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GROWING THE RANKS OF WOMEN MOTORCYCLISTS

THE WORLD’S GREATEST VINTAGE BIKE FEST

Photo Bobby Do Right

NAVIGATION

American Motorcyclist magazine (ISSN 0277-9358) is published monthly by the American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Copyright by the American Motorcyclist Association/American Motorcyclist 2015. Printed in USA.

Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $19.95 covered in membership dues.

Postmaster: Mail form 3579 to 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Periodical postage paid at Pickerington, Ohio, and at additional mailing oﬃces.

July 2015

Volume 69, Number 7

Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Excessive motorcycle sound continues to aﬀect all of our rights. Here’s an update on the issue. See page 38.

STREET COVER

Alicia Mariah Elfving would like to see more women riding motorcycles. We agree. Read more on page 22.

PAGE 32. Steve Reichman started riding at the age of 46. He’s not stopping anytime soon.

DIRT COVER

Michelle Lindsay, team owner, and Scott Harwell, team manager, are keeping the TOBC racing dream alive.

To switch the version you receive, call (800) 262-5646, ask for membership services. Want to read both versions? Call the above number to get both delivered to your home for just $10 more a year. Members can read both versions online at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/magazine for free.

PAGE 26. AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees would like you to race amateur dirt track.

A BLESSING...for those who RIDE HARD and LIVE FREE

May the sun rise in front of me, May the rain fall behind me, And the wind follow beside me, May the angels guard my travels, For they know the road ahead of me.

Keep me safe through Swirling turns and rolling hills,

Let the eagle guide me

To the mountaintops. Let the moonlight guide me Through the night. Let the air of spring

Breathe life into my soul, To journey to another adventure

Out on the open road.

Anyone with a passion for motorcycles will tell you that no matter what the road throws at you, they’re always ready for the next adventure. Now, we’ve created a new jewelry exclusive for those with the ride hard, live free spirit—the “Biker’s Blessing” Dogtag Pendant . Let it be your co-pilot through the curves and bumps ahead.

A MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT IN CRAFTSMANSHIP AND DESIGN

Crafted of tough-as-a-biker stainless steel, our custom designed dogtag-style pendant features a sculpted bike and cross against a hand-enameled jet black background on the front. Etched on the back is the biker’s motto “RIDE HARD LIVE FREE” with a cross, while etched around the sides are words from the powerful “Biker’s Blessing” poem. Raised corner “rivets” and a bail in the shape of a motorcycle tire which holds a 24" stainless steel “bike chain” complete the look. Each pendant comes in a velvet jewelry pouch and gift box, along with a specially prepared “Biker’s Blessing” card.

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with a velvet jewelry pouch, gift box, and specially prepared “Biker’s Blessing” card (a portion shown above)

Crafted in biker-tough stainless steel

Boldly sculpted design with:

• 24" “bike” chain

• Tire-shaped bail

• Sculpted chopper and cross

reserve the “Biker’s Blessing” Dogtag Pendant for me as described in this announcement.

WHAT’S IN YOUR TOOLBOX?

MAKE IT MOTION PRO

COMMUNICATIONS

American Motorcyclist 13515 Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 856-1900 submissions@ama-cycle.org

James Holter, Director of Communications/Managing Editor

Jim Witters, Government Affairs Editor

Heather Wilson, Associate Editor

Mark Lapid, Creative Director

Jeff Guciardo, Production Manager/Designer Halley Immelt, Graphic Designer

Steve Gotoski, Advertising Director (Western States) (951) 566-5068, sgotoski@ama-cycle.org

Zach Stevens, National Sales Manager (626) 298-3854, zstevens@ama-cycle.org

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Contact any member of the AMA Board of Directors at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ about/board

Maggie McNally-Bradshaw, Chair

Schenectady, N.Y.

Perry King, Vice Chair, Northern California

Ken Ford, Assistant Treasurer Bartow, Fla.

Paul Puma, Executive Committee Member, Laguna Beach, Calif.

Jeff Skeen, Executive Committee Member, San Diego, Calif.

Jerry Abboud, Thornton, Colo.

Russ Brenan, Irvine, Calif.

David Foley, Milwaukee, Wis.

All trademarks used herein (unless otherwise noted) are owned by the AMA and may only be used with the express, written permission of the AMA. American Motorcyclist is the monthly publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, which represents motorcyclists nationwide. For information on AMA membership benefits, call (800) AMA-JOIN or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Manuscripts, photos, drawings and other editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Copyright© American Motorcyclist Association, 2015.

Tony Moseley, Fort Worth, Texas

Roger Pattison, Taos Ski Valley, N.M.

Robert Pearce, Murrieta, Calif.

Jim Viverito, Chicago, Ill.

(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AMA STAFF

EXECUTIVE

Rob Dingman, President/CEO

Jeff Massey, Chief Operations Officer

Bruce Moffat, Chief Financial Officer

Donna Perry, Executive Assistant to President/CEO

Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs

ACCOUNTING

Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager

Melanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll Coordinator

Ed Madden, System Support Specialist

Peg Tuvell, Member Fulfillment Specialist

AMHF/MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

Connie Fleming, Manager of Events and AMHF Operations

Jordan Cavallaro, Museum Admissions and Collections Assistant

Paula Schremser, Program Specialist

Katy Wood, Collections Manager

AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES

Bill Cumbow, Director of Racing

Rob Baughman, Road Riding Coordinator

Kip Bigelow, MX Manager

Joe Bromley, District Relations Manager

Jane Caston, Racing Coordinator

Kevin Crowther, Director SX & Pro Racing Relations

Marcy Day, Racing Administrative Assistant

Chris Harrison, Road Riding Manager

Alex Hunter, MX Assistant Manager

Michael Jolly, Off Road/Track Assistant Manager

Tamra Jones, Racing Coordinator

Beth Owen, Racing Coordinator

Ken Saillant, Track Racing Manager

Serena Van Dyke, Organizer Services Coordinator

Chuck Weir, Off Road Racing Manager

Conrad Young, Timing & Scoring Manager

BUSINESS MEMBER PROGRAMS

Jim Williams, Vice President, Industry Relations & Business Member Programs

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES SERVICES

John Bricker, Mailroom Manager

Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator

Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Sen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government Relations

Joshua Habursky, Grassroots Coordinator

Nick Haris, Western States Representative

Sean Hutson, Government Affairs Manager, On-Highway

Sharon Long, Legislative Affairs Coordinator

Rick Podliska, Deputy Director

Steve Salisbury, Government Affairs Manager, Off-Highway

STATE CHAPTERS

Marie Wuelleh, State Chapter Manager

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Jennifer Kirkpatrick, IT Director

Dave Coleman, Network Architect

MARKETING

Mark Christian, Director of Marketing

Kaitlyn Sesco, Marketing Specialist

MEMBER SERVICES/DATA ENTRY

Jeremiah Hassler, Call Center Manager

Lori Cavucci, Member Services Representative

Christina Dolin, Member Services Representative

Deb D’Andrea, Member Services Representative

Tiffany Pound, Member Services Representative

Jessica Robinson, Member Services Representative

MEMBER LETTERS

Letter of the Month

ENJOYING MEMBERSHIP

During my 52 years of life, I have ridden motorcycles on dirt and street, ATVs—you name it. I have to confess, until the last three years, I was not an AMA member despite many years of getting the mailings.

Letters to the editor are the opinions of the AMA members who write them. Inclusion here does not imply they reﬂect the positions of the AMA, its staﬀ or board. Agree? Disagree? Let us know! Send your letters to submissions@ama-cycle.org; or mail to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.

motorcycle, saving the insurance company money.

For years I’ve been advising people that 1) motorcyclists do not have the same coverage that most other road users have, no-fault coverage, and 2) motorcyclists are not at fault in most crashes.

I can’t believe the amazing beneﬁts and all the AMA does to protect our right to ride, product evaluations, reports on old bikes from yesteryear, etc. Our sport is such a sisterhood and brotherhood of enthusiasts, and the AMA makes it so much better. I love the magazine too.

Thanks for being there for all of us!

Alan L. Rudy Canby, Ore.

PROTECT YOUR DATA

Reading the article “Know Your Policy” in April issue of American Motorcyclist, everyone should have been hit by an absolute truth. Insurance companies will use the information in electronic data recorders to discredit the owner of the motorcycle and the policy that insures the

In New York, ABATE is pushing a bill to make insurance companies include an explanation in plain terms that motorcycles are not a party to “no-fault” coverage in the policy (Assembly Bill

Motorcyclists need to wake up and understand how changing technology is affecting us. Motorcyclists cannot afford to get lost in the fine print of an insurance policy or the data stored in bit form inside a box we own but don’t understand.

Peter Campanella Regional Coordinator ABATE of New York

AWARENESS MATTERS

My sincere thanks for publishing Jim Witters’ article on Motorcycle Awareness Month. The content is relevant for riders, drivers and all road users.

Regarding the issue of distracted driving related to the use of hand-held devices: It seems to me the technology must exist to prevent this from occurring. My understanding is many (most?) modern “smart phones” have a GPS function built in. Given that, manufacturers should be able to engineer in a feature that prevents

FIRST RIDE MEMORIES

The Kawasaki Z1-R featured in your May 2015 issue reminds me of my ﬁrst ride on a motorcycle. I was a passenger on the back of a friend’s Z1. When said friend cracked open the throttle, it was like time and space warped. I’d never before, and rarely since, felt such a surge of pure acceleration. After that ride, I knew motorcycles would have to become a part of my life, and here we are 35 years later and I’m still riding. What a bike. Thanks for bringing back a very fond memory.

Frank L. “Cranky

Frankie” Palmeri Schenectady, N.Y.

certain functions from being operable when the device is detected to be moving at a speciﬁed speed. If texting and/or talking were disabled in this fashion, users would have no option to be irresponsible in those ways while driving.

Dave Murray Beaverton, Ore.

QUIET PIPES PROTECT RIGHTS

I would have no problem with the fee increases at the national parks if it could be successful in discouraging the entry of a number of the loud-pipe set. I’ve encountered numerous occasions when their noise has broken the tranquility of the park setting. It may be additional fees now and if that fails to reduce the racket and the number of complaints, eventually we motorcyclists may be all lumped together (loud and quiet). Because of the actions of the few, we could see a universal ban from the parks.

Jim Edenﬁeld Fort Worth, Texas

REJECTING ETHANOL

I just read the letter by Michael Preston, “Where Are The Savings,” in the June 2015 issue. He is right on the money and I agree 100 percent, but he left out one point.

