RumbleOn has rebranded itself as the RideNow Group, is to move its HQ from Irving, Texas to Chandler, Arizona, deploy a new NASDAQ ticker ident (RDNW) and build a new structure for its 54 powersports dealership operations. The new HQ offices are at the former independent, pre-take-over Ride Now iteration's flagship store. Cam Tkach, COO says: "Central to the company's plan is the rollout of the RideNow Way, a business framework built on three core pillars: entrepreneurial spirit, customer experience, and operational excellence. The RideNow Way will guide leaders and staff in dealerships and the company offices." Say, maybe that could catch-on!
A new law in Kentucky means that powersports vehicles like UTVs and ATVs can now be used legally on the street. Kind of. RideApart reports that Eligible off-road rigs can now be made street legal in the state, provided they pass inspection, meet safety standards and observe a few basic rules. Under the law, street-legal "special purpose vehicles" (SPVs) must be equipped with things like seatbelts, roll cages, headlights, turn signals, and mirrors. Owners have to get their rigs inspected by a certified professional, pay a registration fee, and secure insurance comparable to what motorcycles carry. Once registered, these vehicles can legally operate on public highways - but with limits. They're capped at 20 miles per trip on roads with centerline markings.
BMW Motorrad dealerships ranked highest in the 2025 Pied Piper PSI Service Telephone Effectiveness (STE) Powersports Industry Study, which measured the efficiency and quality of customer attempts to schedule service appointments by telephone. They were followed by Kubota, Triumph, Polaris Off-Road and Harley-Davidson.
Honda is to add further to its already dominant motorcycle manufacturing estate with a new production facility in Turkey. Honda Turkiye A.S. (HTR) will establish in a new factory in Aliaga, Izmir, aimed at supporting growth in the local motorcycle market and boosting global sales. The Turkish market saw a new PTW unit sales record set in 2024, reaching 162,000 motorcycles. Production is scheduled to begin in mid-2026. Initially, the plant will operate with an annual capacity of 100,000 motorcycles, with plans to increase production capacity to 200,000 units in the future. The total investment amount for the facility and equipment is approximately $20m (€ 17.3m). The plant is expected to create employment opportunities for around 300 people.
The motorcycle industry publishing sector mourns the passing of motorcycle industry magazine and trade show pioneer Larry Hester. As founder of Dealernews and Dealer Expo, those of us who have enjoyed careers in the wake of Hester, Joe Teresi, who also passed recently, must keep the flame of institutional memory alive.
LiveWire e-motorcycles are being made available for training at Bartels' Harley-Davidson Riding Academy in Marina del Rey, California - the first new rider program in the U.S. to offer certified training on LiveWire's all-electric S2 motorcycles.
The MIC says that AIMExpo 2026, taking place January 7-9 in Anaheim, California, has already surpassed 250 exhibiting companies - the fastest pace in show history - "as momentum continues to build around North America's premier powersports trade event."
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is warning that recently imposed and expanded U.S. tariffs could carry serious consequences for the powersports sector. Scott Schloegel, MIC's senior vice president of government relations said: "The MIC government relations team remains actively engaged with legislators and policymakers on the issue of tariffs. We continue to monitor the effects that broad-based tariffs may have on the powersports industry and advocate for measures to mitigate these impacts."
