American Motorcyclist April 2016 Street by American Motorcyclist Association

APRIL 2016

HIGH-TECH HELMETS: NEW OPTIONS FOR PROTECTING YOUR HEAD

Photo Conrad Lim

DISTRACTED DRIVING: AN UPDATE

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NAVIGATION

Jeff Kardas

April is Go Ride! Month, and the AMA encourages everyone to get out on to the roads, the trails or the track and enjoy the great outdoors .

8. 10. 12. 26. 40. 50.

LETTERS VIEWPOINT RIGHTS HALL OF FAME EVENTS CALENDAR GUEST COLUMN

STREET COVER Researcher David Thom discusses some of the technical advances in today’s motorcycle helmets.

DIRT/COMPETITION COVER Ed Barth and others detail how to build a vintage racer on a budget of $2,000.

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 2016. Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $19.95 covered in membership dues.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

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PAGE 24. 2015 AMA National Enduro Women’s Class Champion Shawn Davidson talks about racing.

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PAGE 20. Lawmakers are trying to tackle distracted driving. We update you on their efforts.

April 2016 Volume 70, Number 4 Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) www.americanmotorcyclist.com

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

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.

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Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. © 2016 GEICO

ENJOY THE

ADVENTURE COMMUNICATIONS

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

PLAN

FOR THE

RIDE AT MOTIONPRO.COM

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KC66 TOOL PACK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE KC66 FOUNDATION • Official tool pack designed to meet the needs of the USA ISDE Team • External flap with quick access pouch features molded pull tab providing effortless grip with or without gloves • Motion Pro molded zipper pull tabs offer a sure grip when opening or closing compartments • Heavy duty adjustable web belt extends through the side pockets • Zippered inner map pocket • Non-Slip Textured backing with added foam back support pad • Zippered side pockets with accessory web belt loops • Durable 600D Ballistic Nylon construction Protecting and Supporting the Lives of Off-Road Riders. Learn more about how to help by visiting: Kurtcaselli.com

James Holter, Vice President of Communications and Marketing Jim Witters, Managing Editor Heather Wilson, Associate Editor Mark Lapid, Creative Services Director Jeff Guciardo, Production Manager/Designer Halley Immelt, Graphic Designer Steve Gotoski, Advertising Director (Western States) (951) 566-5068, sgotoski@ama-cycle.org

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Maggie McNally-Bradshaw, Chair Schenectady, N.Y. Russ Brenan, Vice Chair, Irvine, Calif. Ken Ford, Assistant Treasurer Bartow, Fla. Paul Puma, Executive Committee Member, Laguna Beach, Calif. Jeff Skeen, Executive Committee Member, San Diego, Calif.

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

Jerry Abboud, Thornton, Colo.

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, 2016.

Ted Cabral, Penngrove, Calif. David Foley, Milwaukee, Wis. 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

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES SERVICES

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

John Bricker, Mailroom Manager Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk

ACCOUNTING/DATA ENTRY Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager Lori Cavucci, Data Entry Representative Deb D’Andrea, Data Entry Representative Melanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll Coordinator Ed Madden, System Support Specialist Nicole Weppler, Member Fulfillment Specialist AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES Bill Cumbow, Director of Racing Kip Bigelow, Motocross Manager Joe Bromley, Program Development Manager Jane Caston, Racing Coordinator Kevin Crowther, Director SX & Pro Racing Relations Alex Hunter, Racing Projects Manager Michael Jolly, Off Road/Track Assistant Manager Beth Owen, Off-Road Coordinator Mike Pelletier, Assistant Motocross Manager Jessica Robinson, Track Racing Coordinator Ken Saillant, Track Racing Manager Chuck Weir, Off Road Racing Manager Cristy Wiles, Motocross Coordinator Conrad Young, Timing & Scoring Manager BUSINESS MEMBER PROGRAMS

MOTION PRO, INC. I MOTIONPRO.COM I 650-594-9600

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

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

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Sen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government Relations Nick Haris, Western States Representative Rick Podliska, Deputy Director Steve Salisbury, Government Affairs Manager, Off-Highway Michael Sayre, Grassroots Coordinator Elizabeth Starek, Staff Assistant Casey Wright, Government Affairs Manager, On-Highway STATE CHAPTERS AND RECREATIONAL RIDING Marie Wuelleh, Recreational Riding and Volunteer Manager Rob Baughman, Assistant Manager, Recreational Road Riding Serena Van Dyke, Recreational Riding Coordinator INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Jennifer Kirkpatrick, IT Director Dave Coleman, Network Architect MARKETING AND EVENTS Jordan Cavallaro, Collections Assistant Amanda Donchess, Membership Marketing Manager Connie Fleming, Events Manager Hannah Saunders, Marketing Coordinator Paula Schremser, Program Specialist Kaitlyn Sesco, Marketing Manager MEMBER SERVICES Tiffany Pound, Member Services Manager Christina Dolin, Member Services Representative Amy Edwards, Member Services Representative Lydia Moss, Receptionist

Product Comparo: Bohn Armor Pants vs Kevlar Jeans

Ac�onSta�ons Boss Paul English talks about the diﬀerences in lower body protec�on op�ons.

Kevlar reinforced jeans are popular with riders of all kinds of bikes. Draggin Jeans were among the first on the market, and there are now many similar versions available. Many riders are interested in how these compare to the Bohn Pants. Q: Paul, please explain the differences between Kevlar riding Jeans and the Bohn Pants. PE: In short kevlar has great abrasion resistance and is excellent for gravel rash when you’re sliding down the road. With the Bohn System we’re focusing more on Impact Protec�on the vulnerable ‘corners’ you land on and damage knees, hips, and elbows and shoulders with the shirts. An unprotected impact in these places can put you in the ER and off work. And hurts! Q: But won’t your armor grind through in a wreck? PE: Actually in over 15 years, we’ve never seen our armor significantly damaged at all! This is because in a crash, we tend to bounce and slide, scrubbing the speed off. Q:The Bohn System has to be worn under jeans as an extra layer, isn’t that hot and a hassle? PE: Posi�oning armor snugly against your body is the best way of providing comfortable and discrete protec�on so that it’s in the right place if you have a fall. Yes, it’s definitely an extra step compared to jeans but on the other hand you can then wear your own jeans, or whatever pants you choose. It gives you a lot more op�ons. Q: But isn’t it hot? PE: The only �me you no�ce the Bohn Pants being hot is in the heat of the summer when you’re a stands�ll, say si�ng on your bike at a light. At that �me of year eveything’s hot! Otherwise they breathe really well in all seasons; and we do have op�ons of a mesh shell material and also a winter thermal solu�on. Q: What about pu�ng armor into kevlar jeans? PE: Some companies do have this op�on, which on first impressions is a good idea. But what actually happens is the armor ‘flops’ around the outside of your leg as it’s a�ached to the jeans so you can imagine that it won’t be in the right place if you actually do hit the ground. Q: So do I need to upsize your jeans for the Bohn Pants? PE: Surprisingly most people find that their exis�ng regularfit, or relaxed jeans fit perfectly over the Adventure Pants that’s because the armor mainly fits where your jeans are loose. Q: Don’t the Bohn Pants make your jeans look bulky? PE: No one can see you have anything but your jeans on! Q: And you make armored shirts too? PE: We think of the pants and shirts as ‘A System’ that protects you ithout having to wear full armored gear specially in the heat. Q: So what’s the best choice? PE: As a lifelong rider myself I love to have choices in bikes, accessories and gear. Many riders are happy with kevlar jeans, and most are very well made. We’re proud of the Bohn Adventure Pants and the amazing customer reports we get, but everyone has different priori�es.

My sugges�on is to give us a try we’ve a great Can’tLose 90 Day Trial Oﬀer! And they’re made in the USA too.