According to everything I have researched, ethanol-blended fuel also produces approximately 7 percent more greenhouse gases than pure gasoline. In the past couple of years, I have written to all of my elected representatives, the governors of Maryland, past and present, pointing out that ethanol-blended fuel makes absolutely no sense, and should be banned outright. All of the points made by Mr. Preston I also have veriﬁed through trial and error.

I only use pure gasoline in all of my gasoline-powered equipment. Doing so has eliminated the yearly maintenance or replacement.

The only conclusion I can make, for the continued production of ethanol, is the ethanol lobbyists must be donating billions of dollars to our elected representatives, or the Environmental Protection Agency.

I urge everyone to contact their representatives and tell them to ban ethanol, or the next election we will vote someone else in. Sooner or later, they will get the message, and we will get rid of all ethanol-blended fuel.

Jim Jorden

AMA Life Member

St. Mary’s City, Md.

MEMBER LETTERS

Letter of the Month

ENJOYING MEMBERSHIP

motorcycle, saving the insurance company money.

For years I’ve been advising people that 1) motorcyclists do not have the same coverage that most other road users have, no-fault coverage, and 2) motorcyclists are not at fault in most crashes.

Thanks for being there for all of us!

Alan L. Rudy Canby, Ore.

PROTECT YOUR DATA

In New York, ABATE is pushing a bill to make insurance companies include an explanation in plain terms that motorcycles are not a party to “no-fault” coverage in the policy (Assembly Bill

Peter Campanella Regional Coordinator ABATE of New York

AWARENESS MATTERS

My sincere thanks for publishing Jim Witters’ article on Motorcycle Awareness Month. The content is relevant for riders, drivers and all road users.

FIRST RIDE MEMORIES

Frank L. “Cranky

Frankie” Palmeri Schenectady, N.Y.

Dave Murray Beaverton, Ore.

QUIET PIPES PROTECT RIGHTS

Jim Edenﬁeld Fort Worth, Texas

REJECTING ETHANOL

I just read the letter by Michael Preston, “Where Are The Savings,” in the June 2015 issue. He is right on the money and I agree 100 percent, but he left out one point.

I only use pure gasoline in all of my gasoline-powered equipment. Doing so has eliminated the yearly maintenance or replacement.

Jim Jorden

AMA Life Member

St. Mary’s City, Md.

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

Belonging For The Beneﬁts

Like many AMA members, there is probably a very speciﬁc reason you joined the association—and chances are, that reason has a lot to do with the type of motorcycling activity you enjoy most.

By Rob Dingman

One of the most significant benefits of AMA membership is the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of motorcycle competition. Racing has long been a major membership channel for the AMA. Even though less than 20 percent of our membership is made up of current active racers, many of our members initially found their way to the AMA through the racing channel. That is to say, they joined in the first place to race and, although they have stopped competing, they remain active motorcyclists and continue to belong to the AMA to take advantage of the other great benefits of AMA membership.

First and foremost, these members continue to belong to the AMA to support our eﬀorts to protect the future of motorcycling. Unfortunately, the right to own and ride a motorcycle isn’t enumerated in the Bill of Rights as a protected activity. That means that we, as motorcyclists, must remain ever vigilant to prevent the infringement of government at all levels on our freedom to ride. Whether it be the closing of our favorite public oﬀ-road riding area, the proliferation of motorcycle-only checkpoints, or the mandated expansion of unsafe fuels with ever-increasing percentages of engineharming, warranty-voiding ethanol, motorcycling is under constant assault from policy makers—the majority of whom don’t ride.

I always say that if the AMA didn’t exist today, it would have to be invented because there is no other national grassroots organization that looks out for the interests of all motorcyclists. Yes, there are many groups that represent various segments of motorcycling, but none represents all types of motorcyclists like the AMA does, and none has the presence and inﬂuence that the AMA has staked out collectively on behalf of motorcyclists.

There are some in our riding community who don’t belong to the AMA because they ﬁgure the AMA will protect their right to ride whether they belong or not. They are leaving it up to you, our duespaying AMA members, to fund the protection of their motorcycling interests.

Among them are some who work in the motorcycle industry. It is amazing to me how many people who rely upon motorcycling and its future for a paycheck but don’t belong to the AMA. Next time you are transacting business with someone in the motorcycle industry, I encourage you to ask them if they belong to the AMA. If they are not a member, ask them why not and tell them what they are missing.

That said, a great many businesses do support the AMA. There are dealers that provide discounts to AMA members and some that generously give an AMA membership with the purchase of every new motorcycle. There are even companies that ensure that all of their employees are AMA members, and there are a growing number of companies in the motorcycle industry that support the AMA as business members.

Many of those business members are also member benefit providers who offer discounts to individual AMA members. While we strive to provide the best value to AMA members, you may be able to find a better deal if you apply yourself. If you do find a better deal than an advertised AMA member benefit, please let us know and we will bring it to the attention of our benefit providers. We may not always be able to negotiate a better deal, but this will certainly help us evaluate the value of those member benefits.

I encourage you to support businesses that support the AMA. If you don’t know if a company supports the AMA, ask them about it. Please also let them know how important their support of the AMA is to you and that you prefer to do business with companies that support the AMA.

One of the greatest member benefits that the AMA provides is our industry-leading AMA Roadside Assistance program. Unlike the product discounts offered by our member benefit partners, the AMA Roadside Assistance program is paid for by the AMA. It is provided at no additional cost to AMA members who sign up for automatic renewal because it is funded in part by the savings from not having to mail renewal notices.

Despite our best eﬀorts, I am surprised by the number of members who aren’t aware of their eligibility for this great program. It is amazing how many members don’t sign up for AMA Roadside Assistance because they think they are covered by their insurance carrier, their auto club or by some other means. I am quite certain that those other means do not oﬀer the same coverage as the AMA Roadside Assistance program. You owe it to yourself to compare the coverage you think you have with AMA Roadside Assistance.

The AMA program covers not only your motorcycle, but also every vehicle registered to your household, including those of family members living with you. It also includes non-commercial trailers and RVs! I am also quite certain that you will not ﬁnd this coverage for less than the price of an AMA membership. In fact, similar coverage will likely cost you multiples of the cost of an AMA membership. It’s simple to sign up. Just call us at (800) 262-5646.

The benefits of belonging to the AMA are as varied as our members: nationally sanctioned racing, AMA Roadside Assistance, access to money-saving offers, supporting your industry and—most importantly—protecting your freedom to ride. These benefits also grow as the AMA grows.

Our clout comes from our numbers. Working together, we can build a stronger AMA for this and future generations of motorcyclists.

Rob Dingman is president and CEO of the AMA.

2015 GOLD WING® VALKYRIE®

FOUR QUESTIONS WITH U.S. REP. DOUG LAMBORN

Supporting Volunteer Trail Labor

As a motorcyclist since high school, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, who represents Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, knows the importance of on- and oﬀ-highway issues to riders.

The Republican lawmaker has a history of support for motorcyclists’ rights, including stands against motorcycle-only checkpoints and National Highway Traﬃc Safety Administration lobbying eﬀorts to convince state lawmakers to enact mandatory helmet laws.

MAINE RIDERS GET CLEAR LICENSING GUIDELINES

Dual Sports Can Be Legally Registered For Street And Trail Use

Maine oﬀ-road motorcyclists and dual sport riders now have clear-cut guidelines for using the state’s designated all-terrain-vehicle trails and private dirt roads, thanks to the eﬀorts of the AMA and the AMA-chartered Maine Dual Sport & Dirt Bike Association.

Maine’s ATV trails encompass the roughly 6,500 miles of trails that have been mapped, designated and supported by the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. Private dirt roads are owned by individuals or by industrial forest or agricultural companies. The roads provide access for their owners and, often, recreational use for others.

“Dual sport riders rely heavily on the goodwill of landowners, large and small, to allow us to use their dirt roads, as they do passenger vehicles, so long as we follow their rules regarding oﬀ road and trail use,” says Steve Salisbury, AMA government relations manager for oﬀ-highway issues. “Unfortunately, Maine is struggling with changes to its longstanding open lands tradition as a result of changing ownership patterns and a handful of irresponsible recreational users abusing trail rules.”

The AMA and the MEDSDBA worked with state oﬃcials for months seeking clariﬁcation of the rights of riders on street-registered motorcycles.

Lamborn is a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and chairman of the subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. He took a moment to share some of his views.

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST: What is your favorite place to ride?

REP. LAMBORN: Out in the country near Colorado Springs.

AM: What are you views regarding responsible use of public lands for motorized recreation?

DL: Public lands should support many uses, including, except for rare cases, motorized recreation.

AM: Please share your thoughts on H.R. 845, which would allow the U.S. Forest Service to use more volunteer labor for trail maintenance.

DL: This is good legislation, which I have cosponsored, that will mobilize manpower to maintain trails that the U.S. Forest Service cannot currently maintain. The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act would allow more volunteer eﬀorts to assist the Forest Service in maintaining its 157,000 miles of trails. The Forest Service is only able to maintain to standard about one quarter of the total miles of trails used for hiking, biking and other activities while close to two-thirds of the trails receive no maintenance at all.

AM: What else would you like to convey to AMA members?

DL: Stay involved with your elected oﬃcials, and enjoy safe and memorable motorcycle excursions!

The state Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife concur that dual sport motorcycles can be legally dual-registered for street use and as ATVs for oﬀ-road riding.

“If your dirt bike is legally registered for the road, you can operate on ATV trails if the landowner lets you,” says Cpl. Rick Laﬂamme, landowner relations oﬃcer for the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. “Some landowners and managers require ATV registrations, even though it may not be a requirement of the law, and if you operate a street-legal dirt bike on their land, you could be summonsed for trespassing if you are not registered as an ATV.”

Brian Pratt, MEDSDBA president, recommends registering your dual sport motorcycle with an ATV sticker if you intend to ride on the state ATV trails.

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.)

Ryan Williams

Courtesy of John Painter

IT’S IN THE DETAILS.

You know every inch of your bike. Not just the engine size, or the color code of the paint. It’s the special details that only you know about. Like the way the exhaust opens up just right at 3,200rpm. Or that scuff on the footpeg you picked up while riding through Deal’s Gap.

It’s the details that make your bike unique, and no one knows this more than GEICO. With GEICO Motorcycle insurance, you’ll get coverage speciﬁc to your bike, and a team of people who love motorcycles as much as you do.

When it comes to insurance, it’s the little things that make a big difference. Trust the details to GEICO Motorcycle.

