The FIM traces its origins to the Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes (FICM), which was founded in Paris on 21 December 1904, with the British Auto-Cycle Union among the founding members. The FICM was dissolved in 1906 but reconstituted in 1912, this time with headquarters in England. The following year it organised the Six Days Reliability Trial, the first major international event of the revived body.
In 1949 the name changed to the Fédération Internationale Motocycliste, and that same year the first Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix was held, establishing the series that would become the foundation of grand prix motorcycle racing. Headquarters moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1959.
The organisation relocated again in 1994 to Mies, Switzerland, where it occupied a purpose-built building shaped in the form of a stylised motorcycle wheel. That year also saw the publication of the FIM's Environmental Code, making it the first international sporting federation to issue such a document. In 1998 the name was updated once more — to its current form, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme — at a congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
Recognition from the International Olympic Committee was granted provisionally in 1998 and confirmed as full status at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The organisation's centenary was marked at a congress in Paris in October 2004.
Since 2018, Jorge Viegas of Portugal has served as President of the FIM. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the FIM banned all Russian and Belarusian riders, teams, officials, and competitions on 6 March 2022.
In 2024 the FIM moved to a new headquarters building adjacent to its previous location in Mies, while the original 1994 building was converted into the Racing Motorcycle Museum, which opened on 18 February 2026.
The FIM's remit covers ten motorcycle racing disciplines spanning a wide range of formats and terrains.
The FIM's premier road racing series is the MotoGP World Championship, the pinnacle of grand prix motorcycle racing. Supporting world championships include Moto2 and Moto3, together with the Moto3 Junior World Championship and the MotoMini World Series. In the production-based category the FIM sanctions the Superbike World Championship, the Supersport World Championship, and the Sportbike World Championship. The Women's Circuit Racing World Championship provides a dedicated series for female riders. The MotoE World Championship, an all-electric class that operated from 2019, was placed on hiatus after the 2025 season. Regional support competitions include the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and various European and Asian cups.
The FIM oversees the International Six Days Enduro, a historic event predating the Federation itself, as well as the Endurance World Championship for long-distance circuit racing. Off-road disciplines include Enduro, Hard Enduro, SuperEnduro, and Supermoto.
The Speedway Grand Prix series is among the FIM's flagship competitions, alongside the Speedway World Cup and Speedway of Nations. Long Track racing, Flat Track, and Ice Speedway round out the track-racing portfolio.
The Trial World Championship and X-Trial World Championship represent the trials discipline. The World Rally-Raid Championship and the Bajas World Cup cover long-distance off-road navigation events.
The FIM sanctions the Motocross World Championship, including women's and junior variants, the Motocross des Nations, and the Supercross World Championship, as well as Snowcross and Sidecarcross.
In 2019 the FIM introduced its own helmet testing and homologation programme. Manufacturers submit helmets for laboratory testing to verify they meet the FIM's protective standards before they may be used in competition.
Beyond competition, the FIM promotes motorcycle sport through safety initiatives and public policy engagement. It established a Commission for Women in Motorcycling in 2007 to advance the participation of women in the sport and in powered two-wheeler use more broadly.