In a recent study done ranking each of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) by motorcycle ownership per capita, South Dakota ranked the best. There are a total of 69,284 motorcycles registered in the state, according to the Department of Transportation, and with a total population of 816,598, when you do the math, there’s roughly 12 people in South Dakota for every motorcycle.
Considering South Dakota is the home of the Sturgis rally, its ranking on this list may not be much of a surprise. However, coming in second may be an unlikely state: New Hampshire. With just a tick over 79,000 motorcycles registered and a population of 1.3 million, the numbers work out to approximately 17 people per bike. But consider New Hampshire is home to Laconia Bike Week and features some great riding areas (when the weather cooperates!), and the second place standing may not be so far fetched.
Iowa rounds out the top three states for motorcycle ownership per capita with 18 people per motorcycle. Considering it’s the home of Polaris Industries, owners of both Victory and Indian motorcycles, its ranking on the list isn’t surprising.
Looking at the bottom of the field, the District of Columbia ranks 51st, and last, with 172 people per motorcycle. Of the states in the Union, Mississippi is 50th (106 people per motorcycle), followed by Louisiana and Texas, with 67 and 58 people per motorcycle, respectively. When it comes to states with the highest motorcycle ownership, it’s well known that California leads that category by far, with over 800,000 motorcycles registered in the state. However, with a population of over 37 million, it ranks 43rd on the list, with 47 people per motorcycle.
The complete ranking list can be seen below.
