Super Tenere on cover of AMA's American Motorcyclist magazine

[Salmon Sam]

Has anyone seen the cover of the April 2013 issue? I believe in supporting our AMA in the US. It is our "motorcyclist union". Sure, they lobby for "your choice" helmet laws and keeping loud Harley pipes (long debates over these ones), but they also are big into defending backroad access.
Also, joining or renewing your membership gives you a chance to win an ST!
(no I am not paid for saying this - just another dues-paying member).

 

[iridemotorbikes]

Lets not forget about the AMA's awesome roadside assistance program/coverage.... That alone is worth the small yearly price.
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Membership/AMARoadsideAssistance.aspx

EVERYONE who rides should join there's no reason/excuse not to, there are people in DC that everyday are trying to ban/restrict/get rid of the sport we all love and enjoy.. Believe it or not most people HATE motorcycles and by default the people that ride them.
Anyone remember the attempted ban on "sportbikes" in the 80's? Thank the AMA for stopping that, the lead ban on kids bikes/atv's and the hundreds of other BS pieces of legislation that regularly come out of some idiots head in DC.. Look into the pending ban(s) on riding on your own property in several states/counties, who do you think is fighting for you?

Sorry just cant understand why everyone who rides isn't a card carrying member of the AMA, don't even get me started on gun owners who don't belong to the NRA!!!! ::009::

But to the OP's point chance to win a free Super Tenere for renewing!! Yes please!!

 

[klunsford]

::026:: Well put...

 

[HoebSTer]

i just filled out the membership. maybe i can get a mag with Tenere.

 

[snakebitten]

Great sermon. Been a member a few times in the past.

Just renewed. I feel redeemed.

 

[Karson]

Thanks to this site, I'm now a member of the AMA and NRA. motorcycles and guns. 'MURICA.

 

[scott123007]

I am a lifetime AMA member, but that is by default from all my years racing and "having" to be a member. Although I do advocate being an AMA member if you own a motorcycle, because there is way more upside than downside, I still think they are spineless political cowards when it comes to their stand on helmet usage and loud pipes. Anyone with more than two brain cells knows the value of helmet usage and sound levels that aren't offensive to the non-riding public. If it weren't for the vast cruiser market that the AMA need to target to survive, and "that" markets belief in "freedom of choice" which in the long run is a detriment to motorcycling safety and acceptance, the AMA would by all accounts, promote helmet and noise laws.

 

[Karson]

here we gooooo although the ignorant side of me wants to be able to ride to the gas station for a 12 pack of beer 2 blocks away without a helmet, i'm in total agreement that I wouldn't be opposed to helmet laws being in place nationwide. it's not that hard to strap on almost as quick as a seatbelt.

The loud pipes thing is a tough one, but I live in a quiet neighborhood already. If I had a dink motorcycle owner as a neighbor who felt the need to flex nuts whenever he backed out of the garage, I'd be more opinionated on that matter. So I guess that puts me in the "I don't like loud pipes either" category.

Anyway, for folks that think wearing a helmet doesn't matter:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22458792

 

[klunsford]

I feel there should be a choice on helmet wearing... If some idiot wants to splatter his brains all over the highway, let them. For the most part, every motorcycle rider out there is an adult and should know when the right choice should be made... I wear a helmet even when just go around the block, but that is from working too many motorcycle accidents as a cop and scrapeing up grey matter off of the road. It's your choice, choose wisely. ::009:: Now, don't get me started on loud pipes. Most times they are just annoying...

 

[Karson]

I feel there should be a choice on helmet wearing... If some idiot wants to splatter his brains all over the highway, let them. For the most part, every motorcycle rider out there is an adult and should know when the right choice should be made... I wear a helmet even when just go around the block, but that is from working too many motorcycle accidents as a cop and scrapeing up grey matter off of the road. It's your choice, choose wisely. ::009:: Now, don't get me started on loud pipes. Most times they are just annoying...

i think the counter argument to helmets being optional is really evident in the really bad accidents where we're talking hundreds of thousands, if not more, in medical costs.

why should taxpayers (in cases where medicaid is covering the patient) flip the more expensive bill? in commercial insurance industry, why should my premiums be at risk from increasing when they've over-extended what they've ever paid in via premiums?

not saying your opinion isn't justified, but at the end of the day, someone will be financially held responsible one way or the other. I don't think it should be someone else if it can be proven that helmet wearing patients accrue less in medical bills during that specific accident.

i guess it all boils down to this - right now, folks have a right to wear or not wear a helmet in some states. with that same logic, why doesn't medicaid, private insurance companies, or you and I, not have a right to forego indirectly covering said additional medical bills? i think the clocks ticking on this, just like seatbelts...