RIDE TO WORK DAY IS JUNE 15

Annual Event Highlights Motorcycling’s Positive Aspects

The 24th Annual International Motorcycle & Scooter Ride to Work Day will be observed on June 15.

Organizer Andy Goldﬁne, a former AMA board member and founder of Aerostich/ RiderWearHouse, says the number of motorcyclists and scooter riders on the roads that day likely will be double the norm.

“For hundreds of thousands of workers, motorcycles and scooters are an economical, efficient and socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits,” Goldfine says.

The event draws the attention of government oﬃcials, employers, media

outlets and other daily commuters, alerting them to the beneﬁts of daily motorcycle use.

This additional attention aﬀords motorcyclists the opportunity to initiate discussions about important issues, such as parking restrictions, lane splitting and distracted driving.

Goldﬁ ne’s belief is that, someday, motorcycles will be more widely recognized as good solutions to many social, urban and environmental problems.

“Riders seek employer support for this efficient form of transportation and more government and public awareness about riding’s many benefits,” Goldfine says.

More information is available at www.ridetowork.org.

SENATORS INTRODUCE DRIVER PRIVACY ACT

Bill Would Ensure Black Box Data Belongs To Vehicle Owner

U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have introduced S. 766, the Driver Privacy Act. The bill would codify that information collected by an event data recorder—also referred to as a black box—would be the legal property of the owner or lessee of a passenger motor vehicle.

The AMA supports clarifying who owns the data collected in black boxes.

This issue needs to be resolved because, as Sen. Hoeven said on the ﬂoor of the U.S. Senate: “There are more than 45 diﬀerent data points that are in fact recorded right now. Again, the manufacturer can change this—add to it. There are no limitations or restrictions or guidelines or requirements on what manufacturers can have the event data recorder do.”

U.S. Rep. John Hoeven (R-N.D.)

U.S. Rep. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

HAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA., ENACTS ANTI-OHV LAW

Restrictions Ban Use On Less Than Three Acres

The Hampton Township, Pa., Council unanimously approved an ordinance that restricts the use of dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and go-carts to parcels of three acres or more and prohibits riding within 250 feet of a neighboring home.

Vehicles may be ridden only from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Violators are subject to ﬁnes of $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The ordinance is eﬀective immediately.

The AMA, working with the Pennsylvania Oﬀ-Highway Vehicle Associoation, used e-mail Action Alerts to

help raise attendance at public meetings and joined local residents to try to prevent the township from enacting such harsh restrictions. The original proposal called for a minimum of ﬁve acres for OHV use.

AMA representatives Steve Salisbury and Joshua Habursky traveled to a meeting in March and provided written comments stating that the existing sound ordinance suﬃciently protected nearby residents when OHVs were in use.

Salisbury also says the ordinance runs counter to state vehicle statutes.

AMA LOBBIES FOR RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD REFORM

Seeks Support For Bill In Congress

AMA staﬀ members were hard at work on Capitol Hill in April, seeking co-sponsors and additional support for a bill that would reform the Renewable Fuel Standard and limit availability of ethanol fuel blends higher than 15 percent.

from approving gasoline that contains more than 10 percent ethanol by volume.

The lobbying eﬀort was part of the National Renewable Fuel Standard “Day of Action,” organized by the Smarter Fuel Future coalition. The AMA is a member of the coalition,

H.R. 704, introduced by U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), would amend the federal Clean Air Act to eliminate certain requirements under the renewable fuel program. It also would prohibit the EPA

CLEAR CREEK BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

Proposal Would Reopen Area To OHVs

A bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) would reopen the Clear Creek Management Area in California for oﬀ-highwayvehicle use.

The bill, H.R. 1838, is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Jeﬀ Denham (R-Calif.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.).

In 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management closed the CCMA due to concerns about high levels of naturally occurring asbestos. Upon further investigation, these concerns turned out to be unwarranted. This 75,000-acre site was once considered to be one of the premier OHV recreation sites in the country and received thousands of visitors annually. The eﬀect of this bill’s passage would be a signiﬁcant boost for the economies of local communities and for recreational opportunities for OHV riders across the West.

EPA SETS RENEWABLE FUELS TIMELINE

Proposal Due in June; Final Rule Due In November

which also includes farmers, consumer and reﬁners and anti-hunger activists.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accepted a settlement with the American Petroleum Institute and Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers that calls for the federal agency to establish Renewable Fuel Standard requirements by Nov. 30 for 2015 and for 2014.

The settlement stems from a March 18 lawsuit ﬁled by oil industry groups over the EPA’s failure to meet congressional

The AMA opposes the spread of E15 fuel in the marketplace because the formulation is not

any of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles currently on U.S. roads and trails. Its use can void manufacturers’ warranties and cause engine damage.

Under the agreement, the EPA pledged to propose the 2015 RFS mandate by June 1 and re-propose the 2014 mandate to reﬂect the volume of renewable fuels actually blended in 2014.

The Renewable Fuel Standard establishes the minimum volume of biofuels to be used in the fuel supply.

U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)

U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.)

www.tomtom.com/rider

AMA RECOGNIZES CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT

D.C. Sta Members Present 42 Awards

The AMA honored 42 members of the 113th Congress in April for their support of motorcyclists’ rights and issues of importance to motorcycling.

The awards were presented at a ceremony organized by the AMA at the Rayburn House Oﬃce Building in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), former Arkansas Rep. and current Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griﬃn (R), and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) were recognized as AMA Heroes. “Hero” awards are presented for extraordinary eﬀorts to support motorcyclists and motorcycling.

The four legislators scored highest in the AMA’s rankings on issues aﬀecting motorcyclists because each of them assumed a leadership role. Walberg opposed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mission creep into motorcycle safety. Griﬃn co-chaired the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus and was an outspoken motorcycling advocate,

hosting the ﬁrst ever “Ridin’ with your Rep” town hall meeting. Shaheen led the eﬀort to ban the use of federal funds for motorcycle-only checkpoints and supported the Recreational Trails Program. Manchin—also a rider—tied for the highest score in the Senate and has been a staunch supporter of motorcyclists’ rights for many years.

The AMA also recognized 15 “Champions” for outstanding eﬀorts to advocate for motorcyclists and motorcycling. Another 23 lawmakers received AMA Supporter awards for their positions on motorcycling issues.

To download the full list, see www.americanmotorcyclist. com/2015awards.aspx.

FLORIDA GETS 27 MILES OF NEW OHV TRAILS

Public Riding Area Opened In April

A 27-mile network of oﬀ-highwayvehicle trails has opened in the 210,423-acre Blackwater River State Forest near the town of Milton in Northwest Florida.

Local riders have been working on the project since 2004.

The Clear Creek Oﬀ-Highway Vehicle Trails—not to be confused with California’s Clear Creek Management Area mentioned elsewhere in this issue—oﬀers switchback trails through the woods, beginner-friendly tracks and a youth training area.

The facility was funded through OHV title fees, along with about a $300,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program and donations from OHV manufacturers Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. and Polaris Industries Inc.

FEDERAL BILL TO BAN MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS REINTRODUCED

Proposal Also Would A ect Helmet Laws

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) has reintroduced H.R. 1861, the Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act.

The bill would prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation from awarding grants to state or local entities to create motorcycle-only checkpoints and would ban the DOT from using federal money to manipulate states into enacting mandatory helmet laws.

The bill contains the same funding-prohibition language as legislation introduced by Sensenbrenner in the previous Congress.

This bill also contains language that would force the U.S. Department of Transportation to focus motorcycle safety eﬀorts on crash prevention programs.

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis)

Jay Westcott LEFT:

STATEWATCH

ALABAMA

H.B. 198, sponsored by state Reps. Alan Harper (R-Aliceville), Mike Ball (R-Madison), Phillip Pettus (R-Killen) and Randy Wood (R-Anniston) would prohibit all forms of distracted driving that result in the unsafe operation of a vehicle. This could include reading, writing, personal grooming, interacting with pets or using a wireless telecommunications device. Under existing law, texting while driving is prohibited.

The state House passed a bill that would require motorcyclists to take a safety course or written test to obtain a Class M endorsement on their licenses. Alabama is the only state that does not require an endorsement for motorcycle operators. The law would not affect riders who already hold a Class M endorsement voluntarily.

GEORGIA

The General Assembly passed a bill that would allow a motorcyclist to proceed through a red light if his or her bike fails to trigger the traffic signal. The bill was sent to the governor.

KENTUCKY

The General Assembly passed, and the

OHV COMMUNITY GETS WIN IN CALIFORNIA ‘DUST’ ISSUE

Lawsuit Targeted San Luis Obispo County Permits

The Friends of Oceano Dunes won its appeal challenging the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District’s attempts to control air emissions in state parks by requring the parks to apply for a permit from the district.

The county’s “dust rule” required the California Department of Parks and Recreation to reduce the particulate matter blowing from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area or face

governor signed, a bill that provides motorcyclists with an affirmative defense should a law enforcement officer issue a traffic citation for passing through a red light when their bikes fail to trigger the traffic signal. Kentucky is the 16th state to pass this type of legislation.

MAINE

H.P. 622, presented by state Rep. Kevin J. Battle (R-South Portland), would allow motorcyclists to proceed through a red light

fines of $1,000 a day.

The 2nd Appellate Court in Ventura, Calif., ruled that the district has no authority to use the permit process to regulate air emissions at state parks.

AMA Western States Representative Nick Haris says the county was “ignoring all of the particulate matter in the air generated by other sources and instead requiring the SVRA to mitigate it as if it was the only source.”

after a reasonable time, if the motorcycle fails to trigger the traffic signal.

MASSACHUSETTS

RIDING

Arkansas’ #1 Destination

H.B. 3313, introduced by state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton) and state Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) would require all political subdivisions in the state to allocate “reasonable space and accommodations for motorcycle parking in all transportation facilities…where any federal, state or local public funds have been used” to build, operate or maintain the facility. Additionally, the bill would prohibit any motorcycle parking bans.

MISSOURI

The Missouri House voted 95-57 to repeal the state’s helmet law and require helmets only for those younger than 21 years. The bill was referred to the state Senate.

PENNSYLVANIA

H.B. 950, sponsored by state Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland County) would allow the driver of a motorcycle to proceed through an intersection after exercising due care when a red light failed to trigger.

H.B. 374, introduced by 11 state representatives, would prohibit law enforcement officers from conducting systematic vehicle inspections based only on a particular type of vehicle, such as a motorcycle.

