America Builds More Than Harleys
Ask someone to name an American motorcycle company and you will hear one answer. But the United States builds a far wider range of machines than most riders realize: century-old marques reborn, boutique builders machining bikes from billet, and electric manufacturers setting land speed records. Here are the American motorcycle brands worth knowing beyond Harley-Davidson: Indian, Buell, ARCH, Lightning, Zero, and a pair of newer builders to watch.
1. Indian Motorcycle, Spirit Lake, Iowa
Once the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, Indian is the historic counterweight to Harley, and its modern lineup leans into the same territory: big bobbers, baggers, tourers, and cruisers. Indian retired its flat track inspired FTR line after the 2024 model year and rebuilt the Scout family for 2025 around a new 1,250cc liquid cooled V-twin. As a general guide, the standard Scout models produce about 105 horsepower, while the limited edition 101 Scout is tuned to roughly 111 horsepower. For riders who want American cruiser DNA without the bar-and-shield badge, Indian is the most direct alternative on this list.
2. Buell Motorcycles, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Buell’s history runs through Harley itself: the company built sportbikes around Harley engines, Harley took a majority stake in 1998, and production ended in 2009. Founder Erik Buell carried on with Erik Buell Racing until 2015, and the brand returned under new ownership in 2021 as Buell Motorcycle Co. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its flagship remains the Hammerhead 1190, a sportbike built around a 72 degree V-twin producing 185 horsepower and 102 lb-ft of torque on an aluminum fuel-in-frame chassis with a single perimeter front brake. The company has also announced the Super Cruiser, a Roland Sands designed performance cruiser it has been taking reservations for.
3. ARCH Motorcycle, Hawthorne, California
Co-founded by Keanu Reeves in 2011, ARCH builds made-to-order machines that sit somewhere between performance cruiser and rolling sculpture: billet aluminum, carbon fiber, and custom suspension on every build. The 1s is the standout, pairing a 120 horsepower V-twin with a single-sided swingarm, carbon wheels, and ISR brakes. Pricing matches the craftsmanship: as a general guide the KRGT-1 starts around $85,000 and the 1s runs well into six figures. Every ARCH is built to its owner’s spec, which is precisely the point.
4. Lightning Motorcycles, San Carlos, California
Founded by Richard Hatfield in 2006, Lightning went electric before it was fashionable and then went fast: its SuperBike set land speed records at Bonneville, and the production LS-218 takes its name from the 218 mph top speed that still places it among the fastest production motorcycles ever offered. The liquid cooled 150kW motor makes about 200 horsepower, reaches 62 mph in roughly 2.2 seconds, and delivers around 180 miles of range. Lightning builds in small numbers on a reservation basis; the LS-218 has carried a list price of about $38,888 in recent years, and the lower priced Strike brought its starting figure under $20,000 when introduced.
5. Zero Motorcycles, Scotts Valley, California
Zero is the volume leader in American electric motorcycles, with a full lineup rather than a single halo bike. The flagship adventure model, the DSR/X, pairs the largest battery in the range, rated at up to roughly 180 miles of city riding, with a Bosch stability, traction, and ABS package and an upright, long-wheelbase adventure stance. The Cypher operating system manages the motor, battery, and rider modes from a phone app, and Zero has pushed downmarket in recent years with smaller, lower priced models aimed at first time electric riders.
Newer American Builders to Watch
The list keeps growing. Janus Motorcycles of Goshen, Indiana builds small displacement, hand assembled machines with a vintage look, sold factory direct in limited numbers. On the electric side, California based Ryvid launched the lightweight Anthem commuter in 2022 and has kept its starting price under $10,000, one of the most affordable routes into an American built electric motorcycle.
Buying One From Across the Country? How the Bike Gets to You
Most of the brands on this list sell factory direct, through a handful of dealers, or by reservation, which means the bike you want is rarely in your city. That is where we come in: Ship A Car arranges nationwide motorcycle shipping with carriers equipped for two-wheel transport, including enclosed trailers for the kind of machines above that deserve full weather and road-debris protection. A new ARCH or a vintage Indian rides strapped to a purpose-built deck, not rolled onto a general freight truck. Price a route in seconds with the transport calculator or call (866) 821-4555.
Quick Answers
What American motorcycle brands exist besides Harley-Davidson?
The established names are Indian (cruisers and tourers), Buell (sportbikes), ARCH (custom performance cruisers), and the electric makers Lightning and Zero, with smaller builders like Janus and Ryvid growing the list.
Which American brand is best for a first electric motorcycle?
Zero offers the broadest lineup and dealer network, and its smaller models are aimed at exactly that rider. Ryvid’s Anthem is the budget-friendly newcomer worth a look.
How do I ship a motorcycle I bought out of state?
Use a transport service with motorcycle-specific equipment: soft tie-downs, wheel chocks, and ideally an enclosed trailer for high-value bikes. Ship A Car coordinates door-to-door motorcycle transport anywhere in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii.