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on the weekend. Been doing the same for years and it never gets old - there’s always something going on or a place to go. And this is how we ride, jeans and denim jacket - unless it’s winter anyway. But now we wear this Bohn gear underneath. Yes it’s underneath! You can’t see it, and we can’t feel it. I just feel happier when I have some protection these days, though I’m sure we’re not going to have a spill. Check it out - read their testimonials - that’s what I did. And they give you a 90 Day Trial too. Riding seems much more stressfull these days and with this gear we can Relax and Ride, with Peace of Mind!

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MEMBER LETTERS

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.

garbage cans, but for the record: Deﬁnitely not a good idea!

Letter of the Month MEMBER UPDATE I am writing to update you since my guest column in the March 2012 issue of American Motorcyclist. I did move east from Montana to Lancaster, Mass., and enjoy riding here with my two grandsons. I am still an Architect MC off-road rider who is now clocking the days leading up to my 70th birthday this year. Hopping onto my bike continues to be great for therapy and exercise. There is no doubt that it is a lot more fun and works much better than a boring treadmill in front of a TV in the basement. Darrell A. Swanson Lancaster, Mass. ETHANOL FRONT I think the battle to eliminate the risk of getting residual E15 that remains in a blender pump hose is being fought on the wrong front. The Environmental Protection Agency clearly has no interest in addressing the problem and is moving full steam ahead to force it on the American public. We all know the EPA is unfettered in their decisions and do not abide by legislation, laws or even common sense, nor do they care what damage their mandates might cause. I suggest the battle front be moved to the manufacturers of the blender pumps. All newly installed pumps have digital displays for selecting the payment method, give instructions on how to select the grade and use the pump. It should be an easy task for pump manufacturers to include a message on this

display that informs a new user what blend the previous customer purchased. This message would warn the next customer that E15 remains in the hose before they pump. If a motorcyclist pulls up to a pump with the message that E15 was purchased previously, they can move to another pump where E10 was the last purchase. The alternative to protecting your engine, as I see it, is to pump the ﬁrst quart into the garbage receptacle beside the pump; that action would trip the EPA’s trigger and make them take notice. Just a suggestion. Ron Shepherd Eagar, Ariz. Thanks for the note, Ron. Attentiongetting pump labeling is crucial to prevent inadvertent misfueling. We’re pretty sure you are kidding about pumping gasoline into

GOOD ATTITUDE I just read “Solo Touring” by Mark Harrigan in the December 2015 issue. (I don’t ride a Scout, but it looks like a great scoot!) I know this article probably didn’t do his ride justice, as it was too brief. I like this guy’s attitude: “I got a wedding to go to on the other side of the country, sounds like a great opportunity to ride!” But what really struck me was his ending comments about solo riding. I, too, have been on numerous rides with other riders, but must reiterate the freedom that comes with solo riding. I’ve known riders who won’t leave the yard unless someone will go with them. Crazy! So if your schedules don’t ever match up, you stay home. Once more, crazy! Plan your ride. If you want someone to go with you, ask. If they can’t go, well, “Darn, I’ll see you when I get back home.” Keep up the good work AMA, and AMA members! Darrin Mleynek Yale, Iowa TO EACH HIS OWN In response to the letter “The Long Way Home” in the December issue disparaging the support for lane splitting, I’d like to point out that not every urban metropolitan area offers alternatives to the freeway. In my commute from Oakland to San Francisco, every option involves a bridge or two. If I don’t go over the Bay Bridge, I can go down to the San Mateo Bridge or up the Golden Gate Bridge to the Richmond San Rafael bridge—or, ridiculously, up to the Carquinas Bridge to go north around the

A roundup of recent comments on Facebook (www.facebook.com/americanmotorcyclist, www.facebook.com/amasupercrosschampionship). Instagram and Twitter (@AMA_Riding, @AMA_Racing).

Sound Off!

In response to a poll about having two weeks to take off and ride anywhere… Tim Erb: Colorado and Utah from Alabama.... Excellent choice! From Ohio, the California coastal highway is my target.

Phil Holbo: My next trip will be the Great River Road from the source of the mighty Mississippi River to the delta in the Gulf. Lots of history, culture, food and music to experience on two wheels!

In response to a 1926 Harley-Davidson Peashooter that was once on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum being featured on the AMA Facebook page…

Gary Kelley: I’d just point the front wheel, follow it and see where I end up. No schedule or itinerary, just ride.

Richard Withey: If you haven’t been to AMA Museum, you need to put this on your bucket list.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

bay to the Golden Gate Bridge. That’s all bridges! Once crossing the Bay is out of the way, the “alternatives” are surface streets with traffic lights every block. Getting off the freeway to go “the long way” doesn’t help traffic on surface streets. My lane splitting helps keep all the traffic on the freeway moving and keeps me safer, especially during rush hour when motorists accustomed to lane splitters line up with the head of the driver in front of them, leaving a nice wide space between. There are geographies that offer alternatives, but for the kind of traffic in many areas (Los Angeles, the Bay area, even Portland), lane sharing is important and matters. If you’re not comfortable doing it, there’s a simple solution: Don’t do it. J.R. Clark Oakland, Calif. AUTO-RENEW NO-BRAINER I am a third-year member, just renewed. After learning that more benefits come with auto-renewal, I will elect to auto-renew in the future. I greatly appreciate what the AMA has done for the sport of off-road motorcycle racing and their commitment to keeping the use and enthusiasm for riding motorcycles high. I only want to express my complete satisfaction for what the AMA does for this great sport. Brent Owen Wilson, Wy.

DOUG BINGHAM PASSES AWAY Hall Of Famer Was 76

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Doug Bingham passed away on Jan. 27 at the age of 76. Affectionately known as “Mr. Sidecar,” Bingham was a 50-year AMA member and Charter Life Member. He received the 1998 AMA MVP Award for advancing the cause of motorcycling and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2003. Since the 1960s, Bingham raced, designed, manufactured and distributed motorcycle sidecars. He also developed new uses for sidecars, organized events that were enjoyed by enthusiasts and the general public, and served as an ambassador for both the business and pleasure sides of motorcycling. Bingham captured the inaugural AMA Sidecar Road Racing

Championship in 1968 with copilot Ed Wade aboard a HarleyDavidson-powered, Binghamdesigned racer. They captured the title again in 1969. Bingham remained a significant supporter of the Hall of Fame. In 2014, he donated more than 600 motorcycle-themed toys, which are currently on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.

TRIM SAFETY

VIEWPOINT

NO EXCUSE NEEDED

Just Get On Your Bike And Ride by Rob Dingman Riding season is finally upon us! I have been envious all winter of those of you who live in states where you can ride all year long. Most years, I have been able to sneak a day or two of riding in during the winter when it warms up enough so there is no ice on the road. But I haven’t had that kind of luck this year. When it has been warm enough, there has been too much salt on the road. For those of you in the South, there is nothing that promotes rust on your bike like road salt. I have really been looking forward to this riding season. I don’t know if it was a longer-than-usual layoff from riding this winter or the fact that the year before last I sold my touring bike and replaced it with an adventure bike. Although I really enjoyed the sewing-machine smoothness of my Goldwing, these days, I look forward more to riding my Triumph Tiger. It is so much more versatile. While nothing eats up highway miles like the Goldwing, the Tiger is the go-anywhere Swiss Army knife of motorcycles. The Tiger was even quite comfortable on the long trip to Americade last year, and I hope to make the trip again this year. I also can’t wait to get out on the trail on my Husaberg. The trail system in the Wayne National Forest in Ohio closes for the winter, and I usually try to get there with some colleagues from the AMA on opening day every April 15. For the past several years, the AMA has celebrated the riding season by designating the month of April as AMA Go Ride! Month. Now, most of us don’t need an excuse to go ride, but riding with a purpose can help us achieve the AMA’s mission of promoting the motorcycle lifestyle and protecting the future of motorcycling. To that end, there is a theme for each week in the month of April. This year’s weekly themes are as follows: • April 4-10: Go Ride with the Next Generation: Celebrate what it means to pass our love of riding motorcycles to the next generation. • April 11-17: Go Ride the Unknown: Take your motorcycles—and yourself—on roads and trails less traveled. • April 18-24: Go Ride Together: Experience motorcycling the best way: with others. Connect with clubs and go on group rides. • April 25-30: Go Ride for a Cause: Use your motorcycle for good. Help raise money and awareness for those in need. There are also opportunities to win some cool prizes from companies that support the AMA. Those who participate will have the chance to win by sharing photos on social media, engaging with the AMA in various ways or simply entering a drawing. Details will be announced each week in a press release and shared at both www.facebook.com/americanmotorcyclist and on Twitter @ ama_riding. For their part, members of the AMA Board of Directors will be riding together during the week of April 18-24 as part of their board retreat in Ohio. Current plans include both street and offroad rides. We’re going to take full advantage of the spring weather, the clear roads and the fresh trails during April and the rest of the riding season. And we hope all of you will do the same. Join us! And Go Ride! Rob Dingman is AMA president and CEO.

