Ama

[spid6813]

How many of you are members of the American Motorcycle Association? And why? I know they defend us on many levels. Myself and my direct family have all been riding/racing for 35+ years. None are AMA members. Not many of my riding friends are either. It seems they just don't have enough lobbying clout when it comes to convincing "cagers" of anything. And it feels like the ama has left american road racing damaged.


TANX__________________________________________SPID

[Badbilly]

A fair overview of The American Motorcyclist Association since the name changed years ago that I guess somebody missed along the way is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...st_Association

AMA as it's known by most members of course has it's own website, board of directors, magazine, lobby, really spiffy bike museum, ect.

Best deal this side of Kalamazoo for insurance for any bike gig that is AMA sanctioned.

Like any organization including the Girl Scouts and the Soylent Green Society, it's not perfect.

So what did they do exactly to piss you off in 74? (2009-35) Just between the fenceposts what fucked some of the roadracing was Daytona in general and the same for flatracking from the Sturgis crowd.

Am I a member? Yep. Do I believe everything they say? Nope. Just like the net..LOL

Today I am also a cager. It's pissing down rain and cold and the wind is blowing. Thankee Jesus that I can afford a car on days like today. I hope I don't run over any of my biker friends, even the ones who ride Harleys.

[Bubba Zanetti]

I was, but after the 'changing of the guard' so to speak I have not renewed my membership.

Another friend of mine also let his membership go due to DMG and the changes they made in racing.

BZ

[TimRav]

Member # 973972. Been a member for 3 years now. Joined at first to support the cause and b/c they offered road assistance ("MoTow") for a small fee.

AMA may be flawed in some respects, and DMG has really screwed up AMA pro racing, but AMA is still the best group lobbying on behalf of our rights. Without them I believe we'd be worse off in regards to road & trail access, our overall image in the minds of lawmakers and amateur racing.

The membership dues are pretty low, and now if you renew automatically via credit card you get free roadside assistance/towing. I think it's still a valuable org. for all kinds of riders. Like 'em or not, they're the best group we have fighting for us.

[spid6813]

[QUOTE=Badbilly;217538]
So what did they do exactly to piss you off in 74? (2009-35) QUOTE]

Not pissed. The massive motorcycle "family" i grew up around never mentions the ama.

[Keager]

not happy with what they have done or continue to do in the racing. That's why I don't join.

Sad when they have no longer any support from the factory race teams.

[TimRav]

From what I've read, people were pissed at AMA for how they handled pro racing before they sold the rights to DMG, then were skeptical of how DMG would handle it. Sad to see all the critics were right. So far anyway. Hopefully DMG will learn quickly.

Not to start a fight, but I don't it's fair to crucify AMA due to just the pro racing mess. They do a lot more than racing, and when racing is such a small % of overall riders and riding activity, I think it's still wise to support the folks who lobby on our behalf.

BTW, you get a nice monthly mag with your membership, too. It's thin but worth reading IMO. Plus there are a couple discounts to take advantage of with your membership, including on BikeBandit.com.

*Climbs down from soapbox and dons flamesuit now*

[derstuka]

DMG sucks balls.

Here's to their letting Buell "do whatever mods you want but the other (BIG FOUR) bikes cannot favortism...

[Badbilly]

[QUOTE=spid6813;217624]

So what did they do exactly to piss you off in 74? (2009-35) QUOTE]

Not pissed. The massive motorcycle "family" i grew up around never mentions the ama.

I'd be afraid they'd toss me out of "All in the Family" or Wisconsin, Home of the "Milwaukee Boat Anchors."


On the racing, AMA's history of showing favoritism towards anything having to do with HD ain't nothin new by a long shot. Any quick perusal of the history of flat track will indicate that in spades. An indepth focus on this will also indicate that HD and AMA have shared the same sack on more than one ocassion. Good? Bad? I don't know. I guess maybe I'll just whine and it will go away..LOL

[Badbilly]

Dear Badbilly,

spid6813 has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - Ama - in the Anything Goes forum of VFRworld.

This thread is located at:
http://vfrworld.com/forums/anything-...-new-post.html

Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
Have they(the ama)done anything to reverse the anti -lead legislation that keeps kids from getting bikes? Motorcycle's Lead Law Pain: New Rule Hurts Bike Companies (Motorcycle's Lead Law Pain: New Rule Hurts Bike Companies)
***************


Eeeek! I detect a strawman argument. So as the lawyer says, are the kids licking paint off the bikes which BTW, are those Chinese made mini bikes that are either for really little guys or midgets.

My question would be since Ariana Huffington has thoughts about all this, what must Martha Stewart think? Durn biker bitches..

The Chinese know fuckin a well that there is lead in the paint. They don't give a shit and the folks who import and sell these bike don't either. Sort of like the Ford recall (LOL) of those trucks that blew sky high if rear ended. It was less money for Ford just to pay out the insurance claims than to fix all the bad engineering.

I submit that if you live in a place that was built before 1970 I can find enough lead in some paint and probably of asbestos in your place in about ten minutes flat that would be enough to scare the pants off anyone. Got any older bikes? Lead paint on some of those too. Old "tin" toys made in USA? Same deal.