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Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026

Does SD have some of the highest motorcycle ownership rates?

Michael Klinski, South Dakota News Watch
yes

South Dakota residents have some of the highest motorcycle ownership rates in the country, according to multiple years of data.

The Motley Fool ranked South Dakota No. 1 using 2012 data (one motorcycle owner per 12 residents), with New Hampshire second. At the time, the state’s share of motorcycle ownership in the country was 0.82%.

Another analysis using 2021 data put South Dakota at third behind Montana and New Hampshire, with the Rushmore State reporting 5,754 motorcycle owners per 100,000 people.

Despite a shorter riding season than states in the southern part of the country, South Dakota’s motorcycle ownership is boosted by hosting the largest motorcycle rally in the world every year. In 2025, 537,459 vehicles attended the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – up 14% from 2024.

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