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OBAMA DESIGNATES THREE MONUMENTS

ETHANOL LABELING RULE

Move jeopardizes some OHV riding in Mojave

FTC Requirement Leaves Consumers At Risk

President Barack Obama’s bills also would have designation of three new designated areas for OHV national monuments in activity. California penalizes off“The AMA encouraged highway-vehicle enthusiasts Sen. Feinstein to manage by jeopardizing some existing her legislation through roads and trails in the Mojave the legislative branch,” Desert. Allard says. “We are “The AMA is calling on disappointed that she U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.) all off-road enthusiasts to chose to lobby the White press Congress and the U.S. House for an executive Bureau of Land Management action, rather than to protect existing roads continue to work through and trails for off-highway Congress to achieve her recreation,” says Wayne goals.” Allard, AMA vice president of The Obama government relations. “We designations also run cannot allow our responsible counter to the Antiquities access to public lands to be Act, which restricts U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) further eroded.” presidential designations The president designated to the “smallest area the Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow compatible with proper care and and Castle Mountains national management of the objects to be monuments, using his authority under protected.” the American Antiquities Act of 1906. Since assuming office, President The designations affect 1.8 million Obama has used the Antiquities Act acres that were excluded from to establish or expand 22 national the original 1994 California Desert monuments covering more than 265 Protection Act. million acres of land and water. “This executive order from the Cook said he plans to continue president goes against the intent his effort to get his bill—HR 3668, of Congress,” Allard says. “We had the California Minerals, Off-Road supported bills that would have Recreation, and Conservation Act— allowed the monument designations passed. while also designating areas for Feinstein pledged to introduce responsible off-road recreation.” new legislation that would provide U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein permanent protection for five off(D-Calif.) had pushed bills in Congress highway recreation areas covering to obtain monument status for the about 142,000 acres. land. “We sincerely hope that Sen. And U.S. Rep. Paul Cook, Feinstein and Rep. Cook can find whose district encompasses the common ground in their legislative area, introduced a similar bill. Both plans,” Allard says.

Bob Wick, BLM

Mojave Trails National Monument

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

The Federal Trade Commission fell short in its effort to protect consumers with its final rule for labels stating the amount of ethanol in fuel sold at retail locations. Beginning July 14, stations will have to post labels stating “Use Only in Flex-Fuel Vehicles/May Harm Other Engines” on pumps dispensing blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol (E10). “The FTC did not go far enough in its efforts to avoid confusion at the pump,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. “Consumers, especially motorcyclists, remain at risk of inadvertently misfueling, with the result being engine and fuel system damage and voided warranties.” None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in use in the United States is certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to operate on fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol. Studies show that a majority of consumers shop fuel by price and pay little attention to ethanol content. Fewer than half of respondents say they check fuel pump warning labels before dispensing fuel. “The AMA submitted comments to the FTC, and we were mentioned in the Final Rule, but the FTC disregarded our concerns,” Allard says. “This will not affect the E15 label previously approved by the EPA. This is for the higher ethanol blends. “Unfortunately, this means more ethanol gasoline sharing the same blender pumps with E10.” Allard says the FTC also allows the figures on the labels to be rounded to the nearest 10. “Fuel retailers say they do not know the exact amount of ethanol coming out and would like some flexibility with regard to the label,” Allard says. “Well, if this is the case, what about the E10 fuel? Does this mean E11 or E12 or something else comes out?”

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HAMMER RUN THREATENED The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has told organizers of the annual Hammer Run that it can no longer use state Division of Fish and Wildlife property. The two-day event has attracted about 800 street-legal riders to Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic counties for 20 years. The Atlantic City Press quoted a DEP spokesman as saying that, “A former employee in the southern region did allow it, but we determined this potentially jeopardizes federal funding.” The ofﬁcial said the state risks $12 million because federal policies state no activity on Fish and Wildlife land may interfere with opportunities for ﬁshing, hunting and wildlife viewing. The Tri-County Sportsmens Motorcycle Club, which organizes the event, said eliminating routes though the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area or the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area may affect the

quality of the ride and the event’s ability to attract riders. The club is continuing discussions with state ofﬁcials regarding plans for the 2016 event, which usually is staged in the fall. Michael Bradway, insurance and communications ofﬁcer for the Tri-County club, says the state’s objections are based on faulty information. “This an example of when an event is in perfect harmony with community and environment and does everything perfectly, and still has a government

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agent ﬁnd a made-up problem,” Bradway says. “Despite our having a perfect event, in perfect balance with the community, hunters, and the stringent regulations from the DEP and all its different internal reviews (plants, animals, wetlands, historic and archeological), as well as the Pinelands Commission and the State Forest’s own local review, the state is intent on ﬁnding some way to rid themselves of a certain motorcycle riding population.” The change in state policy also prompted the motorcyclists to cancel their annual March effort to clean up the property. “We are always a huge work force for them,” Bradway says. “Fish and Wildlife chose to curtail this very important annual maintenance of our sensitive environmental areas.”

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MORE HIGHWAY MONEY EXPECTED Earmarked Funds Could Be Released For Road Repairs

The 2016 omnibus appropriations law (PL 114-113) could provide state transportation departments an inﬂux of funding for long-neglected road and bridge repair projects, according to a report in CQ Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper. As much as $2 billion could be released from earmarks designated by members of Congress for speciﬁc projects. The Federal Highway Administration will update its list of earmarks, eliminating those that are more than 10 years old. To qualify for release, less than 10 percent of the earmarked money can have been spent. The FHWA says the money must remain in the state it was earmarked for and must be used on a project within 50 miles of the original earmark.

Mike Bradway

New Jersey Officials Shut Down Part Of Route

PROPOSAL WOULD PROTECT ACCESS

Warren Williams

Senators Propose Sportsmen’s Bills U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have sponsored legislation (S. 556 and S. 659) that, together, would U.S. Sen. Lisa establish an “openMurkowski (R-Alaska) unless-closed” policy for public lands nationwide. The Bi-Partisan Sportsmen’s Act would counter the current practice of “closed until opened or closed U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) by bureaucratic inertia,” Murkowski says. “It doesn’t get any simpler than this: Americans should be able to access and enjoy their public lands,” she says.

CHANGES PLANNED AT COCONINO Forest Service Seeks Input On Vehicle Use Map

The U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments until July 31 on proposed changes to motorized access to the Coconino National Forest in Arizona as part of its National Environmental Policy Act planning process. In 2011, the Forest Service developed an analysis of the roads, trails and areas that are open to motor vehicles and has drawn a map to show designated routes and areas for motorized use. Documents associated with the proposed changes can be found at: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/home/?cid=fseprd483533. Comments may be made by email, fax, mail, hand delivery, express delivery or messenger service. All comments and suggested changes to the proposal can be emailed to comments-southwestern-coconino@fs.fed.us. The contact person is Mike Dechter, Travel Management project leader, Coconino National Forest, 1824 S. Thompson St., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001.

