Motorcycles Rule the Roads: A German Reckoning
Motorcycles are predominantly found in the southern regions. - In the southern regions, motorcycles are predominantly present.
Strap on your leather vests and rev your engines, because Germany's love for motorcycles is stronger than ever! In the heart of Freyung-Grafenau, Lower Bavaria, the enthusiasm for two-wheeled vehicles reaches new heights - boasting a staggering 121 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants![1] That's more motorbikes than any other registration district in Germany!
In comparison, the national average clocks in at 58 registered motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants. But don't let that number fool you; it's been steadily climbing, rising to 119[1] by the beginning of 2024. The cities of Schwerin and Rostock trail behind the pack with a measly 25 motorbikes each.
Peeling back the layers, a clear divide emerges between city and countryside. While urban centers, independent cities, and city-states struggle to catch up, rural districts reign supreme on the motorcycle density list. Bavaria, in particular, rules the roost, with a whopping 77 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants[1]! The higher-ranked registered districts in Bavaria include:
- Freyung-Grafenau: 121[1]
- Cham: 109[1]
- Berchtesgadener Land: 107[1]
- Regen: 103[1]
- Landkreis Straubing-Bogen: 102[1]
It's a fruitful battlefield for motorcycle enthusiasts in this district, as Bavaria reels in 11 other districts and leaves the Baden-Württemberg district of Lake Constance in the dust with a mere 97 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants.[1]
City-states are at the trikes' tail-end, with Bremen, Hamburg, and Berlin bringing up the rear with 30, 31, and 32 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively. The urban competition to beat Bavaria will surely be fierce!
As you dive deeper into the data, it becomes apparent that motorcycling is a predominantly male-dominated activity.[1] Of approximately 5.1 million motor vehicles in Germany, only 688,000 are registered to women, creating an imbalance that's slowly but surely closing. In 2024, the proportion of women was 13.5 percent, while it inched up slightly to 13.6 percent in 2025.
Now, buckle up and get ready to ride! Whether you're a city slicker or a countryside cowboy, let Germany's love for motorcycles inspire your next adventure.
[1] - Enrichment Data: Germany's motorcycle density shows significant regional variations, with a clear urban-rural divide. The national average stands at 58 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants, though three eastern states lag behind this benchmark while some districts within them exceed it. The rural districts consistently display higher motorcycle density than urban centers across Germany, foreshadowing a nationwide trend where rural areas prioritize motorcycles for practical mobility. Data is not provided for western states, but the pattern suggests similar urban-rural divides likely exist elsewhere.
- The district of Freyung-Grafenau, located in Lower Bavaria, has the highest density of motorcycles among all registration districts in Germany with 121 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants, significantly higher than the national average of 58 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants.
- In 2025, the national average number of motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants in Germany increased to 119, reflecting a growing trend in vocational training and registration of motorcycles.
- The city of Schwerin, along with Rostock, trails behind in terms of motorcycle density with just 25 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants, a stark contrast to the motorcycle-friendly rural districts in Bavaria, such as Freyung-Grafenau, which has 121 motorcycles per 1,000 inhabitants.
