learner-friendly, off-road and electric models.

Three forces are shaping the market: a levy reset that lifts yearly registration costs for the largest bikes from about NZ$540 to about NZ$816 in July 2026; a compact fleet of 185,847 motorcycles at 31 January 2025, which limits volume; and a rider base drifting towards smaller, cheaper and electric machines.

In April 2026 a riders' group urged members to place registrations on hold, and about 400 riders crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge on 30 May 2026. In June 2026 the group sought a High Court judicial review, while the Accident Compensation Corporation maintained that motorcycles generate a quarter of road crash injury costs.

Key Market Trends and Insights

• Shrinking large-bike registrations: Registrations of motorcycles above 60cc fell 9.9% to 6,880 in 2025, according to Stats NZ, the lowest level in the five-year series.
• Weak moped demand: Registrations of power cycles under 61cc fell 22.9% to 1,191 in 2025, which shows that small mopeds are not a growth engine.
• Levy reset for large petrol bikes: The annual levy for petrol bikes above 750cc rises from NZ$428.19 to NZ$624.93 from 1 July 2026, an increase of 45.9%.
• Licence-month decline: A riders' group estimated in August 2026 that purchased licence-months for bikes above 750cc fell about 30% between July 2025 and July 2026.

New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market Size and Forecast

The market is moving from large petrol machines towards mid-capacity, entry-level and electric products that carry a lighter annual levy. Standard and cruiser motorcycles lead in value, while adventure and touring models, learner-friendly bikes under 250cc and electric two-wheelers advance fastest as buyers weigh running costs. Used imports and private sales remain important at the low end, and franchised dealers defend their position with financing, training offers and new model launches. Auckland remains the largest region, and Waikato grows quickest on commuter, rural and recreational riding. Policy is the central swing factor: a court ruling, protest activity or a revised levy consultation could shift demand between capacity classes, yet the underlying appeal of two-wheeled commuting and recreation points to a gradual recovery rather than a permanent contraction.

Key Takeaways: New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market

Levy Reset Is the Defining Cost Shock

Revenue is on course to expand by about 32% across the decade, from USD 105.00 million in 2025 to USD 138.40 million in 2035 at a 2.8% CAGR. Growth is modest because the yearly levy for the largest petrol bikes rises from NZ$428.19 to NZ$624.93 from July 2026, which weighs on the premium end.

Smaller and Electric Machines Lead Growth

Electric grows at an estimated 7.6% CAGR, Adventure and Touring Motorcycles at an estimated 3.9% and Up to 250cc at an estimated 3.6% through 2035. The small-bike petrol levy of NZ$311.70 is roughly half that of the largest class, which favours entry-level purchases and learner riders.

Rider Backlash Raises Policy Risk

Riders have turned to protest, registration holds and the courts, which makes policy the largest swing factor for dealers and importers over the next few years.

• About 400 riders crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge on 30 May 2026
• A High Court judicial review was sought in June 2026
• Licence-months fell about 16.8% across all classes by July 2026, per the riders' group

New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market Report Summary

Key Insight

Cost pressure from higher mandatory injury levies is steering buyers towards smaller, cheaper and electric machines, while Auckland remains the largest region and Waikato grows fastest.

Key Trends in the New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market

The New Zealand two-wheeler market is being reshaped by the engine-size levy reset, organised rider protest, falling registrations of larger bikes and a pivot towards cheaper machines.

August 2026 - Riders' Group Estimates Licence-Month Purchases Fell 30% for Large Bikes

• Motorcycle Advocacy Group New Zealand said on 28 August 2026 that purchased licence-months for bikes above 750cc fell from 35,102 in July 2025 to 24,564 in July 2026.
• It estimated that licence-months across all motorcycle classes fell about 16.8%, although these are advocacy estimates rather than confirmed ACC receipts.
• Fewer paid months suggest riders are shelving or deregistering bikes, which weighs on used-import turnover, servicing and accessory spending.