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SAVE THE SALT

AMA Works With Coalition, Utah Officials

AMA Members Call for Discount

The AMA is working with the Save the Salt Coalition, the Utah Alliance and other groups on a plan to save the Bonneville Salt Flats, which, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management says are threatened with destruction. All 2015 events were canceled because of the poor condition of the salt and because of wet weather. The track, which once was 13 miles long now is just 8 miles. During a September meeting, representatives of the BLM, Intrepid Potash mining company, land speed racers, geologists, engineers and government ofﬁcials identiﬁed ways to

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restore and protect the salt ﬂats. The group is conducting engineering studies and plans to bring all ﬁndings and recommendations together into a Land Speed Racing Position Statement. The racing area must be protected from mud runoff from nearby mountains, additional salt brine must be pumped into the area and steps must be taken to increase the success of the pumping operation. Steve Salisbury, AMA government affairs manager for off-highway issues, says the immediate goal is to restore a 3- to 5-mile usable section of very highquality salt.

~ A DIVISION OF JCMOTORS ~

NEW MEXICO FUNDS AT RISK

Budget Plan Would Take $500,000 From Trail Safety The New Mexico Legislature’s proposed budget calls for raiding the OHV Trail Safety Fund for half-a-million dollars for other uses. The safety fund consists of money generated by special user fees under the 2005 OHV Act and are intended for uses outlined in the act. Members of the New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance are contacting their representatives to urge them to oppose this taking of money that should be used for OHV safety and educational programs. “We are tired and frustrated with the Senate’s breach of public trust and good faith,” says an alert issued by NMOHVA. “The Trail Safety Fund has been raided for so much money that the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish’s ﬁnancial projections show the OHV program will be operating in the red by 2020.”

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STATEWATCH INDIANA H.B. 1087 would change the fee for a driver’s license motorcycle endorsement from $12 at each renewal to a one-time $19 fee. Riders already possessing a motorcycle endorsement would never need to pay another fee to retain it. MASSACHUSETTS S. 2003, sponsored by state Sen. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), would repeal the state’s mandatory universal motorcycle helmet law. Currently, all motorcycle riders and passengers are required to wear a helmet, except riders 18 and older who are riding in a public parade. The bill was referred to the transportation committee. NEW HAMPSHIRE H.B. 1308, sponsored by six state representatives, would allow lane splitting when the vehicle being passed or overtaken is stopped or is going less than 10 mph. The bill is in the Transportation Committee. If passed and enacted, the law would take effect on Jan. 1, 2017. PENNSYLVANIA H.B. 663 introduced by Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg) would provide for the registration of off-highway motorcycles

in the same manner provided for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The bill would address dealer registration and OHM registration, require certiﬁcates of title, designate OHM roads, allow for OHM events, cover OHM operation on private or state property, address operation by those under age 16, govern noise control, provide for enforcement personnel and include procedures and penalties for law violations. VERMONT The state’s Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules rejected a proposal from the state Agency of Natural Resources to establish a connector trail on state-owned land in Stockbridge that would have allowed limited use of some all-terrain vehicles on state land. The committee determined the proposal was “contrary to legislative intent” and that the ANR lacks statutory authority to implement the proposal. Current state law forbids ATVs on state land unless an ATV model is designated by the ANR Secretary. But the legislative committee said the law is unclear on the procedure for designating the access. The access was sought by the Vermont All Terrain Vehicle Sportsman’s Association.

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2016 AMA AWARDS RECIPIENTS Winners Make A Difference

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Craig Vetter is being honored with the prestigious AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the AMA Board of Directors. The award acknowledges the highest level of service to the AMA. Vetter, well-known for his many contributions to motorcycle design, has also distinguished himself with a lifetime of service to the AMA and the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation. AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award: Chris Ulrich The AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award is presented annually for activities that generated good publicity for motorcycling. In addition to his career as a professional road racer and motojournalist, Ulrich has raised signiﬁcant funds for the Roadracing World Action Fund. The RWAF is a nonproﬁt that purhcases and makes available soft barriers to prevent racetrack injuries. AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award: Brad Berson The AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award recognizes contributions to promotion of the motorcycle lifestyle and the protection of the future of motorcycling. Berson’s involvement in motorcycle advocacy began in 2008, when he fought discriminatory regulations in New York City. He also opposed motorcycle-only checkpoints and organized efforts to improve safety, parking, awareness, education, advocacy and licensing for motorcycle and scooter riders.

Craig Vetter

AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award: Barrett Brown The AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award highlights contributions to the off-highway motorcycle lifestyle. Barrett Brown, from North Plains, Ore., is a life-long rider and AMA member who, for 15 years, was the land use and legislative director for the Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association. He gained national recognition when he designed and built the ST240, a purpose-built single-track dozer that is used to build motorcycle and mountain bike trails across the West. AMA Bessie Stringfield Award: Jeanne Clendenon The AMA Bessie Stringfield Award recognizes efforts to introduce motorcycling to new or underserved markets. The late Jeanne Clendenon, a prolific motorcyclist and long-time AMA member, inspired the “AMA Get Women Riding” campaign through a generous $50,000 charitable bequest from her estate. A member of the Retreads Motorcycle Club, Clendenon completed the U.S. Four Corners Tour in 21 days and won the Retreads longdistance award four years in a row. Friend of the AMA Award The Friend of the AMA Award recognizes one or more in the motorcycling community that have strongly supported the AMA mission and programs. For 2016, the AMA Board of Directors selected three recipients. • The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative GRANT program • The Oakland Motorcycle Club, AMA Charter No. 72 • Brad Baumert, North American Trials Council CEO.

AMA SUPPORTERS WIN MOTORCYCLES Bike Winners Announced Four AMA members got new motorcycles after participating in 2015 AMA sweepstakes and raffle promotions. The 2015 AMA Member Sweepstakes drawing winners are Brian Tadeo, of Jurupa Valley, Calif., and Richard Anderson of Santa Clara, Calif. Their names were chosen from a list of AMA members who joined or renewed their memberships during 2015. Tadeo won a Yamaha Super Tenéré, and Anderson is now the owner of a Suzuki Boulevard 109R. David Hurley of Millstone Township, N.J., won a Beta RS motorcycle. His name was drawn from the list of participants in the Beta AMA National Dual Sport Series, which features organized dual sport rides around the country. The winner of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Raffle Bike, a 1986 Honda CR250R, is Ben Horgen of Rochester, Minn. All proceeds from this raffle directly support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Horgen, who races hare scrambles, motocross, flat track and ATV motocross, was randomly drawn as the winner of the Honda CR250R raffle bike during the 2015 AMA Championship Banquet held in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 23.

VOTE LIKE A MOTORCYCLIST Make A Difference In The 2016 Elections

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION

The 2016 election results will affect your future, and the best way to affect the outcome on Election Day is to vote. Elected ofﬁcials decide issues important to you. If motorcyclists don’t vote, people elected by non-motorcyclists get to make all the decisions. Their votes and the policies they set can mean more unwanted ethanol in your fuel tank, the use of your tax dollars for discriminatory motorcycle-only checkpoints or more restrictions on your right to ride America’s roadways and enjoy the motorcycle lifestyle. This year is especially important because U.S. voters will be choosing the next president, along with members of Congress and governors. “We encourage AMA members, and all riders, to cast their ballots and work on political campaigns, based in part on candidates’ positions on motorcycling-related issues,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. “To help people decide which candidates to support, we have organized our ‘AMA Vote Like A Motorcyclist’ campaign, which includes online election tools and the AMA Voter Guide. When it is complete, the 2016 AMA Voter Guide will be available through the AMA website (www.americanmotorcyclist. com). See the Rights section of the website now to download a guide on what it means to vote like a motorcyclist.

