The piece you're about to read has been written, rewritten, reconsidered, tossed out a window, thrown out a plane without a parachute, deleted, restored, rejiggered, baked, fried, partially hydrogenated, baked in a tabletop convection oven/air fryer, and probably a few more steps I'm forgetting.
But I've learned to make peace with the chaos; or, at least, so I tell myself. And that's why I'm presenting it now. As and when there are updates (which there probably will be, since this is very much a live and d/evolving issue), I will be sure to add them (complete with dates) here in an attempt to keep things as tidy and digestible as I can.
Here's the thing: I think most people want their families, friends, and neighbors to have good-paying, meaningful, reliable jobs. This is true everywhere in the world, no matter where you call home.
I think a lot of people are dissatisfied with the offshoring and outsourcing approach that major companies have been engaging in across untold numbers of industries for literal decades. And I think a lot of people hold a dream in their heart of those jobs (and whole industries) returning to the US, even if they're fuzzy on the exact details of how that could (or should) happen.
The thing is, even in a best-case scenario, there are multiple reasons why that can't (and won't) happen overnight. Pick any industry you like, and you'll see small business owners talking about how they're going to be priced out of whatever market they're in due to these tariffs.
At the time of writing, some of the most onerous tariffs have been "temporarily paused" by the US administration for a period of 90 days, but the escalation of tariff battling with China is still very much in place. (At the time of writing, the US has announced 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, to which China has responded with 125% tariffs on US imports. That may well have changed by the time you read this, since it seemingly changes by the hour.)
And that affects too many industries to count, including powersports. Also including e-mobility and EVs, particularly; people up and down the e-bike industry are already lamenting how effectively their industry is about to be decimated, even though it's incredibly popular.
That story, by the way, is about a company called Vintage Electric Bikes, which does actually build its e-bikes in the US. But regardless of that fact, these tariffs will impact most of the components those American workers use to build those bikes.
When you think about things at a more granular level like that, you start to get a tiny glimpse of a major flaw in the reasoning behind these tariffs—unless you're willfully blind to it. And even if you couldn't care less about e-bikes, they're far from the only industry where a situation like this is the case.
That's Great, But What Are Powersports Companies Actually Doing?
RideApart reached out to powersports manufacturers that sell in the US to ask for comment. Here's what they've told us so far. Not everyone we asked responded by the time of publication; as and when we receive any additional responses, we'll be sure to add them to this piece so it's all in one place.
BMW Motorrad North America
A BMW NA representative told us that the company is currently evaluating the situation, but feels it is too early to be able to comment in detail.
BRP (parent company of Can-Am, Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, and Rotax)
According to a BRP representative, the company says that its vehicles comply with the USMCA agreement, and are thus not subject to the tariffs. However, that representative cautioned that parts, accessories, and apparel imported into the US may face new delays as the company adjusts to new US Customs requirements.
Honda
A Honda representative described the situation as "very fluid," and said they don't have much information to share at this time.
Kove
A Kove representative told us that, "Basically we will continue to be as price sensitive and competitive as we can. The current MSRP pricing on the USA website is including the latest rounds of tariffs. We will adjust as needed. Currently motorcycles have a 30% tariff on them which we build into our pricing and a 50% tariff on spare parts."
KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas
A KTM representative told us that, "At KTM, GasGas, and Husqvarna, we are closely monitoring the situation and evaluating how the tariffs will affect our operations. As always, we remain committed to providing high-quality products while ensuring that our customers continue to have access to our motorcycles and parts. While I don’t have any specific details to share at this stage, I can assure you that our teams are actively working on solutions."
Piaggio Group Americas (Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, and Vespa)
A PGA representative told us that the company is currently still deliberating the best course of action.
Polaris (including Indian Motorcycle)
A Polaris representative told us that they don't have any specifics to share at this time.
Suzuki
A Suzuki representative told us that since the landscape keeps changing, they unfortunately don't have a comment at this time.
Triumph
A Triumph representative told us that "Triumph is closely monitoring the tariffs and are in touch with our partners to reveal any potential affect they may have in the course of our business operations."
Where Do The US Import Tariffs and Powersports Stand Right Now?
As you're probably aware, on April 2, 2025, the US president announced a slew of tariffs, inexplicably including places like the Heard and McDonald Islands (which are uninhabited by humans, and raise questions as to how the penguins and seals that live there will pay). A blanket 10% import tariff was announced for nations not singled out by larger amounts, and excluding Canada and Mexico since they'd already had new import tariffs announced in March.
But then, on April 9, 2025, the US president announced a 90-day pause on tariffs above that baseline 10% amount for most nations. For those hoping that the tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods would lift, the White House later clarified that those tariffs will remain in place for the time being.
90 days is a long time, so anything can (and probably will) happen during that time period. But if the import tariffs originally announced on April 2 do come back, we've created a searchable database showing where your favorite OEMs make the machines you love, as well as what those tariff amounts would be.
To use it, type either a country name or an OEM name into the search bar here, and you should see the amount of US import tariffs they will be subject to if the amounts announced on April 2, 2025 come into effect.
It's not clear at this point what's going to happen. On one hand, it can be frustrating when multiple companies offer statements that don't tell you very much; but on the other, with how chaotic the changes have been, it's difficult not to see their point. Planning right now is nigh on impossible at multiple levels, because planning usually relies on at least some semblance of certainty.
Also, it's worth noting that all the information contained in the searchable database above is for complete powersports vehicles; not components or parts. Since all vehicles (powersports, automotive, and otherwise) use parts and components that are sourced from all over the globe, there are undoubtedly additional tariff factors to consider.
Use a Bosch ECU? That's the EU. What about your Brembo brakes, or your Öhlins/KYB/Marzocchi suspension, or your Michelin/Pirelli/Metzeler tires? Maybe you're like me, and you do something crazy like stick Vesrah brake pads and Venhill braided stainless steel brake lines on a bike or two.
All of those component makers are located in different countries, with different tariff rates that could potentially be applied. Whether you're an enthusiast who sources these things for yourself to install on your machines, or you're an OEM working at a wholesale level to outfit your vehicles with parts to the spec that you want, these supply chains will likely all be affected.