July 2026 - ACC Introduces Three Engine-Size Levy Bands

• From 1 July 2026 the Accident Compensation Corporation charges petrol motorcycles NZ$311.70 up to 250cc, NZ$442.18 for 251cc to 750cc and NZ$624.93 above 750cc each year.
• Electric or diesel bikes pay NZ$13.43 more in each band, and a NZ$25 motorcycle safety levy continues alongside the new rates.
• Riders completing advanced training may receive a 25% discount, which gives dealers a rider-training argument at the point of sale.

May 2026 - About 400 Riders Cross Auckland Harbour Bridge in Levy Protest

• Trade press reported that around 400 riders joined the 30 May 2026 ride organised by Motorcycle Advocacy Group New Zealand, travelling at no more than 40km/h.
• Registration for larger bikes was reported to rise from about NZ$540 to about NZ$816 in July 2026, then to about NZ$960 next year.
• ACC said motorcyclists covered 28% of their injury claim costs before July 2026 and would cover 33% afterwards, so pressure on prices continues.

April 2026 - Riders Urged to Put Registrations on Hold

• Trade press reported on 10 April 2026 that the riders' group urged members to place registrations on hold to avoid the revised levies.
• First-time motorcycle registrations fell 9.8% between March 2025 and March 2026, while first-time car registrations rose 2.7%.
• A bike on hold cannot legally use public roads, so hold campaigns reduce dealer servicing and parts demand as well as new sales.

Key Insight

Levy increases, rider protests and legal challenge are the main forces, while electric models and mid-capacity bikes offer dealers a route to growth despite weaker overall registrations.

Recent Market Developments in the New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market

Recent developments, presented from the most recent, show strong global demand for large cruisers, a court challenge to the levy, a record model launch programme and sustained support for off-road riding.

July 2026 - Harley-Davidson Reports Higher Motorcycle Shipments

• Harley-Davidson said on 23 July 2026 that second-quarter motorcycle segment revenue rose 6% to about USD 1.10 billion.
• Global motorcycle shipments rose 9% to 39,209 units, while worldwide retail sales edged up about 1% to 42,467 units.
• Stable global demand for large cruisers contrasts with weaker large-bike registrations in New Zealand, where the levy hits this class hardest.

June 2026 - Riders' Group Seeks High Court Judicial Review of ACC Levy

• Trade press reported on 22 June 2026 that about 50 riders rallied outside the Christchurch Law Courts as the group sought a judicial review.
• The challenge asks whether ACC and the responsible minister lawfully approved the three-year levy structure now taking effect.
• ACC declined to comment while the case was before the courts, leaving the outcome as an open risk for dealers and importers.

October 2025 - Triumph Plans 33 New and Updated Models for 2026

• Triumph Motorcycles announced on 15 October 2025 its biggest product rollout, covering 33 new and updated models for the 2026 model year.
• The range includes TF 250-C and TF 450-C off-road bikes, the Scrambler 400 XC and electric youth bikes developed with OSET.
• A broad mid-capacity and off-road lineup suits New Zealand buyers moving below the highest levy band.

October 2025 - Yamaha Motor New Zealand Extends Motocross Championship Naming Rights

• Motorcycling New Zealand announced on 7 October 2025 that Yamaha Motor New Zealand would again be naming-rights sponsor of the 2026 national motocross championship.
• It was the third consecutive year of sponsorship, with four rounds running from Invercargill in November 2025 to Rotorua in February 2026.
• Sustained sponsorship supports youth and off-road demand, which largely sits outside the road registration and levy system.

Key Insight

Manufacturers kept launching models and sponsoring racing while riders pursued court action, showing that suppliers are investing in demand even as ownership costs rise sharply.

New Zealand Two-Wheeler Industry Segmentation

The Expert Market Research’s report on the New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments.

Market Breakup by Propulsion Type

• Petrol
• Electric
• Diesel
• Others

Petrol leads on value, in our estimate, because the road fleet and almost all large-capacity motorcycles still use combustion engines. Electric grows fastest at an estimated 7.6% CAGR through 2035 from a small base, even though ACC sets electric levies NZ$13.43 above petrol in each band from 1 July 2026. Diesel is a very small niche and is grouped with electric in the ACC levy table. Others covers hybrid and alternative-fuel machines. Triumph's electric youth off-road bikes, announced on 15 October 2025, show that makers are targeting electric entry models.