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STAYING SAFE ON THE ROADS The Current State Of Distracted Driving Laws By Jim Witters

Most motorcyclists need no introduction to the dangers of distracted driving. Almost daily, news stories appear that detail the gruesome aftermath of a rider, driver or pedestrian maimed or killed by someone distracted by a phone call, text message or other activity. And almost daily, riders witness distracted driving that can imperil them. While every road user faces some risk from distracted drivers, motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than the driver of a car or truck. Because of the additional danger for a motorcyclist in the event of a collision, riders use extra caution any time other vehicles are nearby, staying alert for sudden movements or corrections, watching for inattentive drifting or swerving and remaining prepared to take evasive action. At the same time, motorcyclists must limit their use of devices—such as GPS units, intercoms or stereos—that take their eyes and their focus off the road ahead. “Distracted driving affects all road users, but motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians pay a disproportionally higher price for motor vehicle operator distraction and inattention,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “Riders must be aware of all the risks they face while riding. And motorists must be made more aware of the motorcycles around them and account for them in their

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

decision making behind the wheel.” Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event, according to a 2006 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

Not Just Cell Phones Cell phone use is just the latest distraction. For years, people have been eating, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio and even reading while behind the wheel. Text messaging seems to be getting the most attention from government agencies and lawmakers. According to a study by Virginia Tech, sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving blind at 55-mph for the length of an entire football field. One-fourth of teens say they respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. Twenty percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended, multi-message text conversations while driving, according to a 2014 study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The NHTSA says that text messaging is “of heightened concern, because it combines three types of distraction—

visual, manual and cognitive.” Drivers take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel and their minds off driving. And matters are getting worse. At the January Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Ford and Fiat Chrysler announced infotainment systems that will incorporate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The car makers say the systems will make it easier for drivers to interact with their cell phones, apps and services. But such “interaction” is another form of distraction. A 2015 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that “potentially unsafe mental distractions can persist for as long as 27 seconds after dialing, changing music or sending a text using voice commands.” The study shows that even handsfree technologies can mentally distract drivers even while their eyes are on the road and their hands are on the wheel or handlebars. “At the 25 mph speed limit in the study, drivers traveled the length of nearly three football fields during this time. When using the least distracting systems, drivers remained impaired for more than 15 seconds after completing a task,” the study shows. At any given daylight moment across America, about 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that held steady between 2010 and 2013, according to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey from the National Center for

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The National Highway Trafﬁc Safety Administration created posters like this one to discourage distracted driving.

Laws Proposed The NHTSA is focused on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education—the same tactics that have helped curb drinking and driving. In the 2015, the $305 billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act included funding of highway safety grants that include programs to reduce distracted driving. And the bill included language that make it easier for states to successfully qualify for and receive the money. This language represents a major victory, because the previous qualiﬁcations were so strict that just one state (Connecticut) received funding for the programs in 2015. Change is happening at the state level, too. As of mid-January, the AMA staff was tracking more than 150 bills in state legislatures that, in one way or another, attempted to address the problem of distracted driving on U.S. roadways. “The majority of these bills would prohibit activities, such as texting or making phone calls while driving,” says

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Casey Wright, AMA government affairs manager for on-highway issues. “But there are some that increase the penalties for drivers involved in crashes while distracted. And that type of law is where these efforts need to be focused.”

AMA Position Bills restricting or prohibiting in-vehicle behavior fail to address the main issue. And laws specifically targeting younger drivers are virtually unenforceable in the real world. The AMA supports legislation that increases penalty options available to the courts for cases in which distracted driving caused injury, death or significant property damage. Enhanced penalties could be similar to aggravating circumstances cited in drunken driving cases. Higher fines, license suspensions, points assessed against an operator’s license, community service or jail time would hold violators responsible for the results of their actions. The AMA also supports the use of signs along the roadways that notify drivers and riders that the state provides specific sanctions for those convicted of moving violations while operating a motor vehicle in a distracted or inattentive manner. See www.americanmotorcyclist.com to read the entire AMA position statement on distracted driving.

Ask the MSF

HOW TO DEAL WITH TAILGATERS Q: What is the safest way to deal with tailgaters when I am riding my motorcycle? A: First, make sure you’re not tailgating the vehicle in front of you, because if you are forced to make a too-quick stop due to your own lack of proper space cushion, your tailgater might crash into you. If there’s no one in front of you, you might be tempted to speed up. But this can be dangerous, as your tailgater may speed up with you, and you may end up riding beyond your skill level and making a risky situation even riskier. Sometimes, ﬂashing your brake light (without slowing down), waiting a few seconds, and then ﬂashing it again will send a cautionary message. If your tailgater doesn’t slow down, you may be dealing with an aggressive driver, not an unaware driver. Encourage your tailgater to pass you, if conditions permit. Change lanes if you can. If you can’t, leave the road at the next safe opportunity (intersection, parking lot, etc.). If there are no imminent opportunities to leave the road, be extra cautious, leave ample room in front, so when you brake there is space for the tailgater to brake also. Glance at your rear-view mirrors more frequently, and plot escape paths to your left and right to avoid being trapped. Finally, you don’t want to be so distracted by a tailgater that your attention to the front is dangerously reduced.

Kevin Wing

Statistics and Analysis of the NHTSA. The problem is so prevalent that the NHTSA has deemed it “a new safety epidemic.” And ofﬁcials are trying to address it.

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RIDERS RECYCLE

Nonprofit Educates Motorcyclists On Environmental Responsibility A group of public relations professionals with a focus on oil recycling, saw a need for an educational effort within the motorcycling community in the San Francisco Bay area of California. The group founded Riders Recycle, a small nonprofit with a handful of workers, in 2012 with the goal of teaching riders how to properly dispose of oil, filter, oily rags and other contaminated materials after motorcycle maintenance is complete. The organization stages recycling events, attends motorcycle-related functions and offers workshops. “Especially in the Bay Area, dumping oil and filters has a disproportionately harmful effect on the local waterways and the bay itself, so it makes sense to concentrate our efforts here,” says Heidi Lypps, who came aboard in 2013. “It’s also home to one of the largest concentrations of riders in the state and the country.” The folks at Riders Recycle agreed to share their story with American Motorcyclist. AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST: How many people are directly involved with Riders Recycle? RIDERS RECYCLE: It’s a small project—only four or five people run the show. But we have found that we’re able to have a ripple effect in the larger riding community.

How is the initiative financed? We use a combination of state and county/city used-oil grants, which are already earmarked for public education. AM: RR:

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AM: Is this just a social media/ web-based effort? Or is there an organization behind it? RR: Our major efforts are actually person-to-person—rider-to-rider, to be more precise. We also teach motorcycle maintenance and oil change classes and do educational outreach—including straight-up giving away oil-change equipment, like oil drain pans—in the hope that personal bonds will help encourage folks to recycle and develop their do-it-yourself skills. AM: How many events have you conducted? RR: We show up at dozens of events every year. If it’s in one of our sponsoring counties, and it’s likely to attract motorcyclists, we do our best to be there. AM: How many riders show up at these events? RR: Anywhere from 25 folks who ride over to their local Bike Night to many thousands at bigger events, such as the Folsom Street Fair and the International Motorcycle Show. AM: How would you describe the overall reaction to your cause? RR: The overwhelming majority of riders’ responses to us are positive. Some of the cruiser guys can be a touch reactionary; same with some of the off-road folks, who have understandably learned to mistrust anything branded as environmental. The ones I think I like the most are the people who ask us, “Why are you here? Of course I

ABOVE: Heidi Lypps of Riders Recycle teaches an oil-change class at Piston & Chain in San Francisco.

recycle, everyone recycles, don’t they?” To them, doing your own work and taking care of your equipment from beginning to end – from riding to wrenching to recycling—is already a natural part of being a responsible human being. That’s the real message we’re trying to get across—responsibility. AM: Do you plan to limit this to California? Or do you have plans to expand? RR: So far, we’re sticking to California. But expanding to Southern California, extending our outreach to dirt bikers, and increasing our campaigns to include tire recycling (we’ve held a couple of pilot tirecollection events in Marin County, thanks to the great county recycling officials there) are all in the cards. AM: What would you like to say to AMA members? RR: Learning to wrench on your own bike is incredibly satisfying, and I recommend it if you don’t already know how. And I consider responsible recycling and disposal of oil, tires, fork oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, old gasoline, etc. an integral part of that process. Doing your part to recycle and set a good example is key. We always welcome folks to engage with us online, via www.ridersrecycle.com, fill out our wrenching/recycling habits survey, check out our how-to blog, find your nearest recycler, say hello via Facebook. If you’re in the Bay Area, coming to one of our classes or meeting us in person at events is always great, too.

