Archive for the ‘American Motorcyclist Association’ Category

« Older Entries

Final 2 Of 10 Threats To Motorcycling

Monday, September 21st, 2026


E-bikes: Threat or promise?

Figured I ought to finish this up. In May American Motorcyclist magazine published a piece on the “10 Biggest Threats to Motorcycling” and I’ve been running through them. Here are numbers 9 and 10.

Distracted Driving
Do I really need to explain this? We’ve all seen the danger, and some of us have suffered the consequences, when people look at their cellphones when they should be paying attention to the road. And other than pedestrians or bicyclists there is no one out there more vulnerable than us. What really matters here is the fix for the problem.

Per the AMA, the way to go is for more states to pass legislation increasing penalties for distracted driving. They do not specifically cite use of cellphones; rather, they focus on all modes of distracted driving. That makes sense. You’re just as badly hurt if the driver was searching for something in a purse as you would be if there was a cellphone involved.

Also, “the AMA supports the prominent placement of signage that notifies roadway users that the state provides specific sanctions for those convicted of moving violations while operating a motor vehicle in a distracted or inattentive manner.”

Does that really go far enough? Probably not, but until all states get on this bandwagon I guess we ought to at least focus on making these basic approaches universal.

E-Bikes, Bad Behavior & Unintended Regulations
I see I’m not the only one who has been harping on the issues with the proliferation of power-assisted bicycles and small electric bikes. Additionally, after writing about this topic a few times I recently received emails from folks associated with Bicycle Colorado, asking me to join with them in addressing the issue because they see it as a threat as well. As one of their emails said, they support the increased options for mobility but “their rapid rise has outpaced the safety measures needed to keep everyone protected.”

The concern the AMA raises is primarily unintended or unfair regulation that might group motorcyclists in with all these (mostly) kids who are riding recklessly and creating the issue. But the AMA is also concerned about their safety, at least to the extent that any two-wheeled crash involving a motor reflects badly on motorcycling.

The fix, says the AMA, “starts with responsible, law-abiding motorcyclists having a strong incentive to promote good behavior and call out conduct that harms the reputation of the riding community as a whole.” They call for education and training for e-bikers, and also for “targeted, well-informed regulation rather than broad sweeping restrictions. The big first step there will be to clearly define what mode of vehicle is what and then focus legislation specifically on that mode that is at issue.

————–

OK. Those are the major threats, at least in the eyes of the AMA. Whatever each of us can do individually can only help. And if you don’t do anything, and later see your rights getting trampled on, look first in the mirror for one culprit.

Biker Quote for Today

Pretty stoked to be on a bike right now.

Tags:,
Posted in American Motorcyclist Association, motorcycle clubs | No Comments »

Threats To Motorcycling 7 And 8

Monday, August 17th, 2026


It really matters what goes into your gas tank. Just ask Dennis. Thank goodness for several other guys who rushed over to help us roll this Indian into the truck.

I’m picking up where I left off a while ago, offering an overview of what the American Motorcyclist Association listed in their magazine, American Motorcyclist, as the “10 Biggest Threats to Motorcycling.” Let’s continue.

Excessive Sound
Yeah, we’re all familiar with this. Loud pipes save lives. Or they don’t, they just annoy other people. You’ve probably all heard how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did a study and concluded there is “little evidence” that louder pipes improve rider safety. This piece also quotes from what they referred to as “an exhaustive study” (pun definitely intended) in Romania that said “The sound produced by a motorcycle is not heard by the drivers of cars in front of you or is heard too late to be able to influence the driver’s decision. Our best advice? Let’s be seen, not heard.”

The downside (per the article): Few other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than excessively loud motorcycles.” This leads to laws that seek to curtail motorcycling. I guess that would count as a threat to motorcycling.

The fix, as the article continues, includes the AMA’s program of gifting sound meters to AMA-chartered clubs to accurately check the sound emissions of their bikes. “Motorcyclists also have a responsibility to be part of the solution by being sensitive to community standards and respectful of their fellow citizens’ right to enjoy a peaceful environment.”

If you think the issue is valid but the fix offered is a bit week I would agree. Too bad, but can you offer anything better? Then do.

Ethanol
This is simple enough. Federal mandates require use of ethanol fuel, which is generally made from corn. A little is not a particularly bad thing. Too much can damage your motorcycle engine, though not necessarily your car engine. So it’s important that there be good labeling at the gas pumps.

Just a bit more info on the damage: “Ethanol-laced fuel can also be hazardous for bikes stored for weeks or months at a time, as the blend starts to oxidize, separating the ethanol from the gasoline and forming a thick, corrosive sludge that can ravage fuel tanks, fuel systems, and engines.” Not to mention that you get fewer miles to the gallon with ethanol in your fuel.