Market Breakup by Vehicle Type

• Standard and Cruiser Motorcycles
• Adventure and Touring Motorcycles
• Sport and Performance Motorcycles
• Scooters and Mopeds
• Off-Road and Dirt Bikes
• Others

Standard and Cruiser Motorcycles lead on value, in our estimate, and are most exposed to the NZ$624.93 levy on bikes above 750cc from 1 July 2026. Adventure and Touring Motorcycles grow fastest at an estimated 3.9% CAGR through 2035, helped by mid-capacity models such as Triumph's Scrambler 400 XC. Sport and Performance Motorcycles grow slowly as buyers weigh levy costs. Scooters and Mopeds are small, with 1,191 power cycles registered in 2025. Off-Road and Dirt Bikes are supported by the Yamaha-sponsored national motocross championship from November 2025 to February 2026.

Market Breakup by Engine Capacity

• Up to 250cc
• 251cc to 750cc
• Above 750cc
• Others

251cc to 750cc leads on value, in our estimate, and now has its own levy band of NZ$442.18 for petrol bikes from July 2026. Up to 250cc grows fastest at an estimated 3.6% CAGR through 2035 because its band of NZ$311.70 is about half the largest, which suits learners and commuters. Above 750cc is the most pressured class: the riders' group estimated in August 2026 that its licence-months fell about 30% from July 2025 to July 2026. Others covers electric models not rated by engine size and unclassified imports.

Market Breakup by Region

• Auckland
• Wellington
• Canterbury
• Waikato
• Rest of New Zealand
• Others

Auckland dominates, in our estimate, as the largest city and the starting point of the 30 May 2026 Harbour Bridge protest by about 400 riders, and it grows at an estimated 2.5% CAGR through 2035 from a mature base. Waikato is the fastest-growing region at an estimated 3.3%, on commuter, rural and recreational riding. Canterbury grows at 3.0%, and about 50 riders rallied outside the Christchurch Law Courts on 22 June 2026. Wellington grows at 2.7% on compact urban commuting, and Rest of New Zealand at 2.9%.

Competitive Landscape in the New Zealand Two-Wheeler Market

Competition combines Japanese volume brands, European and American premium marques and a growing group of electric and used-import suppliers. Entry barriers include dealer and parts networks, approval to import compliant models, financing partnerships and the ability to adapt ranges to the engine-size levy bands.

Honda Motor

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, supplies road motorcycles, scooters and off-road models to New Zealand through Honda New Zealand and its dealers. A June 2026 filing showed group motorcycle unit sales of 14.67 million in the year to March 2026, up 7.2%, giving it scale in sourcing small and mid-capacity machines. Its range spans learner-friendly models to larger adventure bikes, much of it below the highest levy band.

Yamaha Motor

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan, sells motorcycles, scooters and off-road bikes in New Zealand through Yamaha Motor New Zealand. On 7 October 2025 Motorcycling New Zealand announced that the local subsidiary would again hold naming rights to the 2026 national motocross championship, its third consecutive year, with rounds from Invercargill in November 2025 to Rotorua in February 2026.

Triumph Motorcycles

Triumph Motorcycles, headquartered in Hinckley, England, sells modern classic, adventure and roadster motorcycles in New Zealand. On 15 October 2025 it announced 33 new and updated models for the 2026 model year, its largest launch programme, including the Scrambler 400 XC, TF off-road bikes and electric youth models. The company reports a network of 950 dealers in 68 countries.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson, Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sells large-capacity cruisers and touring motorcycles in New Zealand through authorised dealers. On 23 July 2026 it reported second-quarter motorcycle segment revenue of about USD 1.10 billion, up 6%, with global shipments of 39,209 units, up 9%. Its models sit mainly above 750cc, so they face the highest ACC levy band from 1 July 2026.

Other players operating in the New Zealand two-wheeler market include Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW Motorrad, Vespa, and Ducati, alongside independent importers, used-import dealers, electric scooter specialists and online sellers supplying road, off-road and electric two-wheelers to commuters, riders, farmers and fleets across New Zealand.

Key Insight

Japanese brands lead on volume and dealer reach, while European and American premium brands compete on larger-capacity models, which are now most exposed to the higher levy.