AMA Member Tested

GEARBRAKE FLASHES BRAKE LIGHTS DURING DECELERATION Info: www.gearbrake.com MSRP: Starts at $49.95 GearBrake is a brake light modulator that functions in two modes. AMA Member Tested One mode uses an Anthonys_logo_add.indd 1 inertia switch. The second mode goes through the vehicle Info: www.shoei-helmets.com brake light switch. MSRP: $594.99-$715.99 When properly By Loren Westcott installed and Shoei’s Hornet X2 is a wellcalibrated on my 2015 Harley Davidson thought-out upgrade to the Heritage Softail, GearBrake flashed company’s capable Hornet DS. my brake light in two-second intervals While no helmet is perfect for whenever I decelerated by reducing the every head in every application, the throttle. Also, when I applied the brakes, Hornet X2’s compromises are few, and it flashed for two seconds, then went to a it executes the now-familiar adventure constant brake light. helmet motif well. The idea behind the system is the The visor is svelte enough to slice flashing lights will make you more visible through highway speed airflow, yet and reduce the chance you’ll be rearremains a functional weapon against ended by another vehicle. sun glare. The fog-resistant face shield, GearBrake offers universal hard-wired which you can remove if you prefer versions, as well as “plug and play” goggles, offers ample peripheral vision versions for many applications. The unit and excellent clarity with almost no is relatively easy to install and calibrate noticeable frontal distortion. with the enclosed instructions. Mounting The X2 leans a bit toward the street end of the spectrum. This is the module is easily accomplished using most evident in the chin guard, which Velcro fasteners with self adhesive. My lacks the vented mouthpiece that’s only suggestion is that the Velcro could be ubiquitous on off-road and motocross a heavier grade for improved mounting. helmets. While this improves comfort in Installation took less than 20 minutes. inclement weather and on the highway, It should be noted that this system will you’ll notice the drop in ventilation not function properly on motorcycles that during low-speed maneuvers. use two separate stop/turn assemblies, All helmets play a balancing game such as the Harley-Davidson Street between weight and constitution. The Bob and other models with this light X2 is no lightweight, but how many configuration. These brake lights already ounces a helmet puts up on a scale are modulated through a factory-installed is just one variable in how well it controller. carries. More important are fit, mass I’ve been happy with the GearBrake, distribution and aerodynamics, and the and I personally believe it increases my X2 is strong in all three areas. safety on the road. It has functioned so well on my In terms of build quality, the X2 is Harley-Davidson, exceptional. Tolerances are tight, parts that my next are solid and wind noise buffering installation is substantial. The X2 is not an will be on inexpensive helmet, but you’ll my BMW wear it with the confidence that K1200LT. you got your money’s worth. The X2’s design likely hits the mark for its target market. It’s understated and refined, while the pricier paint schemes have just enough color to

SHOEI HORNET X2

7/17/15 3:10 P

project a bit of personality. As for fit, the factory-delivered setup is snug. Those with a round head, larger ears or anyone riding with ear buds (where allowed by state law) might encounter some discomfort if they size an X2 based on experiences with other brands. You do have options, however. If Shoei’s four shell sizes aren’t enough, the center pad, the ear pads and the cheek pads can be swapped. As with all helmets, an X2 should be fitted before you buy. Safety wise, a quick-release system eases helmet removal by emergency personnel. The cheek pads can be pulled out through the bottom of the helmet while it remains on the rider’s head. The X2 is Snell 2015 and DOT approved. The helmet comes with a five-year warranty. The Shoei Hornet X2 is a highquality adventure lid with a street bias. If you’re looking for a face-shield optional enduro helmet, there are more dirt-oriented options. If you’re shopping for a true adventure-class helmet that can tackle both interstate slogs and two-track detours, the X2 is a leading contender.—James Holter

April 2016

1975 BMW R75GS

A Custom Masterpiece You Could Own design a bolt on subframe for the /6 models,” he says. After the chassis was sorted and the tires were selected— Heidenau K60 Scouts, a versatile dual-sport tread—it was on to making it look the part. “I sourced an R80GS tank from the mid ’80s airheads— great lines and a perfect fit for the look I was after,” Prust says. “I retained the GS graphics design from the era to appeal to the purists out there. I hand made the aluminum fenders and front headlight mount. I opted for a brushed aluminum finish with a flat clear powder coat and some strategic pin striping and branding by none other than [pin-striping legend Jim] Brando [from Gurnee, Ill.]” Dave Purney made the custom leather-wrapped seat, while cutting-edge Berringer brakes provide stopping duties. Prust’s AMA BMW R75GS joins a 1947 Indian Chief as 2016 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame raffle bikes. To donate to the Hall of Fame and get a chance to win either, or both, bikes, visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

Photos Tim Ohlerking

A bone stock 1975 BMW R75/6 is cool enough. But one that has been modernized, tuned, styled and improved in almost every way by renowned custom bike builder Tony Prust from Analog Motorcycles in Chicago, Ill., ratchets the cool factor right into the stratosphere. Even better: One year from now, a lucky AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame supporter will call this one-of-a-kind custom masterpiece his or her own. The bike, dubbed the AMA BMW R75GS by Prust, is being raffled to raise funds for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which operates on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio. Mods include a custom subframe, Fox Street Performance RC1 shocks, Race Tech Gold Valves, billet triple clamps and rider pegs, an engine refresh, an aftermarket performance ignition, updated electronics and wiring throughout, custom paint, new controls, new brake lines and much more. “The BMW airheads from the 1970s are such a solid platform for a build, and I was already familiar with them,” Prust says. “Due to the ever-increasing popularity of the scrambler models out there, and with adventure bikes on the rise, the current free-spirited nature of motorcycling these days sort of steered us in the direction we chose.” Prust says he appreciates the level of freedom the Hall of Fame allowed with the build. “All that was said was, ‘Make it a two-seater, and make the license plate mount in the standard fender location,’” Prust says. “That was it? Well, game on! I love the clients that just let me do my thing and trust me with little to no input. They always seem to be the most loved motorcycles I build. Prust built what he called the RnineT/6 custom last year, based on a 1976 BMW R90/6. He leaned on that recent experience with respect to the chassis geometry and suspension modifications. “The custom subframe was sort of an experiment in chassis modification that ended up performing better than I imagined, so I decided to take that geometry and

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, features the people and machines that have deďŹ ned the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling in America. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-proďŹ t corporation that receives support from the AMA and from the motorcycling community. For info and directions, visit www. motorcyclemuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.