The main fix they are calling for here has to do with better labeling at the pumps. They also offer measures you can take, such as “using fuel stabilizers, keeping the tank full to limit headspace for air and humidity to get in, or simply filling your tank with ethanol-free petrol.” If you can find it.

You also need to just pay attention. The OFMC was on a trip a few years back and at a gas stop Dennis did not read the signs on the pump carefully and ended up putting diesel fuel in his tank. That was completely on him. That pump was marked. So to the AMA’s suggestion I would add, don’t be stupid.

Biker Quote for Today

Motorcycles are wonderful contraptions, but it’s the people we get to know and hang out with and ride with along the way that make them so special. — Mitch Boehm

Tags:
Posted in American Motorcyclist Association, Biker Issues, Loud Pipes, motorcycle clubs, Motorcycle legislation | No Comments »

And More Threats To Motorcycling

Thursday, July 2nd, 2026


Yeah, Zero electric bikes have changed a lot since this shot from 2011.

I’ll proceed now with numbers 5 and 6 on this list of “10 Biggest Threats To Motorcycling” discussed in the May 2026 issue of American Motorcyclist, the publication of the American Motorcyclist Association. You’ll find issues 1 and 2 here, and 3 and 4 here.

Side-By-Side Size And Power, And Trail Degradation
Four-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are not motorcycles. But more and more, the people using these things are taking to the trails that have formerly been used by dirt bikes and mountain bikes. There is a problem in that they are double-track while we are single-track. They’re basically carving into the adjoining areas in order to do so. They’re also bigger and heavier so that contributes to the issue. Being more stable they also go faster. And because they are easier to use than a motorcycle, the users are often less experienced and don’t necessarily have a good idea what they’re doing.

That kind of adds up, doesn’t it? Do I really need to say more? To quote the AMA, “As a result, responsible motorized trail users are grouped in with the damage caused by oversized side-by-sides and the sometimes-poor decision-making by their drivers, leading to reductions in trails and land closures.”

Now, the AMA does not support getting these machines off the trails, they simply ask that they follow appropriate trail etiquette and trail groups “be mindful of one another and work together rather than one group dominating the trails in some way.” They also mention that some states now require training for these users, which presumably include appropriate and protective ways of operating the vehicle.

Consumer Choice
Electric is growing and you may already have an electric car or bike. But some people still want their gas-powered vehicles.

The motorcycle market should be allowed to evolve based on demand, innovation, and rider preferences.

Add in the fact that current infrastructure is not prepared for an all-electric future, it’s clear that electric mandates would certainly harm motorcycling.

That pretty well sums it up. Electric is fine, just don’t force it on everyone. The AMA supports two proposed Congressional bills that would address these concerns. These are the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act and the Automobile Retail Sales Act, both introduced in 2025.

Biker Quote for Today

Going for a ride is always worth it.

Tags:, ,
Posted in American Motorcyclist Association, Biker Issues, Dirt biking, Electric motorcycles, motorcycle clubs | 1 Comment »

More Threats To Motorcycling

Thursday, May 28th, 2026


You ride this, I’ll ride that.

I’ll pick up again on this list of “10 Biggest Threats To Motorcycling” that the AMA printed in its latest issue of American Motorcyclist.

Right To Repair
The third on the list is right to repair. The problem is that as vehicles of all kinds get more complex, the manufacturers are not excited about sharing their proprietary tech that is needed for someone else to fix them. They’d rather you had no option but to take your bike or car to the dealer.

As they put it, “Right to Repair is the idea that a consumer has the right to choose their preferred service and repair provider (including themselves and independent shops); this also means that manufacturers are required to make the parts and needed information available to the public for a fair and reasonable price.”

For example, what if the nearest dealer is 150 miles away, while you’ve got a good independent shop right down the street?

The AMA and other groups are promoting–with growing momentum–federal legislation to require that this be an option. Meanwhile, 20 plus states have passed their won Right to Repair legislation.

Land Access
This next item is perhaps the most contentious of the bunch, with some riders on one side of the argument and others on the other side. Motorized access to public lands is not something everyone wants to see. A lot of hikers strongly resent sharing a trail with someone on a motorcycle.

But motorcyclists are citizens and pay taxes, too, so you can’t rightfully close off all public land to all motorized traffic. It’s all about striking an equitable balance. It also helps to have separate hiking and biking trails.