RHODE ISLAND

S. 660 states that, by 2020, nearly every new vehicle sold will be a technologically connected vehicle. The bill would require automakers to notify motorists of the types of information that a vehicle is collecting and with whom it could be shared, helping protect consumers’ privacy. Sens. Dominick Ruggerio (D-North Providence), Maryellen Goodwin (D-Providence), Michael McCaffrey (D-Warwick), Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) and Stephen Archambault (D-Smithfield) introduced the bill.

AMA REWARDS

Watch this space for updates about your valuable beneﬁts as an AMA member.

HOW YOUR AMA MEMBERSHIP PAYS FOR ITSELF

Hotel And Motel Discounts (Choice Hotels, Red Roof Inn)

Gear Discounts (BikeBandit.com, Schampa, Heat Demon And More)

*with membership automatic renewal

**average cost of $100/night stay – 2 nights

***average $750 per year expenses on gear/parts/accessories

THE ESSENTIALS

AMA Roadside Assistance

The Best Deal In Towing Get peace of mind with AMA Roadside Assistance, which covers all your vehicles, as well as those of your family members living with you. Best of all, you can get this coverage at no additional charge. For details, call (800) 262-5646.

Lodging

Save At Choice Hotels, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn At Choice hotels, save 15% oﬀ the best available rates at participating Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Rodeway Inn and Econo Lodge hotels. Use the Member Discount code #00947556.

Special discounts at Motel 6 are also available up to 10% oﬀ. Use the Member Discount code CP540176.

Plus, get a 20% discount oﬀ available rates at Red Roof Inn. For discounts, call (800) RED-ROOF and use the code VP+ 503343. You can also make reservations online at www.redroof. com. Just enter the code VP+ 503343 in the ﬁeld labeled “VP+/ID#” when making reservations. The discount will be automatically applied.

EagleRider Motorcycle

Rentals

Arrive And Ride

EagleRider oﬀers an AMA member discount of 10% (May through Oct) or 15% (Nov. through April) discount on Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW and Polaris rentals and tours. Call (888) 900-9901 or book at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/ Membership/EagleRider.aspx, using discount code AMA015.

Motorcycle Shipping

Ride Where You Want

In the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Specialized Transportation, Inc., at (877) 518-7376 for at least $60 oﬀ standard rates. For international shipments, call Motorcycle Express at (800) 245-8726. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also oﬀers temporary international insurance.

Car Rentals

Save Money When You Drive Get up to 25% oﬀ prevailing rates at any Avis or Budget car rental agency. For Avis, enter discount code: D388100. For Budget, enter code: Z942000. AMA Members save up to 25% on year-round Hertz rentals with discount code CDP# 497193.

AMA Gear Buy AMA Stuﬀ Online Find unique patches, pins, posters, T-shirts and books at AmericanMotorcyclist.com and at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. Details at www. MotorcycleMuseum.org.

Rider Accident Medical Plan

All members of the AMA are eligible to purchase coverage. Beneﬁts are paid when a covered member is injured. See http:// www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ Membership/Members_Only/ DiscountCodes for details.

Insurance, Credit Card, Finance and Banking

The AMA has joined with Nationwide to bring members-only moneysaving oﬀers on insurance, a cash-back AMA-themed credit card, ﬁnance and banking. For more details see, www.nationwide.com/ americanmotorcyclist.

PRODUCT DISCOUNTS

ActionStation/Bohn Body Armor

Save 10% on complete product line—plus bonus. Go to www.actionstation.com/ ama/ and use coupon code AMAB4U at checkout. AMA Members also receive exclusive discounted pricing on the Bohn Bodyguard System at www.bohn-armorpants.com/ama/.

ADVMoto

Adventure Motorcycle Magazine oﬀers a 20% discount on all subscriptions through AdventureMotorcycle.com and 20% oﬀ ADVMoto branded items and back issues on ADVMotoShop.com. Enter discount code AMADV20 at checkout.

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame

Save $5 on admission to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio.

AMA/Sprocketlist Online

Classiﬁeds

AMA members can place free ads in the AMA member classiﬁeds at AMA.Sprocketlist.com or AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Classiﬁeds.

AMA Supercross And AMA Arenacross Tickets

Save on advanced tickets; AMA members can get $5 oﬀwhen they buy tickets online at Supercrossonline.com and use password SXAMA5. AMA members can get $5 oﬀ when they buy tickets online at Arenacross.com and use password AMA5OFF. Certain restrictions apply, call (800) 262-5646 for details.

Anthony’s Leatherworks

Save 10% on complete motorcycle garment restoration and repair. You can get your motocross boots ﬁxed from MX Boot Resole and Repair. Use code AMADISCOUNT at checkout.

Biker Rain Chaps

Save 25%. Visit www.bikerrainchaps. com/ama/ and use the code AMA0515-MDAY at checkout to receive your discount.

Black Wolf Mototours

Black Wolf Mototours oﬀers allinclusive dual sport adventure tours in the Northern Rockies. Current AMA members receive 10% oﬀ any guided tour. Visit the Members Only section of AmericanMotorcyclist.com for discount code.

Brooks Leather

AMA members receive a 10% discount oﬀ all jackets, chaps, vests, rain suits, race suits, and gloves. You can shop online at www.brooksleather.com or at any participating Brooks dealer. Just present the code AMABRO when ordering.

Cardo Systems, Inc.

10% discount for AMA members when presenting their membership card on Cardo’s scala rider® motorcycle communication products at participating authorized dealers only.

Colorado Motorcycle Adventures

oﬀers AMA Members 10% oﬀ all motorcycle rentals and tours! Mention your AMA Membership when reserving your rental or tour. A current AMA Membership card required to receive discount.

Design Engineering, Inc.

DEI is now oﬀering AMA members a 10% discount. Simply enter the discount code AMA10DISCOUNT during checkout.

EVS Sports

AMA Members receive 10% oﬀ and free shipping on all orders. Simply use the code AMAEVS15 during checkout at www.EVS-Sports.com.

Gear Brake

GEARBRAKE detects when you decelerate, even in instances of downshifting and engine braking where the brake is not applied, and automatically lights your taillight with a ﬂashing alert! AMA members receive a 15% discount at gearbrake.com with the promo code: AMASAFE.

Heat Demon

AMA members receive 10% oﬀ all products. Visit www.heatdemon.com/AMA and use the code AMAheat15 at checkout to receive your discount.

International Motorcycle Shows

AMA members save on advanced adult one-day general admission. The promo code is “AMA15” when you buy your tickets online from www. motorcycleshows.com.

LifeLock Identity Theft Protection

Get 30 free days and 10% oﬀ. Use promo code AMACYCLE at www. LifeLock.com or by calling (800) 543-3562.

MAD Maps

The best routes made easy. Save 20%. Use promo code AMATHXU at www.MADmaps.com.

Medjet

Learn More and Enroll – visit www. MedjetAMA.com or call Medjet at 1.800.527.7478 and reference American Motorcyclist Association. Reduced annual Medjet membership rates for AMA members under age 75 start at $225 – a savings of 16%.

MYLAPS

MYLAPS provides a 20% discount oﬀ MSRP or any current sales price on web-orders or orders coordinated by the AMA for all Motorized Products to AMA members. To receive the discount, enter code AMA-789HJK at checkout.

Powertye Tie-Downs

Save 10%. Enter code TYES4AMA at checkout from www.powertye. com/ama.

Rider Magazine

Members pay only $19.99 for 2 years (24 issues) + 2 extra FREE issues. Visit the Members Only section on www. AmericanMotorcyclist.com for the discount link.

RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine

RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine oﬀers a 20% subscription discount to AMA members. RoadRUNNER is the touring expert of North America, providing information on the best places to ride. AMA discount code is CRIAMA at www.roadrunner.travel/promo/ama.

Sam’s Club

As an AMA Member, you can join or renew your Sam’s Club membership and receive a $10 gift card (for a Sam’s Savings membership) or a $25 gift card (for a Plus membership) using a special members-only certiﬁcate. Visit the Members Only section on www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com to download the coupon.

Schampa Cold-Weather Gear

Save 15%. Enter SCHAMA during checkout at www.Schampa.com.

Sena

The Global Leader in Bluetooth and ‘Audio Action Camera’ Innovation for Powersports, Motorsports and Outdoor Sports – is now oﬀering AMA members an exclusive 15% discount on its product lineup. Log into the ‘Members Only’ section on the AMA website to get the code and #RideConnected.

Shark Kage

A multi-functional ramp which adds the functionality of a bed extender, cargo cover, work table, cargo box and sunshade; all-in-one product! Enter code AMA20 to take advantage of the AMA exclusive 20% discount.

Shock Sox Street ~ Dirt ~ Oﬀ-Road ~ SHOCK SOX, “The 10-Second Removable Fork Seal Protector.” Get 10% oﬀ your order by entering your AMA number during checkout at ShockSox. com. For colors, sizes and modelapplications, visit www.ShockSox.com

Spot LLC

AMA Members receive unprecedented and exclusive service credit on SPOT Spot Trace, Gen 3, and Satellite Phone products in addition to existing device promotions. Visit the Members Only section on www.AmericanMotorcyclist. com to view details.

TomTom

TomTom would like to oﬀer you a 10% discount on any TomTom product (excluding accessories). Visit www. tomtom.com to place your order and enter AMA10_TT2015 at check out to receive your discount.

US Chrome

AMA Members save big at US Chrome! We oﬀer a $30.00 discount on cylinder plating and dealer pricing on Wiseco, Wossner, ProX and Vertex piston kits. For more information visit the Members Area of the website.

Warm & Safe

Heated clothing and controllers designed by bikers. To encourage others to join the AMA we oﬀer members an 18% discount. Enter AMA at check out to receive your discount.

GROWING OUR RANKS

AMA Get Women Riding Campaign Targets New Riders

The more people who ride, the better motorcycling is for all of us.

More of us on the roads and trails means greater awareness among non-motorcyclists, more political clout to defeat unfair laws, a bigger claim to public resources and, of course, more enjoyment of the motorcycle lifestyle.

This can happen in two ways.

First, those who ride can ride more. AMA Go Ride! Month in April and Ride to Work Day on June 15—the latter created and promoted by 2013 AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Award recipient Andy Goldﬁne—are examples of campaigns focused on existing riders.

Second, we can encourage others to join our ranks. That is the goal of the “AMA Get Women Riding Campaign.”

The AMA Get Women Riding Campaign promotes motorcycling to women of all ages. It is inspired by the memory of Jeanne Clendenon, a proliﬁc motorcyclist and AMA member. Clendenon, who passed away in 2011, was a member of the Retreads Motorcycle Club and earned many riding awards, including completing the U.S. Four Corners Tour in 21 days.

