The Chopper Under-Count: How Many Custom Motorcycles Are Really Registered in the U.S.?
by biker1
How Many Custom Motorcycles Are Really Registered in the U.S.?
Big Dog k9 motorcycle
A challenging question to answer with a precise number, mainly because of the definitional and registration issues you mentioned.
Official statistics show that “chopper” motorcycles account for a very small percentage of the overall U.S. registered motorcycle population, but this figure is widely considered an undercount due to how these custom bikes are categorized.
Here is a breakdown of the data and a reasonable estimate:
How Many Custom Motorcycles Are Really Registered in the U.S.?
American Ironhorse Texas Chopper motorcycle
1. The Official Registration Data
According to 2023 data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on registered on-road motorcycles in the U.S., the category “Chopper” is the smallest of all registered styles:
Motorcycle Style
Estimated Registered Units (2023)
Approximate Percentage of Total (8.8 Million Units)
Cruiser
Over 3.3 million
~38%
Touring
Over 2.0 million
~23%
Dual Purpose
~735,000
~8.4%
Scooter
~695,000
~7.9%
Sport
~504,000
~5.7%
Unclad Sport
~445,000
~5.0%
Standard
~419,000
~4.7%
Supersport
~195,000
~2.2%
Chopper
~33,000
~0.4%
The official registered percentage is less than 0.5%.
2. The Caveat: “Custom Construction” and VINs
The official “Chopper” category is a significant undercount for two main reasons:
Custom Builders: Many true chopper-style bikes are custom-built using aftermarket or salvaged parts and are often registered under vague categories like “Custom Construction,” “Special Construction,” or simply by the title of the original bike they were built from (e.g., a heavily modified Harley-Davidson registered as a Harley-Davidson). These registrations are not easily identifiable by their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) as factory-made choppers.
Manufacturer Decline: The major custom chopper manufacturers you mentioned (American Iron Horse, Big Dog, etc.) had their peak volume in the 2000s before the Great Recession. While Big Dog is back, the overall volume from dedicated chopper manufacturers is much lower today than it was 15-20 years ago.
My Estimated Percentage
Considering the official figure is too low and factoring in a reasonable portion of bikes registered as “Custom Construction” or heavily modified Cruisers, my belief is that the actual percentage of chopper-style motorcycles on U.S. roads is likely:
In the range of 1% to 2% of all registered motorcycles.
This range acknowledges that while the style holds a significant cultural place, it is a relatively niche segment compared to the massive volume of Cruisers (like standard Harleys), Touring bikes, and Adventure/Dual-Purpose bikes that dominate the modern market.
How Many Custom Motorcycles Are Really Registered in the U.S.?
#######
Just below I have an affiliate link directly to the manufacturer site where you can check out the full details on a great 360 camera I own & use to film many of my motorcycle rides and if you decide to purchase it directly through the link the manufacturer always include some additional bonus. Plus, at this time the manufacturer also is including air shipment and sales tax in their direct price.
Here is an affiliate link where you can check out the full details on what I think is the best compact smart tire pump for motorcycles. best compact smart tire pump for motorcycles
Here is an affiliate links where you can check out the full details on what I think is the best carburetor cleaning spry and fuel additive. Sea Foam Spray