April 2016

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Famer

REX BEAUCHAMP: HARLEY-DAVIDSON ICON

Rex Beauchamp was a Harley-Davidson factory rider in the AMA Grand National Championships of the 1970s. He became the ﬁrst non-Expert rider to sign a contract with HarleyDavidson. Beauchamp won four nationals during his seven-year professional career. The personable rider from Michigan was a serious contender for the AMA Grand National Championship in the mid-1970s, ranking in the Top 10 nationally four straight years. Beauchamp’s highest career ranking in the championship was fourth in 1974. Beauchamp was born in Pontiac, Mich., on Aug. 20, 1950. It seemed fated that Beauchamp would become a leading national racer. On his 14th birthday, he got an 80cc Yamaha as a gift. Two days later, he raced at a scrambles for the ﬁrst time and won. In 1968, Beauchamp turned 18 and

received his AMA Novice racing license after riding two events, winning one and placing second in the other. In 1969, Beauchamp won all but one Novice race he entered. He followed that by finishing as the top Junior rider in 1970, winning four nationals. In 1971, his rookie expert season, Beauchamp scored three top-10 national finishes, including a runnerup result at the Santa Fe Short Track National, held in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, Ill. The next year he tallied seven Top 10 results and earned podium finishes on the Miles in Atlanta and Homewood, Illinois. Beauchamp’s breakthrough victory was at the Terre Haute (Indiana) Half-Mile in 1973. In 1975, Beauchamp had five podium finishes and finished fifth in the standings. In 1976, he won again, beating Hall of Famer Jay Springsteen at the San Jose Mile. That year also was his last, finishing top 10 in the points. He retired after the 1977 season. Beauchamp tragically died in a street crash in 1988. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2007.

it’s about the journey and the destination

MotorcycleMuseum.org 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147 Facebook.com/AMAHallofFame • #AMAHoF

Raffle Bikes 1947 INDIAN CHIEF

Enter now for your chance to win a bike ...or two!* ANALOG MOTORCYCLES 1975 BMW R75/6 “GS”

/AMA_Riding

/AMAHallofFame

AMAHoF

A minimum donation of $5 per ticket, or $20 for five tickets, is suggested. www.MotorcycleMuseum.org or call (800) 262-5646 *One raffle ticket per bike.

Conrad Lim

HELMET TECH AIMS HIGH NEW WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD By Jim Witters

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

hen you throw a leg over your motorcycle, crank it up and tackle the road, track or trail, you’re probably not cluttering your thoughts with terms like “rotational acceleration” or “multi-directional impact protection system.” And you certainly shouldn’t have to. Your attention should be on the terrain, the weather and the trafﬁc, the handling and performance of your bike and all the other factors that directly contribute to a safe and fun ride. Rest assured that there are plenty of engineers and designers hard at work around the world who spend their days thinking about your safety and little else. For many, their job is to provide headgear that gives you the best chance of surviving a motorcycle crash with the least amount of damage to your face, head and brain. And making sure that helmet is comfortable for day-to-day use. Established helmet companies and small startups are imagining, developing and introducing new products that they say will better protect you in a mishap. The ultimate goal of wearing a motorcycle helmet is to reduce the likelihood of traumatic brain injury, concussion and skull fractures, as well as cuts, scrapes and bruises to the face and head in the event of a crash. For years, the focus of helmet makers was to cushion the head to protect it against linear acceleration. When your helmeted head strikes the ground or pavement in a fall, the helmet shell and lining absorb much of the impact. But in a crash, or even a spill while the bike is at rest, your head does not usually strike the ground while moving in just one direction.

Conrad Lim

“HELMETS NOW ARE VERY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING ALL TYPES OF BRAIN INJURIES. IF WE CAN DO THAT, PLUS ACCOUNT FOR ROTATIONAL ACCELERATION, IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.” — David Thom, a partner and senior consultant with Collision And Injury Dynamics, Inc.

The National Institutes of Health states in a 2013 report that most motorcycle, bicycle and equestrian accidents produce both linear and rotational forces that cause your helmet, head and brain to “spin.” Skull fractures are caused by the linear forces, while other brain injuries result from rotational forces. The European COST 327 helmet study, completed in 2001, says that “rotational acceleration was identiﬁed as a principal cause of head injury.” Lighter weight shell materials, coupled with energy-absorbing liners, provide great protection and can be found in helmets meeting standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Snell Memorial Foundation and the European Union. Most of the recent advances in helmet technology involve some sort of multidirectional impact protection system to absorb the force of rotational acceleration, rather than transferring the force to your brain. And one system applies a sliding skin to the outside of the helmet to better protect the rider’s head. “Helmets now are very effective in preventing all types of brain injuries,” says David Thom, an AMA Charter Life Member and partner and senior consultant with Collision And Injury Dynamics Inc. in El Segundo, Calif. “If we can do that, plus account for rotational acceleration, it would be even better.”

Snell Foundation

Edward B. Becker, executive director of the Snell Memorial Foundation, isn’t convinced that the new technology improves riders’ chances of escaping a crash without brain injury. But he says there appears to be no reduction in head protection when the layered liners or helmet skins are added. “There’s a lot of research associating concussion with rotation but, unfortunately, there’s little real agreement on whether it’s rotational velocity or rotational acceleration that’s most

dangerous or just how much of either might be safely tolerated,” Becker says. “Right now, I’m skeptical whether any of these features can make any significant difference in rotational response. Helmets even without these features are notoriously prone to slipping around on wearers’ heads. So can these engineered slip features really contribute anything?” Further complicating the issue, Becker says, is that there is no a reliable way to measure these features’ effectiveness. “Europe’s ECE 22-05 requirements include two methods that may bear on friction between a helmet shell and impact surface, but there’s no measures of what’s happening to the head form inside the helmet,” he says. “Investigators here have attempted tests using instrumentation to acquire all six degrees of head form motion, but I’m told that the tests always damage the bundles of fine wiring that carry the information from the head form to their computer gear.” Becker says the fine wires must be reattached after each test. “The methods are workable, possibly, for well-funded research, but would never do for helmet certification testing which demands a long series of rigorous testing yielding reliable results,” he explains.

Layered Design

When the head is subjected to rotational acceleration, “the components spin,” says Thom, and each component—the hard bone of the skull, the ﬂuids that surround the brain and the brain itself – reacts differently to the force applied. “The components move at different velocities,” he says. “The damage can range from tearing and bruising to something that could knock you out or kill you.” Several helmets introduced within the past three years are equipped with at least one extra layer inside the helmet that is designed to allow the helmet to rotate upon impact without jolting the rider’s head as much.

The Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, or MIPS, is a patented technology developed in Sweden. The idea was to design a helmet that could mimic the fluid that surrounds and helps protect the brain. MIPS liners are slippery plastic inserts that fit between the comfort liner and the EPS liner in the helmet. It allows movement in all directions, so the helmet can rotate on impact without turning the head as much. Used in bicycle and snowmobile helmets for years, the technology is becoming more prevalent in motorcycling uses these days. Fox was among the early-adapting motorcycle helmet companies to integrate this technology into its products, launching the V4 in 2014. Other companies are contributing to the trend, either adopting the MIPS technology or developing their own methods for countering the harmful rotational forces. Terry Smith and Scott Kebschull of Dynamic Research Inc. in Torrance, Calif., conducted tests on several helmets that use the layering technique. In their September 2015 presentation to a seminar in Lyon, France, they concluded that 6D, Bell Flex and MIPS-equipped helmets showed “significant differences in angular acceleration between motocross helmets with technology and motocross helmets without technology.” “Motocross helmets with concussionreducing technology were found to have significantly lower peak angular accelerations,” the report states. Here is a sampling of some new helmets on the market—and the technology that makes them different.