The AMA Get Women Riding Campaign includes a series of videos promoting motorcycling as well as expanded online content. In addition, a May 9 event at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio, introduced motorcycling to dozens of new riders.

“Although motorcycling is a fun and accessible choice, riders must prepare with respect to proper training, safety and, of course, bike considerations,” says AMA Board of Directors Chair Maggie McNally-Bradshaw. “As true as that is for all motorcyclists, it’s

even more true for women riders. Women and girls face additional difficulties finding bikes and gear that fit them, getting certain salespeople to take them seriously and—the big one— overcoming the nagging societal stereotype among some that motorcycling is primarily for men. The AMA Get Women Riding Campaign will help change that.”

The AMA has a long history of welcoming women to motorcycling, from its early aﬃliation with the Motor Maids, a premier motorcycling group for female riders, to hosting more recent international conferences designed speciﬁcally for women. The AMA Get Women Riding Campaign includes a number of initiatives to continue this tradition.

“These four video public service announcements promote riding to women by women,” McNally-Bradshaw says. “These videos focus on the sport, camaraderie and individual enjoyment that comes from riding.”

The videos are hosted on the AMA YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ americanmotorcyclist.

“We also have re-launched and redesigned www.womenandmotorcycling.com,” McNallyBradshaw adds. “The website includes information for new riders and great stories about women motorcyclists.”

The web content presents motorcycling as non-intimidating, accessible and fun, as well as outlining the basics of getting started.

“I remember when I was new to motorcycling, and what really got me excited was learning to ride,” McNally-Bradshaw says. “We can kickstart that eﬀort by providing the practical information new riders need to get started the right way.” Women riders can email their stories to submissions@ama-cycle.org.

www.womenandmotorcycling.com.

AMA Hosts Ladies’ Day

On May 9, dozens of new and future female riders participated in a series of motorcycling workshops for new riders during Ladies Day at the AMA.

The free event featured several presenters who discussed how to get started in motorcycling. Two prominent speakers were AMA Board Chair Maggie McNally-Bradshaw and 2014 AMA Female Athlete of the Year Erin Hunter-Sills.

McNally-Bradshaw shared how her love of motorcycling grew when she began sharing it with those important to her.

“For us, motorcycling was a real family activity,” McNallyBradshaw told the attendees, “starting with the sidecar that my children rode in as kids, and from there it grew into a lifelong commitment.”

Hunter-Sills, a landspeed racer, talked about the challenges and responsibilities of competition.

Angela Khuon, from Canal Winchester, Ohio, says HunterSills’ talk inspired her.

“When Erin talked about riding, it made me want to become a safer and more experienced rider,” she says.

Bobby Do Right

Kaitlyn Sesco

Alicia Mariah Elfving is an example of the modern woman rider. Learn more about why she rides at

VIDEOS FEATURE WOMEN RIDERS

Four videos commissioned by the AMA and ﬁlmed by MotoGeo (www.motogeo.com) feature women riders from varied backgrounds talking about their love of riding and how they got started.

They include motocross racer Sara Price, the women’s motorcycle club East Side

Shelina Moreda and individual rider Alicia Mariah Elfving.

For all the videos, a common theme ties them together: acceptance.

“[Motorcycling] is about the journey,” Elfving says. “It’s about actually getting there. You can ride however you want to ride.”

See the videos at www.youtube.com/american motorcyclist or at www.women andmotorcycling.com.

Hall of Fame Club

JACKPINE GYPSIES

Inventing The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, S.D., is one of the oldest AMA-chartered oﬀ-road clubs. Founded in 1936 and chartered in 1937, the following year, the club joined with the City of Sturgis to hold a local rally over a three-day period in August, featuring a half-mile dirt-track race.

Following that race, the Sturgis rally continued to grow into one of the most popular destination events in the country, attracting tens of thousands of motorcyclists to the Black Hills, S.D., area each year.

The Jackpine Gypsies half-mile also thrived, attracting numerous AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers over the years, including Bill Tuman, Bobby Hill, Dick Mann and Dick Klamfoth, among others.

The Jackpine Gypsies were inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1997.

To learn more about the Jackpine Gypsies, and the other members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, see www. motorcyclemuseum.org. Better yet, visit the Hall of Fame at 13515 Yarmouth Drive in Pickerington, Ohio.

by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Fuel charges are extra. Rental must begin by 12/31/12. 12/31/15 12/31/15.

Moto Babes, road racer

INSPECTIONS, HYDRATION AND TIME OFF THE BIKE

Common Sense Ways To Improve The Ride by Tom Mehren

Bike Wash Inspection

Washing your dirty motorcycle is also a great time to look for general wear, damage, inspect tubes and wires, chains and sprockets, detect small leaks before they get big and eye possible missing parts or ones that need to be replaced. Washing your bike just prior to bringing it into the dealer for service may reveal a thing or two to add to your work order.

Sport Drink Evils

We all see athletes ﬁlling their gullets with sport drinks in between plays. The fact is, most sport drinks are counterproductive to staying hydrated. While they may have some valid hydration virtues, those made with sugar and caﬀeine can do more harm than good. Both are diuretics. Look for hydration that

has electrolytes, but stays clear of sugar and caﬀeine.

Skip Candle In A Can

The old-school candle in a can isn’t a great option for keeping warm at night. Lighting one in your tent and falling asleep could lead to serious disaster, including burning your sleeping bag, tent or you. If you’re having trouble staying warm, consider wearing base layers to bed.

Socks From Hell

Do you wear cotton socks when you ride and notice your feet get cold fast on cold days and overheat on hot days? That’s the result of the moisture not getting wicked away from your skin when stuﬀed in your boot. Synthetic socks, like their base-layer counterparts, will wick

PENNSYLVANIA

excess moisture and heat away from your skin, allowing you to stay warmer on cold days and not boil over on hot days.

Break From The Bike

How many riders blow through a national park each year and only take in a fraction of all there is to see? When in a scenic area, consider parking the bike for a day and doing some site-seeing, such as taking a guided tour, boarding a local train or going for a trail hike.

Tom Mehren is a long-time promoter of AMA-sanctioned events who rides 20,000 miles a year. Have a tip to share? Email tmehren@soundrider.com. If we use it, you’ll get a copy of Tom’s book, Packing Light/Packing Right

CLUBS GET SOUND TESTING

KITS

Program Educates About Sound

Few factors contribute more to prejudice against the motorcycling community than loud bikes. One AMA program designed to address this problem is the Sound Meter Grant Program, which awards sound testing kits. For 2015, grant recipients include nine clubs: The Toledo Trail Riders of Toledo, Ohio; Eastern Illinois ABATE Inc. in Champaign, Ill.; Maine Dual Sport and Dirt Bike Association of Bowdoin, Maine; AMA District 37 Dual Sport of Arcadia, Calif.; San Jose Dons of San Jose, Calif.; Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders of Taunton, Mass.; Rhody Rovers of Exeter, R.I.; The Club at Willow Creek in Whipple, Ohio; and North Country Retreads of Philadelphia, N.Y.

If your AMA-chartered club would like to apply to be part of the 2016 AMA Sound Meter Grant Program, please contact Steve Salisbury, AMA government aﬀairs manager for oﬀ-highway issues, at ssalisbury@ama-cycle.org.

Join KTM staff and enthusiasts at the 12th annual KTM Adventure Rider Rally, September 18-20, 2015 in scenic Crested Butte, CO!

This event provides riders of all skill levels an opportunity to ride with and learn from adventurers all over the world. The event is designed for KTM Adventure and Enduro owners but is open to all brands of street legal motorcycles.

RALLY INCLUDES:

» APPEARANCES FROM FACTORY RIDERS

» TECHNICAL AND RIDING SEMINAR

» DEMO RIDES (INCLUDING THE NEW 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE)

» RIDES WITH PRO ATHLETES

» MAP DOWNLOADS FOR SELF-GUIDED RIDES

» FRIDAY BREAKFAST AND DINNER

» SATURDAY BREAKFAST AND AWARDS DINNER

» EVENT T-SHIRT

» MOTORCYCLE VENDORS

» FUN, GAMES AND MORE

Photo: D. Ruiz

Do not imitate the riding scene shown! Professional rider on a closed course. Always wear proper riding clothing and equipment. www.kiska.com

AMA Member Tested

SHOCK SOX

MSRP: $26.95

Info: www.shocksox.com

When pulling the Shock Sox—“the 10-second removable fork seal protector”— out of the package, the ﬁrst impression

is that it almost certainly lives up to that marketing tagline. The deﬁning feature is the Velcro closure system that holds the Shock Sox onto your forks. It was obvious right then that this would make it great for easy installation and removal on my 2010 Honda CBR1000.

The idea of the Shock Sox is simple. It’s an elastic neoprene wrap that stops dust, grime and moisture before it can reach your fork seals and potentially cause a leak.

I’ve used a similar product in the past, but I had to remove my forks for installation. With the Shock Sox, I was able to just wrap it around my forks while they were still on the bike.

I tested the Shock Sox Street 6-inch “U” product, which is designed for upsidedown/inverted-style forks.

After riding/testing the Shock Sox for just over 1,500 miles through city, desert and rain, the lower fork tube (stanchion) and the dust seal area were 100 percent spotless.

This product is a must for any and all street riders looking to protect their

motorcycle’s fork seals. Variations of the product are available for the V-Twin market, as well for the dirt bike market.

As a bonus, the Shock Sox is easily removed and reinstalled for cleaning. It’s a simple solution that works. Unless you actually enjoy changing fork seals— and who does—give them a try.—Brad Whitworth

DUAL SPORT, ADVENTURE SERIES GET ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Moose Racing On Board As Presenting Sponsor

Moose Racing, a leading provider of top-quality oﬀ-road apparel, has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the Beta AMA National Dual Sport and Yamaha Super Ténéré AMA National Adventure Riding Series.

“For many, the Moose Racing brand conjures thoughts of adventure, toughness and endurance,” says AMA Chief Operations Officer Jeff Massey. “These are the qualities that riders bring to both dual sport and adventure riding, making this partnership a perfect fit.”

As part of Moose Racing’s sponsorship, a lucky participant in each series will win a set of Moose Racing gear at season’s end. In addition, Moose Racing or dealer representatives will be on hand at various rounds to connect with the riders and oﬀer branded giveaways.

“Dual sport and adventure riding are among the fastest-growing segments of motorcycling, and Moose Racing is eager for riders to understand the functional value and class-leading qualities of

our gear,” says Moose Racing’s Brad Kruckenberg. “The AMA’s dual sport and adventure riding series are the largest and longest-running of their kind in the country, and these events are a great way to meet some of America’s most-dedicated oﬀroad and back-country riders.”

