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I am sure there are others but I higly recommend this organization to join. We can have a say in government laws that affect our biking interests. Plus you get monthly magazine and cool pins and stickers.

You can even start your own chapter with 3 members.

ImOk

I agree with you I joined the BMF in the UK & they & MAG have stopped some stupid goverment ideas getting through, like leg gaurds & legalisation to stop us customising our bikes. Governments sometimes forget that we are voters & tax payers. They also have excellent rallies all over the world
Take it easy

Also, do a web search and check into the Modified Motorcycle Association in your area. They don't brand you as an outlaw for taking part in non-sanctioned events.

ImOK,

I am not a memeber of the AMA or ABAT, but I have been told that ABAT does a lot more when it comes to lesgislation and laws. They have a full time lobbying group in DC, which from what I have been told the AMA doesn't. The AMA initially was very much involved in protecting the rights of riders but has put more effect into organizing races than anything else.

Tom

Au contrere, mon ami. Big time DC lobby and grass roots workers as well. Much respect for the AMA in the DC area. Abate does good work as well, so cover all bets and join both.
Mike Sr.

Au contrere, senor, I am a member of both and ABATE is more involved at the state level. The AMA is indeed more attuned to races and sanctioned events, but they also give us a voice at the federal level. They both fight the tree huggers and the safety nazis when they get out of hand....

Grump,

I guess I need to join one of them. A friend keeps bugging me to join ABAT, but it seems to be a Harley club (at least in this part of FL).

Tom

Tom,
Hmmmm. how do I say this??
My local chapter of ABATE is 99% HD's and 1% Goldwings. I have yet to go to a meeting, even though I signed up for a life membership, as the minutes of them read like some dime store novel. I applaud what they accomplish in Pa., but the mindset of the local chapter is not er, my cup of tea. I got over wet t-shirt contests and pool tournaments til 4 in the morning several years ago.
On the other hand, the AMA, to me anyway, is more interested in races, but they also do some good things at the federal level. My son had to join the AMA when he was riding MX, and I enjoyed the magazine and learning about what they stood for, but racing seems to be their main thrust. I feel you have to support the organizations that fight for our rights, but I don't feel that I have to become "The Wild One" or put a number plate on my bike to do so....

ABATE and MMA are more active at the state level and are oriented toward street riding. AMA is more active at the federal level and more oriented toward competition and offroad.

Grump,

Sometime in 2003 a small group of Triumph riders (7 or 8 of us) went to a ABAT function at a bar called Shuttles (just south of Kennedy Space Center on Route 3). I think there were two ABAT members in our group.

The weather forecast called for rain in the afternoon. We showed up and there were only 4 other bikes there. Three Harleys and maybe a Goldwing. The ABAT members that were putting on the thing were so impressed that there were more Triumphs than anything else they actually took pictures of our bikes all lined up.

It was hard to believe that only 3 Harley's showed up since it was a free lunch and all you could drink beer or soda for all members and $5.00 for guests. I guess the Harley riders didn't want to get wet.

That was a first and probably the last time I will ever see more Triumphs than Harleys at a ABAT function.

Tom

"It was hard to believe that only 3 Harley's showed up"

Maybe there wasn't enough parking for more trailers?