By TVBikerDad.com

If you ride a motorcycle, the latest U.S.-Canada trade fight just got a lot more interesting.

The Trump administration has announced that the United States will ban imports of certain motorcycles and mopeds manufactured in Canada beginning September 29, 2026.

And while the headline sounds like it could affect motorcycles from a long list of manufacturers, the reality is much more specific.

This is not a ban on motorcycles from Harley-Davidson, Indian, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW, Ducati or Triumph.

The new restriction is aimed at motorcycles coming from Canada that fall into the affected engine-size category.

According to the Associated Press, the motorcycles targeted by the new action make up the vast majority of motorcycles the U.S. imports from Canada. However, Canadian motorcycles represented less than 9% of the total value of motorcycles imported into the United States in 2025 — about $80.6 million out of $943.7 million. (AP News)

So what does this actually mean for American riders?

THE BIG ONE: CAN-AM

The manufacturer getting the most immediate attention is Can-Am, the powersports brand owned by Canadian manufacturer BRP.

BRP has confirmed that its Can-Am Spyder and Can-Am Canyon models manufactured at its facility in Valcourt, Quebec, will be excluded from the U.S. market when the new restriction takes effect September 29.

That is a significant hit because the Spyder and Canyon are large-displacement three-wheel machines that are sold throughout the United States.

BRP has also indicated that the immediate financial impact should be limited because much of the current-season production and shipping has already been completed. (RideFirst)

What about the Can-Am Ryker?

This is where things get interesting.

Not every Can-Am motorcycle or three-wheeler is necessarily caught by the same restriction simply because it carries the Can-Am name.

BRP manufactures different Can-Am models in different countries. The company’s own filings show that its Can-Am lineup includes the Spyder, Ryker and Canyon three-wheel vehicles, as well as the electric Pulse and Origin motorcycles. (SEC)

The Ryker’s production has been transitioning to Vietnam, while the Pulse and Origin are electric motorcycles and therefore fall outside the specific internal-combustion engine classification being targeted by this particular restriction. (SEC)

In other words:

Brand name alone doesn’t determine whether a motorcycle is affected. Manufacturing location and the vehicle’s classification matter.

IS HARLEY-DAVIDSON AFFECTED?

Not by this specific Canadian motorcycle import ban.

Harley-Davidson is an American manufacturer, and its motorcycles aren’t suddenly prohibited from entering the United States because of this action.

The same basic principle applies to other major motorcycle brands whose affected models are manufactured outside Canada.

That means riders shouldn’t read the headline and assume that a 1,000cc-plus Harley, Indian, Honda or Yamaha is suddenly illegal to buy in America.

The restriction is aimed at qualifying Canadian-origin motorcycles — not every motorcycle over a certain engine size regardless of where it was built.

WHAT ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE?

Indian Motorcycle is also not the target of this Canadian import ban simply because many of its motorcycles have large-displacement engines.

Indian is an American motorcycle brand, and the Canadian-origin restriction does not turn Indian’s large touring and cruiser models into prohibited imports.

The same distinction is important for consumers shopping for motorcycles right now.

WHAT ABOUT HONDA, YAMAHA, KAWASAKI, SUZUKI, BMW AND TRIUMPH?

Again, the brand name isn’t what determines whether a motorcycle is covered.

Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW, Ducati, Triumph and other manufacturers build motorcycles in numerous countries around the world.

A motorcycle manufactured in Japan, Thailand, India, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom or another country isn’t suddenly subject to this particular Canadian import prohibition just because it has an engine larger than 800cc.

The key question is:

Where was the motorcycle manufactured, and does it fall under the specific tariff classification covered by the U.S. action?

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

The motorcycle restrictions are part of a much larger escalation in the trade dispute between the United States and Canada.

The U.S. had already imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian products. Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs of its own.

The newest U.S. action goes beyond simply making Canadian products more expensive.

It actually blocks certain products from entering the United States beginning September 29. (AP News)

Motorcycles are being targeted along with categories including alcoholic beverages, certain dairy products, whey and molasses.

The U.S. Commerce Department says Canada’s countermeasures include tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on specified American-origin goods. (Trade.gov)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR RIDERS?

For the average American motorcycle shopper, probably not much — unless you’re specifically looking at one of the affected Canadian-built models.

But for Can-Am customers, the situation could become very important.

If you’re shopping for a new Spyder or Canyon, September 29 is now a date worth remembering.

Dealers could be dealing with inventory questions, supply interruptions and uncertainty about when — or whether — additional Canadian-built motorcycles will be allowed into the country.

And if the trade dispute continues to escalate, the bigger concern could be parts, components and future production decisions.

BRP has already been dealing with substantial tariff-related costs. The company recently estimated that tariffs could cost it approximately $425 million over two years, despite efforts to offset those costs. (Yahoo Finance)

THE BOTTOM LINE

The headline may make it sound like America is banning big motorcycles from Canada across the board.

That’s not quite the story.

The new measure is aimed at qualifying motorcycles and mopeds manufactured in Canada, with the most visible impact currently falling on BRP’s Canadian-built Can-Am Spyder and Canyon.

So if you’re riding a Harley-Davidson, Indian, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW, Ducati or Triumph, don’t panic because your bike has a big engine.

This particular action is about Canadian-origin motorcycles and the specific classifications covered by the new trade restrictions.

But for Can-Am riders and anyone considering a new Spyder or Canyon, this is a story worth watching.

Because in the middle of a trade war, the next question isn’t just what does your motorcycle cost?

It’s becoming:

“Where was it built?”

TVBikerDad.com will continue following the motorcycle industry’s response as the September 29 deadline approaches.