The Beta AMA National Dual-Sport Series, presented by Moose Racing, was created by the AMA in 1987. It has become increasingly popular as oﬀ-road and street riders alike have turned to dual-sport recreation to experience the freedom of two wheels.

As larger adventure bikes became more popular, the AMA started the Yamaha Super Ténéré AMA National Adventure Series, presented by Moose Racing, to appeal to riders of these bikes. This series also has grown and now boasts rounds in all regions of the continental United States.

For more information about each series, and to ﬁnd a dual-sport or adventure ride near you, see www.americanmotorcyclist. com/riding.

Brad Whitworth

CREATING AWARENESS

AMA Club Spreads Word On Safety

For six years, the Cessna Motorcycle Club from Wichita, Kan., has been placing a billboard for Motorcycle Awareness Month.

“With the help of the AMVETS, the Cessna Motorcycle Club has been able to do this to promote safety and Motorcycle Awareness,” says CMC President Gary Bird. “Being [that] our ﬁrst club ride was in May—Motorcycle Awareness Month—we decided to take a group picture before we started.

“We would like to thank the AMA for all they do for motorcycling!”

AMA AWARDS

Peter Cline Receives AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award

Peter Cline, former AMA racer and VETMotorsports founder, received the 2015 AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award at the Road Atlanta round of MotoAmerica, the AMA and FIM North America professional road-racing series. In two years, Cline’s VETMotorsports has helped more than 65 injured warﬁghters participate in 35 motorcycle and auto racing events across the United States to help them ﬁnd new meaning and purpose.

Desiree Bates Receives AMA Outstanding O -Road Rider Award

Off-road racer Desiree Bates received the 2015 AMA Outstanding OffRoad Rider Award from AMA Vice President of Business Development Jim Williams. Bates became a fierce activist for protecting off-highway vehicle access rights through her advocacy in the “Fight For Ocotillo Wells SVRA,” a coalition formed to preserve OHV riding opportunities in one of California’s most popular recreation areas.

L-R: The AMA’s Jeﬀ Massey, Peter Cline

L-R: Desiree Bates, the AMA’s Jim Williams

HALL OF FAMER PASSES

Carroll Resweber: Class Of 1998

The AMA offers its condolences to the friends and family of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Carroll Resweber, who passed away on May 8 at the age of 79.

Resweber, a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 1998, was a brilliant young racer who won four consecutive AMA Grand National Championships from 1958 to 1961—a record that stood for four decades.

Resweber won 19 AMA nationals on half-miles, miles and road courses in a span of six seasons.

To read more about Carroll Resweber’s many achievements, see page 36.

YOUR HOME ON THE ROAD

With all the amenities of a larger motorhome but the added beneﬁt of its smaller size, a Roadtrek is the perfect place to call home after a day of riding the open road. Add in our towing capabilities, ease of driving and tons of storage space and exploring the countryside will never be the same.

no better time than now to start your journey.

Visit us at Sturgis 2015 and step inside the Roadtrek of your dreams.

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY RETURNS TO AIMEXPO

Gala Event Will Be Oct. 17 In Orlando, Fla.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2015 will be inducted Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Orange County Convention Center’s Chapin Theater in Orlando.

For the second year, the ceremony will be held in conjunction with the fast-growing industry and consumer trade show, AIMExpo.

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME 2015 INDUCTION CEREMONY

“In recent years, the AMA has strived to shine a brighter spotlight on our heroes and legends through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” says AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “I’m pleased to announce that we’re returning to AIMExpo this Oct. 17, when we’ll once again honor the Hall of Fame’s newest class in front of both riders and industry.”

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.

Tickets are $25 per person and are available at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. VIP tickets, which include an exclusive reception, reserved seating and AIMExpo show admission, are $90 per person.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony back to Orlando. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving and promoting motorcycling’s heritage, while AIMExpo showcases the current state and future of the sport,” says Larry Little, Vice President and General Manager of AIMExpo.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is an opportunity for all motorcyclists to meet their heroes. Open to the public, the ceremony not only celebrates the careers of some of history’s most talented riders and industry leaders, but attracts scores of previously inducted Hall of Famers who enjoy the show.

For updates on the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, keep an eye on www.motorcyclemuseum.org, as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/ AmericanMotorcyclist and www.facebook. com/AMAHallofFame) and Twitter: @AMA_Riding.

20 Great Sweepstakes Prizes worth $33,500 in 2015! SWEEPSTAKES

• 2 – New motorcycles. Two lucky AMA members who renew or join in 2015 will win a new bike! There’s one drawing for a Yamaha Super Ténére and another drawing for a Suzuki Boulevard 109R!

The 2015 AMA member sweepstakes is better than ever! Members who join or renew their AMA membership from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015, are automatically entered to win one of these awesome motorcycling prizes! Only new and renewing members are eligible, so don’t delay!

• 4 – TomTom Rider GPS Units, which feature navigation tools designed speciﬁcally for motorcyclists.

• 1 – Cardo Systems/Scala Rider G9 Communication Set. This awardwinning bluetooth intercom and communication system lets you connect with up to eight other riders.

• 1 – Shark Kage Ramp. This 6-in-one multi-use ramp is the ultimate truck accessory.

Don’t let your membership lapse! AmericanMotorcyclist.com (800) AMA-JOIN

A NEW RIDER AT AGE 46

Steve Reichman Says ‘It’s Never Too Late’

When Steve Reichman Sr.’s family saw the injuries sustained by his stepfather in a couple of motorcycle crashes when Steve was a teenager, the decision was made that motorcycling was not an option for the boy.

So, for 30 years, Reichman “played it safe” and stayed away from motorcycles. He even refused to let his son, Scot, buy a motorcycle while he was living in the family home.

“Fast forward a couple of years: Scot graduates high school, moves into his own apartment and soon after rolls up in front of the house with his new/used Yamaha R6, with no fairing and looks as ugly as sin,” Reichman says. “He rebuilt much of it, and it became an awesome bike. He encouraged me to try, and I said, ‘no,’ because I did not think I could work the clutch, throttle and gears to shift properly. I was literally talking myself out of riding.”

Scot persisted, though.

“A few months later, he needed to prep to renew his permit, and he asked me if I would like to do a ‘father and son’ activity by getting our permits together,” Reichman says. “The father/son activity hooked me.”

By Jim Witters

KLR650. He later bought a 1993 Kawasaki Voyager XII.

“Just about all of my riding is over the road, no oﬀ-road,” he says. “I think I’m at about 75,000 to 76,000 miles since I started in 2008. But I am still going— hopefully for another 20 years.”

One big beneﬁt Reichman found is the community that embraces motorcycling.

He joined the AMA to have “a voice in government and politics.” And he joined the American Voyager Association and participates in KLR online forums “for support, encouragement and tech tips.”

So, in 2008, at age 46, this father of nine from Perkasie, Pa., convinced his wife that a motorcycle would make a cheap commuter vehicle and then he bought his ﬁrst motorcycle—a 2008 Kawasaki

Reichman completed an Iron Butt Association Saddle Sore 1000. He also became a Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach. And he started a blog about his experiences.

During a break from his travels, he took some time to respond to a few questions from American Motorcyclist

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST: What is the best memory you associate with motorcycling?

STEVE REICHMAN: My ﬁrst day of riding my own motorcycle, June 7, 2008. Many great memories have been made from this point.

AM: What practical beneﬁts do you personally get from riding?

SR: Stress-relief, because it provides time for me to do something I enjoy on the daily commute to and from work or on any leisure day. Fuel consumption is 75 percent less than my four-wheeled vehicle. Parking is much easier. And it is another option for something to do with family and friends. I’ve also used my motorcycle on many business trips to economize.

AM: Share an experience in which you encountered pre-conceived notions because you ride.

SR: My co-workers see me and shake their heads because of the dangers inherent to motorcycling and how many drivers are not looking for motorcyclists. And when people ﬁnd out that I work in emergency services, some believe that the two worlds diﬀer due to the perceived lack of safety in motorcycling. Emergency services does spend time emphasizing preparedness for the unscheduled emergency. Proper motorcycling does the same thing through training and applying the safety strategies on every ride.

AM: How can we get more people on motorcycles?

SR: Promote state safety programs and any marketing that would increase visibility of these programs. Take safetyprogram information to local community events. Get out there and ride as often as possible, being a positive role model. Get our families involved and training up the next generation of safe motorcyclists.

AM: Tell us about your experiences as a motorcycling instructor.

SR: I attained MSF RiderCoach certiﬁcation and have had the privilege to use a national curriculum to introduce many students to the enjoyment of motorcycling, with emphasis on riding safely. This is very rewarding because I am able to be an important part of each student’s motorcycling experience. It is an excellent way to pay forward what was done for me in the beginning. I will do this as long as I am able. I learned it is a lot of fun to give guidance to my students and then watch them develop into safe beginning or reinforced seasoned motorcyclists.

AM: What else would you like to convey?

SR: Riding a motorcycle is something that gets into your inner being. It is a sense of freedom and stress relief and an everyday commute turns into a mini-adventure. Motorcycling hones your mind and riding skills. And I believe it makes you sharper overall.

Littlewing

Studio

Steve (left) and Scot Reichman.

For more than 90 years, the AMA has worked to curtail excessive motorcycle sound by educating riders, lawmakers and the general public, by funding studies and public relations campaigns and by regulating and reducing the sound level of racing vehicles.

Yet, in 2015 there are still street riders who argue that loud pipes save lives and dirt riders who don’t believe their loud bikes are costing them access to tracks and trails. As a result, lawmakers adopt arbitrary—and often unfair—sound standards, and neighbors use “noise” as a major reason to persuade policymakers to shut down tracks.

Excessive Sound Costs Motorcyclists Rights

By Jim Witters

to meet federally mandated sound control standards, and many aftermarket manufacturers oﬀer relatively quiet exhaust systems.

Few, if any, other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than excessively loud motorcycles.

“Sound regulation is coming,” says Sean Hutson, AMA government aﬀairs manager for on-highway issues. “We can either work to voluntarily bring sound levels down to community-accepted standards, or we can wait until local, state and federal laws do it for us. The latter will be much more diﬃcult and likely will include severe penalties for small infractions.”

All motorcycles are manufactured

“All Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as they are shipped from our factories, comply with the applicable federal and international requirements,” says Tony Macrito, manager of corporate media relations at the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. “Our motorcycles are designed to look good, sound good and achieve outstanding performance—without producing excessive noise.”

Still, some riders insist that louder is better.

