Powersports Business June 2026 | Motorcycle

Harley recalls more than 88,000 motorcycles over crankcase pressure issue 

Harley-Davidson is recalling approximately 88,039 motorcycles across multiple 2024–2026 model-year units due to a potential engine issue that could increase the risk of rider injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

The recall (NHTSA ID: 26V270000) involves select FLTRX, FLHX, FXBR, FLFB, FLHXU, FLTRXL, FLTRT, FLHXL, and FLHLT models equipped with an airbox baseplate that may have a blocked breather port. The defect can allow pressure to build inside the crankcase. 

If the dipstick is removed while the crankcase is pressurized, and the pressure is not slowly released before removing the dipstick, oil may be discharged from the fill spout, creating a risk of injury. Accordingly, Harley has voluntarily declared that this condition constitutes a safety defect to allow it to formally recall all affected motorcycles. 

Harley-Davidson dealers have been instructed to inspect the breather port and repair any blockage at no cost to owners. Notification began being mailed on May 11.  

Owners can contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464 and reference recall number 0193 for more information. VIN lookup for affected units is available through NHTSA.    


KYMCO USA rolls out Downtown GT 350i scooter to dealers 

KYMCO USA has introduced the Downtown GT 350i, a new middleweight scooter aimed at expanding opportunities for dealers targeting both urban commuters and longer-distance riders. 

Positioned as a step up from the brand’s 125cc offering, the Downtown GT 350i is powered by a 321cc SOHC liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine producing 28.2 horsepower. The model aims to balance agility for city riding with stability for highway use, broadening its appeal across multiple consumer segments. 

The scooter arrives with a suite of premium features increasingly expected in the category, including traction control, ABS braking, and an Emergency Stop Signal system that flashes rear lights under hard braking. A seven-inch TFT digital display and keyless ignition system further enhance the unit’s tech-forward positioning. 

For dealers, the addition strengthens KYMCO’s street-focused lineup with a higher-displacement option designed to capture riders seeking more performance without stepping into full motorcycle categories.    


Moto Morini enters lightweight ADV battle with new Vettore 450 

Moto Morini is expanding its adventure motorcycle lineup with the launch of the new Vettore 450, a lightweight ADV model aimed at riders seeking premium features and off-road capability at an entry-level price point. 

Announced in January from the company’s U.S. headquarters in Irvine, California, the Vettore 450 arrives as a purpose-built middleweight adventure motorcycle featuring a new chassis platform, long-travel KYB suspension, tubeless spoked wheels, and a 449cc parallel twin engine. 

Moto Morini says the Vettore 450 was engineered to balance highway comfort with true off-road capability, targeting one of the fastest-growing segments in the powersports industry. 

At the heart of the motorcycle is a liquid-cooled 449cc parallel twin featuring a 270-degree crankshaft configuration that produces a claimed 45 horsepower and 31 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed transmission and slipper-assist clutch designed to improve control on technical terrain and during aggressive downshifting. 

The Vettore 450 rides on a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel combination fitted with CST tires, while suspension duties are handled by fully adjustable 41mm KYB inverted forks with 8.2 inches of travel and a KYB rear shock offering preload and rebound adjustment with 7.5 inches of travel. 

Braking components include a radial-mounted four-piston front caliper with a 320mm rotor and a two-piston rear setup with a 255mm rotor. Rider aids include switchable ABS, traction control, and two selectable ride modes. 

The bike also features a rally-inspired design with a narrow seat-to-tank junction, six-position adjustable handlebars, full LED lighting, an adjustable windscreen, and standard adventure-focused equipment, including hand guards, a skid plate, and a center stand. 

Technology highlights include a six-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity, integrated navigation support, and USB-A and USB-C charging ports. 

Moto Morini is positioning the Vettore 450 aggressively on price, announcing an MSRP of $6,499. The motorcycle will also be backed by the company’s three-year unlimited-mile warranty program. 

The Vettore 450 joins a growing field of lightweight adventure motorcycles as manufacturers continue targeting riders looking for approachable, versatile machines capable of both commuting and off-road travel.    


Sonic flexes automotive muscle to strengthen powersports presence  

By Chris Officer | Associate editor

Already one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S., Sonic Automotive is making an aggressive push into the two-wheel market, and with 20 dealerships across the U.S., it is also poised on becoming one of the country’s largest powersports retailers.    

Sonic’s latest positioning within the powersports segment came in April, after the company acquired five Harley-Davidson dealerships across key U.S. markets as part of its ongoing growth strategy. 

The newly acquired stores — located in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina — expand Sonic’s reach in some of the country’s most active and all-season riding regions and deepen its presence within the Harley-Davidson dealer network. 

“It’s a very exciting time for us,” said Sonic Automotive President and Director Jeff Dyke when he joined PSB during a Power Hour podcast. “These acquisitions will help balance out some of the stores in northern states that we own, which kind of shut down during the wintertime.” 

These latest acquisitions increase Sonic’s powersports presence in the Southern half of the U.S., which consisted of a collection of stores in Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. Dyke says it’s a big boost when dealerships, particularly those in the Southern and Western U.S., can sell year-round.  

“When we’re really selling 24-7 in those environments versus when it’s snowing and icy outside, and we’re just not selling a lot of motorcycles … It makes all the difference in the world.” 

