Russian Motorcycle Market skyrockets. Following the already strong increase reported in the previous year, during the 2024 the demand for new motorcycle was really strong and sales climbed 60.6% at 36.423, the best results in the last decade.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian economy has repeatedly defied expectations. Predictions of a double-digit contraction never materialized. On the contrary, GDP grew by 3.6 percent in 2023 and an expected 4 percent in 2024: rates that both developed and developing nations might envy.
The rapid expansion of government spending—both direct budgetary outlays and state-subsidized loan programs—has been the primary driver of Russia’s recent economic growth. From 2022 to 2024, the fiscal stimulus amounted to over 10 percent of GDP, while preferential loan portfolios in the banking sector surpassed 15 trillion rubles ($150 billion). This extraordinary expenditure has turned the military-industrial complex into the main engine of economic expansion.
The motorcycle market has seen significant changes in recent years. After a period of decline due to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the market has shown strong signs of recovery.
When Western sanctions began, Western and Japanese motorcycle manufacturers left Russia. As dealer stock depleted, sales halted. India and China increased their imports, but their bikes do not match the advanced technology and prestige of European and Japanese brands.
Following the already strong increase reported in the previous year, during the 2024 the demand for new motorcycle was really strong and sales climbed 60.6% at 36.423, the best results in the last decade.
Looking inside the competitive arena, spaces left by Western companies have been taken by Chinese and Indians. Indeed, the best selling brand is Regulmoto (+91.1%) followed by Racer (+47.0%) and Motoland (+68%).
The Motorcycles Industry in the CIS region
Motorcycle sales in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have significant potential, though current volumes are low. The CIS includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries feature cold weather, large distances between cities, and low population density.
These nations are ideal for adventure motorcycle travel but lack the per capita income to justify significant spending on recreational vehicles. Additionally, motorcycles and scooters are not as popular for commuting as in other regions.
MotorCyclesData has tracked new motorcycle sales registrations in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan since 2012. This data is available by subscription.
Since Russia traditionally accounts for over 50% of the region’s sales, our focus is on this market, despite Ukraine’s market being three times larger. Information on Ukraine is available upon request.