The fix for the problem, the article says, is this:

“A wider recognition and understanding of the benefits that off-highway motorcycles have on the local economy, coupled with volunteer trail maintenance efforts spearheaded by these users, goes a long way in preventing potential closures from being proposed. Responsible trail use and partnerships with other users are important.
“When land-access issues do arise, it is important to be organized and engaged with the land managing agency. The AMA encourages alternative sites to be identified and made available if a recreational area is closed for an extended period of time.”

Keep this in mind because the next item on the list refers directly back to this.

Biker Quote for Today

100 reasons not to date a biker: 47. Spring fever starts in November.

Tags:
Posted in American Motorcyclist Association, Biker Issues, motorcycle clubs, Motorcycle Riders Foundation | 1 Comment »

Threats To Motorcycling

Thursday, May 21st, 2026


Racing will always involve a certain amount of risk.

American Motorcyclist, the publication of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), has a cover article in the latest issue about the “10 Biggest Threats To Motorcycling.” For those of you who are not AMA members I figured it might be worthwhile to discuss these 10 threats. I’ll spread this out over several posts because otherwise this could get extremely long.

Autonomous Vehicles
The first is autonomous vehicles. If you get the publications of the AMA or the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) you know both organizations have focused a lot on these self-driving cars. Nobody is opposed to them. Come the day when the technology is really well honed and the systems can flawlessly recognize a motorcycle and other smaller objects then they will almost certainly lead to safer roads for everyone.

The point is simply that that is not where the equipment is yet. And the folks who are out there every day defending our rights and safety on the road are adamant that–as we all should be–that before these vehicles are allowed out there they must meet exacting standards. As it is, there have already been fatalities of motorcyclists hit by self-driving cars.

The article sums it up saying, “The AMA has been outspoken about the dangers of AVs for the last decade and has called for sufficient testing and regulation. The technology needs to be proven to detect all road users–including motorcycles–in all situations before being allowed on the road. Once the technology is proven to be reliable, AVs will be beneficial to the safety and well-being of motorcyclists. The AMA will continue to be in favor of regulations that hold the manufacturers of these technologies accountable and protect motorcyclists.”

Insurance Issues
There are very real risks associated with riding motorcycles. We all know this and we accept it. But we also all need insurance for when things go badly. And when the costs of lawsuits outweigh the potential income from insuring motorcycle events, guess what the insurance company is going to do: your event is not going to happen.

That’s where the concept of inherent risk comes in. I wrote about this a little while ago. The idea is that we need state legislatures to pass legislation that protects land and facility owners and event organizers from lawsuits based on injuries that are not caused by deficiencies of the facility. Basically, “it was your fault you crashed so don’t go suing the track for your screw-up.”

Arkansas and Texas have already passed this legislation and momentum is building in other states. Nothing will kill motorcycle racing faster than the inability of tracks to operate. The time for this legislation is now.

OK, that gets the ball rolling. I’ll follow up with the other eight, not necessarily in an unbroken series of posts. Heck, I want to write about riding motorcycles, too, though with the rain and freezing weather we’ve had lately it’s been a while since I’ve been able to get out. Warmer weather is in the forecast.

Biker Quote for Today

Trucks never slow down in the rain. The best time to pass trucks is when you’re going uphill.

Tags:
Posted in American Motorcyclist Association, Biker Issues, motorcycle clubs, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Motorcycle Safety | 1 Comment »

Biker Junk

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

This is the stuff I’ve accumulated and I don’t even care for this kind of stuff.

You’ve seen them, I know. The guys with leather vests and jackets festooned with pins and patches. Biker paraphernalia. Some guys just love that stuff.

To each his own, I guess. I’m not that kind of guy. But I am a biker, so this stuff inevitably comes my way nevertheless.

That photo above is all the stuff I could find to pull out and display. There’s an AMA Life Member patch, an ABATE of Colorado District 10 (defunct) patch, a Ride with the 40 patch from when that crew came through some years ago, and an OFMC patch. I do actually have an OFMC patch on one of my leather jackets. That’s the only patch I have on anything.

Of course there are the brass nuts from attending ABATE’s Last Brass Monkey Run each December 31. I only found six but I’m sure I have more somewhere.

Then there are the pins. Time was when every year I would receive a pin each from ABATE and the AMA tallying my years of membership. Finally people got wise at both organizations and asked “Do you wish to receive a pin each year?” I said no. Great idea. Save yourselves money and save me accumulating junk I don’t want.

Some people really get into this stuff, I know. That’s great. For you. I’ll pass, thanks.

Biker Quote for Today

Weekend forecast: Motorcycling with no chance of house cleaning or cooking.

Tags:,
Posted in ABATE, American Motorcyclist Association, motorcycle clubs, Motorcycle Gear | No Comments »

« Older Entries