Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The April 12 issue of Forbes Magazine ranks the 2000 largest companies in the world, based on sales, profits, assets and market value. Six motorcycle manufacturers made the list, including Honda, BMW, Suzuki, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Of those six, Harley-Davidson and Yamaha are the only two with a primary business of making motorcycles. Honda, BMW and Suzuki also make cars, while Kawasaki also builds trains, planes and ships.

The Forbes rankings of the six companies follows:


#49 Honda Motor, sales $67,439,000,000, profits $3,610,000,000

#74 BMW-Bayerische Motor, sales $52,226,000,000, profits $2,122,000,000

#452 Suzuki Motor, sales $17,050,000,000, profits $262,000,000

#585 Harley-Davidson, sales $4,624,000,000, profits $761,000,000

#898 Yamaha Motor, sales $8,571,000,000, profits $216,000,000

#1069 Kawasaki Heavy Industries, sales $10,487,000,000, profits $110,000,000


More information is available at forbes.com