The Motorcycle Industry Council has worked with the AMA and the motorcycling community to address this important issue.

“Over-regulation in reaction to excessively loud exhaust systems is one of greatest threats to motorcycling,” says Lee Durlach, MIC managing director of communications. “This often results in outright bans and restrictions of where motorcycles may be used, or unreasonable and questionable sound test standards and procedures that vary state to state and city to city.”

The issues aren’t solely affecting road riders. Efforts to open a motocross track in New Jersey died recently because of community worries about the potential for excessive motorcycle noise. Another track project in Virginia faces stiff community and political opposition despite the fact that it would be situated in an industrial area bounded by a major interstate highway and a train track.

“Noise is the go-to complaint for both neighbors and politicians—the one complaint certain to provide broad public support for dirt riders’ opponents,” says Steve Salisbury, AMA government affairs manager for off-highway issues. “We’ve dealt with politicians who enacted draconian land-use ordinances in response to the police forces’ inability to control loud off-road machines.”

Decisions on the use of motorized vehicles on public lands are based, in part, on the perception that exhaust sound is likely to cause disruption.

Hutson says many motorcyclists now recognize that “there are times when we need to police ourselves.”

If riders fail to adopt responsible voluntary practices, the result will be greater prejudice and discrimination against all motorcyclists.

Many private communities already ban all motorcycles, instead of setting sound limits and attempting to enforce them.

Loud pipes—on the street, track or trail—lead to tougher local, state and federal regulations, abusive enforcement of current laws, and other measures that will negatively aﬀect both riders and the motorcycle industry.

Chris Real, president of DPS Technical Inc. in Southern California and an expert on motorcycle sound issues, says motorcycles likely will come under increased regulatory scrutiny at the state and federal levels in the coming years.

“Recently, regulatory agencies have had to contend with numerous motorcyclespeciﬁc new technology challenges, such as the new three-wheel designs of motorcycles,” Real says. “These new vehicles have increased awareness to all motorcycles, and it is very probable that [increased] focus on motorcycle issues will become very common.”

Real credits the AMA and its members,

the MIC, national user groups, the technical community, some aftermarket manufacturers, race promoters and many in the motorcycle media for working toward reducing motorcycle exhaust sound and, with it, community complaints.

ON THE STREET

“Everyone should be aware of their surroundings when riding—even with a stock motorcycle,” Hutson says.

Unnecessary revving, prolonged idling and showy blasts of acceleration all contribute to the annoyance experienced by everyone except the rider.

“The majority of street riders who have modiﬁed exhaust systems are somewhat aware, but in general are far from compliant with reasonable sound levels,” Real says.

A 2014 survey of AMA members showed that nearly 80 percent of onhighway riders believe excessive sound creates a problem for motorcycling.

The group remains divided on the appropriate solution, however.

More than half of survey respondents endorsed the adoption of AMArecommended sound levels at the state level. About one-fourth favored enforcement of current state sound laws. And 21 percent did not support any sound law change or enforcement eﬀort.

“We are currently tracking 13 soundrelated state bills,” Hutson says. “They range from a bill that would institute [AMArecommended] Society of Automobile Engineers J2825 standards to a bill that would impose a $700 ﬁne for a motorcycle with an exhaust system that produces excessive or unusual noise.

“In most instances, these bills would not have been introduced without numerous complaints being lodged against a few riders,” he explains.

Real says that many modiﬁed exhaust systems produce sound that is louder than normal conversation even at distances of more than 3,000 feet from the source.

Such levels are occurring “not just when revving the engine, but accelerating up an on ramp or traveling down the highway at traﬃc speed,” he says.

“Many people in a community do not consider hearing every shift that is made for half of a mile acceptable,” Real says. “Many communities are taking actions with laws to minimize this disturbance. My question is, ‘Would you appreciate motorcycle-speciﬁc routes through communities, inspections and severe antitampering regulations?’”

Hutson says that many current laws and proposed legislation are vague

and arbitrary, making enforcement and compliance diﬃcult and uncertain, at best, and, at worst, impossible.

“This is problematic, because it is open to interpretation,” he says. “This is why the AMA supports practical, quantiﬁable sound testing procedures, such as those published by the SAE in J2825.”

SAE J2825, “Measurement of Exhaust Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway Motorcycles,” calls for limits of 92 decibels at idle for all motorcycles and higher decibel limits at various engine speeds for diﬀerent engine sizes. Measurements are taken 20 inches from the exhaust pipe at a 45-degree angle.

The state of New Hampshire, the town of Austinburg, Ohio, and several Canadian governments have adopted SAE J2825.

The New Hampshire legislation was enacted in 2012, after the New Hampshire Motorcycle Rights Organization succeeded in amending a sound bill to include SAE J2825 in its entirety.

NHMRO President Candy Alexander says the new law has quelled the issue.

“I have made contact with several law enforcement agencies that were once the hot bed of activity, and they have not received any reports of complaints regarding this topic,” she says.

“The most eﬀective item to date has been the awareness in the [motorcycling] community as to what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t. We have worked really hard to get the motorcyclists to understand that their behavior and riding habits is a direct link to the behavior of the citizens of New Hampshire.”

“We have worked really hard to get the motorcyclists to understand that their behavior and riding habits is a direct link to the behavior of the citizens of New Hampshire.

— CANDY ALEXDANDER, NHMRO PRESIDENT

ON THE TRACK AND TRAIL

Former professional racer Randall Everett has spent the past eight years teaching motocross school at a variety of sites in the Mid-Atlantic region.

In 2014, he decided he had gained enough experience and saved enough money to launch a motocross academy at a ﬁxed site in Hanover County, Va. He hired a civil engineer and a sound engineer to put together his application for a special-use permit.

The proposed location for Everett’s DEFi MX University is surrounded by land zoned for industrial use and is bordered by I-95, U.S. 1 and a railroad track. Politicians and clergy from two area churches objected, citing “noise” as the reason for denying approval.

“We are following all the noise regulations,” Everett says. “We even proposed building a 14-foot wall to insulate the site. There will be no noise [oﬀ the property], but they still object.

“At this point, I believe the opposition comes from the stereotype of motocross riders. All the letters of opposition sound the same.”

Everett is pinning his hopes on a petition drive and an outpouring of support from the riding community.

“We need to show them how many supporters we have and how many kids will beneﬁt from this project,” he says.

Salisbury says Everett’s predicament is a common one.

“As much as responsible riders have done to limit the impact of their machines’ sound, the oﬀ-road issue I deal with most for the AMA is still noise,” he says.

Even with numerous examples at hand, oﬀ-road riders are less likely than street riders to understand the imminent loss of riding opportunities due strictly to sound.

The 2014 AMA member survey shows that just 7.3 percent of oﬀ-road riders say excessive sound has contributed to loss of riding areas. And only 12 percent of respondents said motorcycle sound

should be the AMA’s top priority.

“There are still those whose ﬁrst aftermarket purchase is a louder exhaust to create the perception of more speed, and some who ride oﬀ road with exhaust systems designed for closed courses only,” Salisbury says.

“Law enforcement can only do so much to stop those riders. It’s critical that responsible riders, applying peer pressure, get to them before the public responds to their noise politically,” he says.

Real says the noise issue is costing enthusiasts access to riding areas.

“Oﬀ-road riders have lost vast areas where riding used to be legal,” he says.

The losses include riding on private property and access to public lands.

Richard Rick of Baldwin Borough, Pa., near Pittsburgh, built a practice track for his son in the 1990s. He told the local newspaper that he had few complaints over the years.

But, in April, the borough manager said the track may violate “noise and other ordinances,” and Rick’s private track may be shut down.

On public lands, agencies such as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service monitor noise and take complaints seriously.

“To give advice on the sound issue, I like to ask the oﬀ-road riders a few questions,” Real says. “First, name 10 riding areas or tracks where you used to ride. Second, how many of these areas have been closed or downsized in the past few years? Third, name ﬁve new riding areas or tracks that have opened.

“For most of us ‘long time’ oﬀ-road riders, the closed and downsized riding areas far outnumber the few new oﬀ-road riding opportunities,” he says.

Land management agencies and many sanctioning bodies use the SAE J1287, which is a test procedure for oﬀ-

highway vehicles. Such a standard allows for objective assessment of individual vehicles to ensure compliance with

applicable regulations.

GOING FORWARD

From the 1930s campaign featuring “Muffler Mike” to the “Loud Pipes Risk Rights” effort in 2005 (following the AMAhosted National Summit on Motorcycle Sound) and right up to today, the AMA has been educating motorcyclists and the general public about motorcycle sound, assisting riders in their fight to ensure their rights are protected and lobbying politicians and regulatory agencies to halt knee-jerk legislation and promote adoption of objective standards, such as SAE 2825 and SAE J1287.

The AMA also oﬀers grants for the purchase of sound-testing kits, awarding 96 kits to date.

The more the riding community does to bring itself into compliance with community standards, the less the politicians and their enforcement agencies need to be involved.

“Political outcomes are never certain,” Salisbury says. “Still, using common sense when equipping your bike for limited sound and riding, when and where it’s legal, will go a very long way towards future generations enjoying on- and oﬀroad riding as much as we have.”

Hutson says the actions of a relatively few riders with loud bikes create a perception that all riders have loud pipes.

“Simultaneously, most people would not recognize a motorcycle with an aftermarket exhaust if riders were responsible and recognized community norms when in residential areas,” he says. “While some people will never come around, riders, as a group, can work to educate the public about what is acceptable and what is not.”

Macrito says Harley-Davidson understands the importance of social responsibility.

“Demonstrating respect for one

“At this point, I believe the opposition comes from the stereotype of motocross riders. All the letters of opposition sound the same.”

— RANDALL EVERETT, FORMER PROFESSIONAL RACER

another will help riders and non-riders alike ﬁnd common ground,” Macrito says. “We encourage respectful riding practices and oﬀer our riders a wide array of performance-based compliant customization parts that meet EPA regulation standards for noise limits.

“As communities raise concerns about motorcycle noise, the motorcycle industry and riders should work together

to respond in a constructive way. This issue is all about respect: a rider’s respect for their surroundings and a noisesensitive community’s respect for a rider’s freedoms,” says Macrito.

Alexander agrees the issue of excessive sound is “a community problem and it must be addressed as a community.”

Working with state Rep. Sherman Packard, the NHMRO assembled a

TYPICAL SOUND LEVELS dBA

This chart has typical sound levels that are often present in our everyday lives and in the environment. A sound level is only truly beneﬁcial if we identify the distance where the measurement is taken.

working group that included riders, legislators, law enforcement, dealers and the community.

