News You Can Use Exercise: 6 Explosive Stories Igniting the U.S. Motorcycle Scene, July 7–12, 2025
From Suzuki’s Retro Thunder to LiveWire’s Electric Skid, Here’s What’s Fueling the Two-Wheeled Frenzy
By Raine Devries @
The Sizzling Stories Revving Up the U.S. Motorcycle Scene, July 7–12, 2025
From vintage vibes to electric dreams hitting speed bumps, these stories are packed with the grit, glory, and guts of our two-wheeled passion. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a daily rider, strap on your helmet and dive into the latest buzz that’s got the motorcycle community roaring. Let’s roll!
Suzuki Steals the Spotlight as 2025 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque
Buckle up for a nostalgic ride! Suzuki’s been crowned the Marque of the Year for the 2025 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, hitting Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from July 25–27. Think retro Suzukis gleaming in the sun, demo rides that’ll make your heart race, and a swap meet so massive it’s a gearhead’s paradise. With Turn 14 Distribution presenting, this event’s a love letter to Suzuki’s century-long legacy of building bikes that scream freedom. Planning to hit Lexington, Ohio? You’ll want to park your rig and soak in the vintage glory.
Why It Matters: This is the event for classic bike lovers, and Suzuki’s star turn means rare finds and epic stories. Check it out to connect with the roots of motorcycling.
BMW’s F 450 GS Adventure Bike Drops a Bombshell
Hold onto your handlebars—BMW just unleashed details on the F 450 GS at BMW Motorrad Days in Germany on July 7, 2025. This adventure beast, packing a 450cc parallel twin with 47.3bhp and a featherlight 175kg frame, is ready to conquer trails and tarmac. Manual or semi-auto, it’s built for riders who crave versatility without breaking the bank. Set to hit U.S. dealers before 2026, this bike’s already got ADV riders buzzing like a swarm of hornets.
Why It Matters: The F 450 GS is BMW’s bold move to dominate the mid-range adventure market. Start saving your pennies—this one’s gonna be a game-changer.
Harley-Davidson Homecoming Rocked by Storms, but the Party Raged On
The Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival was held this weekend in Milwaukee; however, action kicked off with an immediate speed bump when severe weather—think tornado watches and record rainfall—canceled Friday’s Veterans Park concerts, including Hank Williams Jr.’s headliner set. Organizers evacuated the park around 6 p.m. on July 11, but they’re keeping the vibe alive with refunds for Friday’s tickets (full for one-day, 50% for two-day passes).
Saturday’s events, headlined by Chris Stapleton, were back on with calmer skies, and the festival’s still packing heat with motorcycle showcases, demo rides, and local dealer rallies.
KTM Roars Through Sales Slump with Rider Grit
KTM’s got that never-say-die spirit! Despite a sales dip to 100,391 bikes in the first half of 2025 (down from 147,496 last year), the Austrian giant’s holding strong, as reported on July 11. Their secret sauce? The ORANGE BOARD, a crew of 15 riders from around the world giving real-world feedback to keep KTM’s bikes razor-sharp. With restructuring underway, KTM’s proving it’s got the heart to keep leading the U.S. off-road and street scene.
Why It Matters: KTM’s resilience means more badass bikes for us. Watch for their next moves—they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
Honda Recall Rocks Riders with Tire Troubles
Heads up, Honda fans! A recall’s shaking things up, with Sumitomo tire defects prompting Honda to pull some bikes from U.S. roads, as noted on X on July 9, 2025. Details are trickling in, but safety’s the name of the game. If you’re riding a Honda, hit up your dealer to check if your rig’s affected. Nothing says “ride smart” like staying ahead of the curve.
According to Janaki Jitchotvisut @ RideApart.com:
American Honda is recalling certain 2024 NC750X motorcycles due to a manufacturing defect with their front tires. On affected units, the interior ply-cord inside the tire could loosen and unravel, which could lead to accelerated structural damage. The tire in question was made by Sumitomo, which was changing certain processes at the time, which may have contributed to this issue but have since been rectified in production bikes.
Only units produced between February 4, 2024 and August 1, 2024 are included in this recall. Approximately 112 motorcycles may be affected, representing around 30% of the population according to American Honda's records. As of June 19, 2025, Honda has so far not received any warranty claims or reports of injuries or deaths related to this issue.
Why It Matters: This recall’s a reminder to keep your bike in top shape. Stay safe out there, and don’t let a bad tire kill your vibe.
LiveWire’s Electric Dreams Hit a Speed Bump
Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire took a hit, with Q1 2025 sales plummeting 72% to just 33 units, per X posts on July 6. Blame tariffs, economic headwinds, or maybe just not enough juice in the electric market yet. As Harley shifts some production to Thailand to dodge EU tariffs, the U.S. electric bike scene’s feeling the pinch. Can LiveWire spark a comeback?
Why It Matters: Electric bikes might be the future, but the road is bumpy. This news could shift how riders view EVs—stay tuned for what’s next.
