MRF Rep Report

Have you seen Hardtail’s new YouTube video? It’s titled Your Right to Know! From the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. Check it out!

Here’s a few more details on things that are going on in the MRF world today:

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation in the United States (MRF) has formed a council to review the challenges that independent motorcycle dealers and custom bike builders face – providing a channel for their interests as motorcycle industry stakeholders to be addressed by MRF lobbyists in Washington, DC.

“We are pleased to have Bob Kay leading the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Council,” stated Kirk ‘Hardtail’ Willard, “Bob’s firsthand experience over five decades in the motorcycle industry will be invaluable in helping to direct the efforts of our lobbyists.”

Initial IMA Council membership includes Keith Ball from Bikernet, Chris Callen from Cyclesource Magazine, Scott Hakins from S&S, Steve Broyles from Stevenson Cycles, John Jessup from Dream Rides, Jason Hallman from Cycle Stop USA and John O’Brien of Hardcore cycles.

Independent motorcycle dealers and custom bike builders wishing to join the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Network can contact Bob Kay at IMA19032023@gmail.com or visit the website at www.mrf.org.

There is also a private Facebook group set up for discussion of these important topics plus a public Instagram page dedicated to propagating IMA news and events. You can also support lobbyist efforts by purchasing a Sustaining Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket Annual Membership at…

www.mrf.org/join/join-mrf-imac

Go to https://americanmotorcycledesign.blogspot.com/2023/09/independent-motorcycle-aftermarket.html for the full article.

This month the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its annual report, Traffic Safety Facts 2021: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data. The 225-page report contains information on crash types, causes and participants involved. Remember that while we are nearing the end of 2023, this report is 2021 data. NHTSA spent nearly two years compiling these figures before releasing the report.

The data on motorcyclist fatalities is especially troubling. According to the report, in 2021, motorcyclists made up 13.8% of all nationwide traffic fatalities, with 5,932 motorcyclists killed on our nation’s roadways. That is the highest number since data collection began in 1975. In comparison, the pre-Covid year of 2019 saw 5,044 bikers killed.

If you need help getting to sleep, the complete study can be read at https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813527

For reference, motorcyclists are between 2 and 3% of the roadway users. At almost 14% of the fatalities, we have a problem! We may think statistics are boring, but I can assure you the government looks at them closely to determine what they feel is the best way to move forward. In this case, it once again comes down to if we don’t figure out how to reduce motorcyclist fatalities on our own, the government will do it for us. We don’t need to give them any more ammo to take away our freedom to ride.

Stay vigilant, my friends!

Jen Abraham

ABATE of WI

Board of Directors

MRF State Rep