 

[offcamber]

Oh god not the helmet debate ::010::

Doesn't cost the states anything....if that's your argument then ban alcohol cigarettes and fatty foods people cost the states far more for those habits than any helmetless rider...

Its nanny state mentality...We know whats good for you....where does it end riding a motorcycle is dangerous lets ban that too....

::021::

 

[Karson]

Oh god not the helmet debate ::010::

Doesn't cost the states anything....if that's your argument then ban alcohol cigarettes and fatty foods people cost the states far more for those habits than any helmetless rider...

Its nanny state mentality...We know whats good for you....where does it end riding a motorcycle is dangerous lets ban that too....

::021::

i agree - probably not the OP's intent. i'll drop my case after this.

states may voluntarily opt to pay in or not contribute to medicaid at all. but every state since 1982 has funded medicaid, so yeah, they do. and for tobacco products, 56.6% of the total cost of the sale is taxed. and in most cases, depending on how the state taxes tobacco, that money goes to the state's general fund, or other funds at their discretion. it gets real foggy real fast where states spend that general fund money, so yeah, i'll leave it at that. but, the remainder of that tax goes to the feds in the form of the SCHIP program. so you're right the tobacco argument is, at a minimum, valid. but at least the sin tax offers a whiff of an attempt to provide medical cost coverage reimbursement in some fashion back to people...

the problem with issues like these is you can draw comparisons all you want, but no matter what your opinion is, 100% of people that live will die. where you consider the line to be drawn in the sand with regards to health and safety freedoms/laws is up to you. i just feel like this one is pretty clear cut. At least with the tobacco argument, in some regards, holds the user accountable in some fashion even if it is just a tax.

i don't feel like going into the unhealthy food thing. i wrote too many papers on these topics in college...

sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_taxes_in_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Children's_Health_Insurance_Program

 

[snakebitten]

We must simply decide if we want to "pay" the costs associated with being truly free people, or the costs associated with someone governing many of our choices, regardless of what their motive for governing is.

Neither is without cost. Being free cost a lot!

I personally think the price is worth it.

 

[Karson]

::008:: Great transition, snakebitten. I felt kinda stupid posting all that when I got 90% done, but then i figured ahh hell with it and clicked post. Good thoughts.

Back to the regular scheduled programming!

 

[iridemotorbikes]

Thanks to this site, I'm now a member of the AMA and NRA. motorcycles and guns. 'MURICA.

Double thumbs up!!!

 

[snakebitten]

::008:: Great transition, snakebitten. I felt kinda stupid posting all that when I got 90% done, but then i figured ahh hell with it and clicked post. Good thoughts.

Back to the regular scheduled programming!

Haven't you already admitted your youth? 8)

You still gotta be one of the youngest (TallGears might be THE youngest) around here. So don't be too hard on yourself for still being flexible and open minded.

Soon enough you will become stubborn, crusty, and unabashedly decided. Take your time. You have plenty still.

 

[Blaine]

I wear the helmet even in states where I don't have to. If I was hardcore about NOT wearing one, I'd pay a bit extra for the increased liability.

 

[creggur]

Haven't you already admitted your youth? 8)

You still gotta be one of the youngest (TallGears might be THE youngest) around here. So don't be too hard on yourself for still being flexible and open minded.

Soon enough you will become stubborn, crusty, and unabashedly decided. Take your time. You have plenty still.

You have to admit, though, the man is exceptionally wise for his years...look at the bike he rides. Took me many, many moons to realize sportbikes weren't the end-all-be-all. Never knew what I was missing...

 

[snakebitten]

You have to admit, though, the man is exceptionally wise for his years...look at the bike he rides. Took me many, many moons to realize sportbikes weren't the end-all-be-all. Never knew what I was missing...

Exactly my point. I already told him he must be an old soul. Looking forward to Colorado. It was fun meeting forum folks at the Big Bend rally. And that wasn't all Tenere riders, obviously. 70 to 100 Teneres will be a sight to see.

 

[scott123007]

Interestingly, the point I was really trying to make was not about freedom of choice for helmets or mufflers, but more about the responsibility we as motorcyclists should assume without having to have laws. Problem is, there are a lot of selfish, short sighted people that only care about what suits them, regardless of the bigger picture.