“We reviewed the issue, determined the appropriate solution and implemented it,” Alexander says. “It may seem like a simple approach, but there are a lot of moving pieces, and it is important to ensure that they are all moving in the right direction. In the end, we got the job done.”

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Three-Day Vintage Motorcycling Fest For Riders Of All Ages

We’ve all heard stories about a time when motorcycling was simpler, technology mattered less, race bikes oozed character, riders of all stripes got along and custom creations ruled the highways.

Well, here’s some good news. That time is now.

Not only have the good times never left, but they are better than ever. To experience them first hand, attend the country’s coolest festival celebrating the vintage motorcycle lifestyle. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 10-12, at MidOhio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, is the grandest celebration of old motorcycles and people who love them.

This year, the event—an annual fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio—will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the museum that the Hall of Fame calls home.

What exactly goes on at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days? There’s a little bit of everything—vintage racing for all eras and rider skill levels, bike shows, a massive motorcycle swap meet, seminars and more—but all of it is connected to the fun, thrills and good times that are inspired by cool old bikes.

Here’s a brief description of some of the highlights. For a full schedule, visit www. amavintagemotorcycledays.com.

Racing For Everyone

Vintage racing has been described as “all the excitement with none of the pressure,” and that’s exactly what you’ll find at the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, which takes place every year during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

The AMA Vintage Grand Championship includes vintage and post-vintage racing in motocross, hare scrambles, road racing, trials and dirt track. National champions are crowned at the event in motocross, hare scrambles, road racing and trials, while the dirt track racing is one round of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series.

This is a family-friendly event, so kids are welcome. Riders 12 and older can compete in motocross, off-road and dirttrack events. (Riders must be 14 or older to compete on a motorcycle 251cc or larger, and youth riders are not permitted in the dirt-track brakeless class.)

The best part, though, is that each discipline includes classes for all skill

levels. While some classes include racers who are just as serious as their modernequipment counterparts, others just show up on an old dirt bike and have fun. Even better, it’s not unheard of for a racer to buy a bike in the swap meet in the morning, race it during the day and sell it that evening.

Everything Vintage

Looking for a rare part or just some vintage inspiration? Look no further than the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet, the largest of its kind in North America. The swap meet includes anything a motorcycle nut could want. You’ll find old bikes, old bike parts, modern and period gear, memorabilia and much more.

If you’re a seller not a buyer, anyone can sign up as a swap meet vendor. By doing so, you also get free on-site primitive camping. Vendor spaces sellout early, so don’t wait to sign up. For an application, see www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com > Vendor and Swap Meet Info.

Death Defying

Not all the excitement is on the race track. Billed as America’s Original Extreme Motorcycle Thrill Show, the American Motor Drome Wall of Death is an amazing throwback to live-action carnival stunts.

The team of Charlie Ransom, Wahl E. Walker and others put on a vertical display of out-of-this-world riding in one of the most authentically American attractions you’ll find, all on vintage motorcycles, of course.

Hall Of Fame Bike Show

While AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days itself is largely its own rolling bike show, some of the most exquisite models will be on hand Saturday, July 11 at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show. Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show will include motorcycles through 1989. Judging will take place from noon until 2 p.m. and will include American, European, Japanese and British categories from various eras. Registration is a $10 donation per bike.

Lap For History

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is all about getting involved—whether it’s racing, showing off your vintage bike, buying parts in the swap meet, attending a seminar or just soaking up the atmosphere.

One way to experience Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from a vantage point that most fans never get is to take part in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Lap For History— all from the seat of your own motorcycle.

The Lap for History, held each day, allows participants to circulate the road race course for a tax-deductible $10 donation to the Hall of Fame.

Register for the ride at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent. Ride times on page 44 are estimates. Exact times depend on the race program and will be available at signup. A riders’ meeting, held at the staging area, is mandatory, as are a helmet, long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Bikes must be operationally sound and leak free.

Ashland Dinner Ride & Vintage Dirt Track

For a real throwback, you don’t want to miss the Ashland Dinner Ride and vintage dirt-track races.

The evening includes dinner and a round of vintage dirt track racing, enjoyed from the fairgrounds’ grandstand. From the pits to the well-worn seats, it’s a real step back in time.

The ride leaves Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. Buy your tickets, which include dinner and the race, at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent at the MidOhio Sports Car Course.

COMPETITION EVENTS

Friday, July 10

• Vintage Road Racing Practice

• Vintage, Post-Vintage and Modern Hare Scrambles

• Open Motocross Practice

Saturday, July 11

• Vintage Road Racing

• Vintage, Evolution and Post-Vintage Motocross

• Vintage Dirt Track (Ashland County Fairgrounds)

Sunday, July 12

• Vetter Vintage Days Fuel Economy Challenge

• Vintage Road Racing

• Vintage, Evolution and Post-Vintage Motocross

• Vintage Trials

• AMA Vintage Grand Champion Presentations

Jeff Guciardo

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Schedule

A fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days celebrates our motorcycling heritage like no other event. Activities include vintage racing, a massive swap meet, bike shows, stunt shows, motorcycle demo rides, seminars on a number of topics by noted motorcycling experts and much more.

Below is the 2015 schedule. (The schedule is subject to change, and can do so up until the date of the event. For the latest, see www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.)

Friday, July 10

GENERAL SCHEDULE

7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Event Registration (Gate 3)

7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mid-Ohio Gate Hours/Ticket Sales

LAP FOR HISTORY (FALSE GRID)

Friday, July 10

8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Registration 11:30 a.m. Staging and Riders’ Meeting 12:15 p.m. Lap for History

Saturday, July 11

8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Registration 10:30 a.m.....................Staging and Riders’ Meeting 11:15 a.m. Lap for History

Sunday, July 12

8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Registration 11:00 a.m. Staging and Riders’ Meeting 11:45 a.m. Lap for History

8 a.m. - Noon AMA Swap Meet Registration At Swap Meet Central

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. AMA Swap Meet & Used Bike Corral

Motorcycle Demo Rides (upper paddock)

Motorcycle Skills Challenge (upper paddock)

Moto Trials Extreme Exhibition (upper paddock)

American Motor Drome Wall Of Death (inﬁeld)

Vendor Midway (inﬁeld)

Classic and Club Corral Displays (inﬁeld)

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME TENT

Ashland Dinner Ride Registration Hall Of Fame Gift Shop Raﬄe Bike Ticket Sales

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. AMA Hall Of Fame Museum 25th Anniversary Display

Saturday, July 11

GENERAL SCHEDULE

7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Event Registration (Gate 3)

7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mid-Ohio Gate Hours/Ticket Sales

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. AMA Swap Meet & Used Bike Corral

Motorcycle Demo Rides (upper paddock)

Motorcycle Skills Challenge (upper paddock)

Moto Trials Extreme Exhibition (upper paddock)

American Motor Drome Wall Of Death (inﬁeld)

Vendor Midway (inﬁeld)

Classic and Club Corral Displays (inﬁeld)

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME TENT

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Noon - 2 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 12

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Bike Show Registration

Ashland Dinner Ride Registration

AMA Hall Of Fame Museum 25th Anniversary Display

Hall of Fame Gift Shop

Raﬄe Bike Ticket Sales

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Bike Show Judging

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Bike Show Awards

GENERAL SCHEDULE

7 a.m. - Noon Event registration (Gate 3)

7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mid-Ohio gate hours/ticket sales

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. AMA Swap Meet & Used Bike Corral

Motorcycle Demo Rides (upper paddock)

Motorcycle Skills Challenge (upper paddock)

American Motor Drome Wall Of Death (inﬁeld)

Vendor Midway (inﬁeld)

Classic and Club Corral Displays (inﬁeld)

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME TENT

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. AMA Hall Of Fame Museum 25th Anniversary Display Hall of Fame Gift Shop

11 a.m. Annual Hall Of Fame Raﬄe Bike Drawing

A few of the hundreds of AMA-sanctioned events this month, detailed on the following pages.

The AMA will host a half-mile dirt track race in conjunction with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. The event is held on July 11 in Ashland, Ohio, just a short drive from the site of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. Info: www.amavintage motorcycledays.com

On July 26, Lucky Thumb Motorcycle Club is hosting a dirt track TT in Deford, Mich. Info: www. luckythumbmotorcycleclub.com

March of Dimes – Missouri is hosting a road run on July 26 in St. Louis, Mo. It’s the 20th anniversary of the event, which supports the leading nonproﬁt organization for pregnancy and baby health. It features food, drinks, music, a raﬄe and more. The ride will start at St. Louis Mungenast Honda Motorsports and end at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Ill. Info: www.bikersforbabies.org

If you’re looking for a motocross race, Tri-City Motorcycle Club is hosting one on July 19 in Coal Valley, Ill. Info: www.tricitymc.com

The Coconino Trail Riders are hosting the Mountain Madness Dual Sport, July 18-19, in Flagstaﬀ, Ariz. Club members regularly spend time working with the U.S. Forest Service and other users on trail construction and maintenance projects, grant partnering, public education and issues relating to oﬀ-road recreation. Info: www.coconinotrailriders.org

The 10th Annual Christian Neuhauser Memorial Ride and Touring Weekend, sponsored by RoadRUNNER Magazine, will take place July 16-19 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The event is named after the magazine’s founder, Christian Neuhauser, and includes rides on the area’s famous twisty backroads. Info: www. touring-weekend.com

COMING UP

Each year, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony welcomes new members into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. On Oct. 17, in conjunction with AIMExpo in Orlando, Fla., six inductees will join the ranks of motorcycling’s greatest advocates and champions. Tickets are $25 for a reserved seat or $90 for a reserved seat and access to the VIP Reception before the ceremony. Info: www. motorcyclemuseum.org

JULY EVENTS

ARIZONA

RECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT-OFF ROAD

JUL 18: FLAGSTAFF: 2 DAY EVENT, COCONINO TRAIL RIDERS, (951) 326-4757, COCONINOTRAILRIDERS.ORG CALIFORNIA

RECREATIONAL

POKER RUN

JUL 11: STOCKTON: STOCKTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 9561505, STOCKTONMC.ORG

JUL 12: PASADENA: PASADENA MOTORCYCLE CLUB

JUL 18: OAKLAND: OAKLAND MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (510) 534-6222, OAKLANDMC.ORG COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUL 19: (Includes ATVs) GORMAN: PROSPECTORS MC, (562) 243-4833, PROSPECTORSMC.ORG

SPEEDWAY

JUL 1: CITY OF INDUSTRY:

INDUSTRY HILLS EXPO CENTER