Sonic’s extension into powersports was a natural fit, and acquiring independently owned dealerships across the country was something the company had plenty of experience doing. Sonic essentially just plugged its business model of snapping up auto dealerships into powersports. But acquiring dealerships across the U.S. is just one element of Sonic’s growth. Developing and implementing operating procedures is also key, and a process that takes time. How much time?  

“Four or five months of good solid work for our team just to get in there and get into the environment and the culture the way that we want,” Dyke says. “We expect the guest experience in our stores to be exceptional. Sonic Automotive is really known for that.” But putting Sonic’s own specific imprint on all its acquisitions isn’t a universal recipe. Location, brands, technology … they all hold relevance. However, one area of a dealership that Sonic doesn’t change is the name.  

“There’s a lot of equity in the names,” Dyke says. “We’re going to let the original names ride. There’s just too much value in them.”  

The Harley brand 

Harley-Davidson is another example of Sonic respecting the built-in capital. Harley dealerships represent a little more than half of Sonic’s powersports portfolio, and Dyke says the company isn’t in the business of going in and switching everything around, as there’s too much brand equity in the Harley name.  

What Sonic does do is take proven methods it’s developed in the auto industry and apply them to powersports, such as updating facilities and implementing new technologies.  

Advertising is another element Sonic taps into. As Dyke explains, some dealership acquisitions didn’t allocate significant resources to marketing, and that’s something Dyke says Sonic can really leave a strong signature. “These stores really haven’t ever spent any money from an advertising perspective,” Dyke says. “We’re bringing a lot of that to the table, and not just traditional-type advertising, but from a social media perspective and really dialing into consumers on where they’re shopping and how they want to shop.”  

And with Harley-Davidson being such a large component of its powersports operations, Sonic has been keeping a close eye on The Motor Company’s recent corporate reset, saying it’s been encouraged by the new CEO’s vision. 

“The brand, I think, is making a great iconic comeback. It’s a lot of fun to watch,” Dyke says. “Their new leadership is great. We’re having a lot of fun watching them do their thing.” 

Sturgis sales surge 

Sonic showed what its processes can lead to when applied to powersports, and it was on full display last August during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.  

During Sturgis, Sonic’s five dealerships in the Black Hills — including the newly opened Sturgis Harley-Davidson — sold more than 1,100 motorcycles during the 10-day event.  

And that included moving metal to customers from every corner of the U.S., with numbers showing that unit sales were registered in all 50 states. 

Four days had surpassed the 100-unit mark, including a single-day peak of 135 motorcycles that set a new sales record, eclipsing the previous high of 86. 

By the end of 2025, Black Hills Harley-Davidson ranked as the No. 1 Harley-Davidson dealership in the U.S. for combined new and pre-owned sales, while the new Sturgis Harley-Davidson location debuted as the second-highest volume store nationwide. 

During the Sturgis sales surge, Sonic mobilized more than 500 team members to assist with inventory, F&I processes, and technician help. This strategy, Dyke says, is Sonic’s plan to use in the future to maximize sales, and not just at Sturgis, but with other major motorcycling events like Daytona Bike Week. It’s another key benefit of having such a diverse dealership portfolio that is spread throughout the country.  

“We even let some of the automotive technicians who have Harley experience come up and turn a wrench for us during that time frame,” Dyke says. “So it’s all hands on deck. Everybody shows up. Everybody wants to go, and we make it a fun time.” 

With that collective effort, Dyke says he envisions sales to increase, perhaps even five times its record-setting output.   

“We don’t see 1,100 bikes as a particularly high number,” he continues. “We believe we can sell 5,000 bikes. But to do that, you need the inventory and the trust of the manufacturer — which we’ve done.”  

When Sonic first jumped into the powersports scene, Dyke says the company was bringing in around $50 million to $60 million in annual revenue. Today, that number is now pushing $300 million annually. But despite the large sales, Dyke stresses it’s more about the process than the numbers.    

“Revenue in the auto retail world is strange because our average selling price is $50,000. So, when you sell a unit, you make a lot of revenue,” he says. “The important thing is the margins. How many are we selling? How much of the gross are we keeping?”  

Dyke adds that Sonic will keep striking while the iron is hot, look for more growth opportunities, and show customers how the company sets itself apart from the competition. 

“We’re trying to do is establish our footprint in powersports and really let the world know the difference that you get when you come into one of our stores,” Dyke says. “We’ve got plenty of inventory. We’ve got incredible merchandise and great training. Our teammates are armed with technology, and we’re not done yet. We’re going to keep growing. We love this business. The margins are fantastic, and there are so many opportunities out across the country for us to get involved in.”   


Husqvarna announces refreshed motocross lineup for 2027 

Husqvarna Mobility’s 2027 motocross lineup includes a range of machines from 50cc to 450cc with both two-stroke and four-stroke options, offering a motocross platform suitable for riders of all abilities. 

The complete 2027 motocross range is updated with distinctive aesthetics. The light and agile chromium-molybdenum frames are now powder-coated white. 

The lineup features advanced chassis and suspension technology, stability, and rider comfort. The latest WP XACT suspension components, combined with refined ergonomics, contribute to feedback and control across a wide range of riding conditions, from competitive track use to recreational riding. 

Both the two-stroke and four-stroke — along with the three minicycles for young riders — are designed with a focus on ease of use and consistent, reliable performance across a variety of environments. 


Two-stroke range 


Four-stroke range 


Technical highlights 


2027 minicycle line-up 


Technical highlights