Bob Weber and Robert Reisinger of 6D Helmets in Brea, Calif.—both former AMA pro motocross competitors—introduced motocross helmets that have two liners

April 2016

AVOIDING THE CRASH

HIGH-TECH SOLUTIONS IMPROVE AWARENESS

inside the shell. Dampers compress and twist at impact, absorbing the linear and rotational forces. Weber says the 6D helmet is designed to “scrub off a high percentage of rotational acceleration, compared to traditional helmet designs.” A significant secondary bonus is the helmet’s ability to manage low-threshold energy at the same time, making the helmet much more compliant without sacrificing high energy performance, Weber says. 6D is preparing to launch a fullface street helmet, the ATS-1, helmet featuring 6D’s patented Omni-Directional Suspension technology. “The goal was to build the safest street helmet in the category, providing the rider with benefits and features superior to those found within the most premium helmets in the marketplace,” Weber says. “6D’s ODS technology provides a superior solution to that of traditional helmet designs by means of its unique uncoupled dual-liner kinetic energy management system.” 6D was awarded a $250,000 grant from the National Football League to advance research into helmet designs that will help reduce the number of concussions.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

High-tech materials and innovative structural design hold promise for protecting the rider’s head in a crash, but other innovations are intended to help you avoid the crash altogether. The Sena Smart Helmet with the Intelligent Noise-Control system is designed to provide the control of noise-canceling headphones, while allowing riders to hear sirens, trafﬁc and engine sound. Reducing wind noise can delay rider fatigue and protect the rider’s hearing by allowing music to be played at a lower volume. The Sena module analyzes sound information from an array of four networked microphones and adjusts in real time to phase out harmful helmet noise. But the primary focus of new technology appears to be to provide more information to the rider via a head-up display, or HUD. An HUD for motorcyclists can display a wealth of information, including speed, compass direction, weather reports and even GPS directions to your destination. And one of the advantages touted by HUD suppliers is eliminating the need to take your gaze off the road to glance at an instrument cluster. One caveat, though: Don’t let the information on the HUD distract you from the primary task of riding safely. Bell, BMW, NUVIZ and Skully appear to be the main players in the HUD market. Here is an update on their products.

Collision Avoidance

Bell is teaming with camera maker 360ﬂy to deliver a full line of “smart” helmets. Introduced at the 2016 Consumer Electronics in January,

Bell

The Bell Moto 9 Flex motocross helmet, introduced in October 2014 features “a system of three unique protective materials, each designed to address speciﬁc impact velocities while…working in harmony,” the company says. Bell’s approach was to try to develop a helmet that would be effective in a variety of scenarios, including high-speed, lowspeed or medium-speed impacts. “In off-road racing, where a bevy of impact scenarios are possible, it seemed only logical for Bell to develop a helmet that effectively addresses many potential impacts,” the company says. For 2016, Bell has released its Pro Star (pictured left), which the company describes as “a complete rethinking of what a race helmet should be, driven by the essential needs of the modern racer.” The Pro Star

the Bell Star with 360fly for the street and Bell Moto 9 Flex with 360fly for the off-road rider offer Collision Avoidance Alert, which senses and automatically notifies the rider of

incorporates the Flex Impact Liner of the Moto 9 and adds a VIRUS CoolJade power mesh liner that reduces skin surface temperatures by as much as 10 degrees. “Our engineers not only addressed core needs, but developed a helmet that redeﬁnes performance and safety standards and offers truly game-changing innovations,” says Chris Sackett, Bell Helmets vice president.

Lazer SuperSkin

The Belgian company Lazer takes a different approach by using the Philips Head Protection System, which adds a lubricated high-tech polymer membrane over the outside of the helmet. The membrane is designed to slip in a controlled manner over the helmet’s shell. Dr. Ken Philips, of Philips Helmets Ltd., developed the system speciﬁcally to

potential oncoming dangers that are outside the rider’s natural ﬁeld of vision.

Trafﬁc Info

In 2003, BMW became the first European automobile manufacturer to introduce a head-up display as optional equipment for its cars. Now it is expanding the technology to motorcycle helmets in the next few years. The BMW HUD projects traffic or vehicle information directly into the rider’s field of view, allowing him to maintain constant observation of the traffic on the road, with no distraction. All BMW displays are programmable, allowing riders to decide which information appears on the display at any given moment. The display options include tire pressure, oil level and fuel level, travel

speed and selected gear, speed limit and road-sign recognition and warnings of impending dangers. BMW also plans to integrate its technology with the vehicle-to-vehicle communications being planned by automakers in conjunction with federal agencies. Such integration would allow the HUD to display information in real time to provide a warning of sudden hazards. The helmet, which is also ﬁtted with an integrated mini-computer and loudspeakers, is

counter rotational force. The lubricant and elasticity membrane decreases rotational force and reduces its effect by more than 60 percent “in the critical milliseconds following a blow,” according to Lazer. “The SuperSkin is a layer on the outside of the helmet, which acts exactly like the scalp does in the human head. By sliding on the shell it limits rotation,” the company says.

Stilo and Vozz

Using a system that aids in ejecting a helmet after a crash aids ﬁrst responders and other medical personnel in gaining access to the rider’s head without risking additional cervical damage during helmet removal. The Stilo Eject Helmet Removal System was designed

controlled from the left handlebar, using the BMW Motorrad multicontroller.

An App For That

NUVIZ raised $200,000 in a Kickstarter campaign. The company, based in San Diego, was created “to close this gap by establishing our company as the premier innovator of powersport related head-up displays, wearable display technology and accompanying software services.” NUVIZ promotes its “near eye display, with inﬁnity focus,” which the company says minimizes the time taken to view critical data in a centralized location. The NUVIZ display can be used with any helmet and motorcycle and works through the BIKEHUD app, delivering motorcycle data, GPS, audio, rear vision, proximity safety alerts and speed

enforcement efforts through the rider’s smart phone. The most recent update, from November 2015, says the company hired a research and development team in Finland to work on the project. The company was founded by a group of motorcycle and powersport enthusiasts who wanted to merge their passion for the sport with their professional expertise.

Tech-Packed Carbon

Skully raised $2.45 million in an IndieGoGo campaign promising a high-tech helmet with built-in HUD. The company’s AR-1 meets the DOT requirements and features a lightweight carbon ﬁber reinforced polycarbonate shell with laser-cut safety foam. Donna Michaels, Skully’s

to push the helmet off the head after the upper spine has been immobilized. The system consists of an airbag inside the helmet that is inﬂated by hand or by a CO2 cartridge. As the bag inﬂates, it gently lifts the helmet without straining the neck.

public relations representative, says initial shipments of the first motorcycle helmets have been sent to early supporters. “Initial recipients of the DOT-certified AR-1 will work closely with the Skully team to provide feedback and help fine-tune the software before the remaining deliveries are fulfilled,” Michaels says. “The majority of Skully customers can expect to receive their DOT/ECEcertified AR-1 helmets just in time for the riding season. This includes international customers.”

The Vozz helmet from Australia also provides emergency personnel with a way to remove the helmet from street riders without moving their necks. The Vozz is a clamshell design that locks closed with clips on each side. If a crash occurs, several plugs can be popped out of the helmet, then screws are removed and the helmet comes apart, with one part cradling the rider’s head. Vozz says its helmets have passed U.S. DOT inspection and should be on the market here by mid-April. The AMA strongly encourages the use of a properly ﬁtted motorcycle helmet certiﬁed by its manufacturer to meet the DOT standard, while supporting the right for adults to voluntarily decide when to wear a helmet. To read the full AMA position statement on helmet use, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

April 2016

APRIL 11-17: GO RIDE THE UNKNOWN Take your motorcycles—and yourself—on roads and trails less traveled.

APRIL 18-24: GO RIDE TOGETHER Experience motorcycling the social way: with others. Connect with clubs and go on group rides.

APRIL 25-30: GO RIDE FOR A CAUSE Use your motorcycle to do some good in the world. Help raise money and awareness for those in need.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Todd Biss Photography

APRIL 4-10: GO RIDE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION Celebrate what it means to pass our love of riding motorcycles to the next generation.

Jeff Kardas

very April, the AMA celebrates the riding season as AMA Go Ride! Month. This is our reminder (as if you needed one) that motorcycling is the best way to go to work, go to town, go to the country or—in other words—go see America. Now, before all the members in the warmer states roll their eyes and mumble “every season is riding season,” we’re talking to you, too! Even if you’ve been riding all winter, it doesn’t hurt to take some time to appreciate all there is to do on two wheels in 2016. There are grand rallies, friendly get-togethers, long-distance challenges, great racing events to see and circuitous tours—planned and unplanned—on America’s scenic highways, byways and trailways. Each month, this magazine includes dates and contact information for hundreds of events, with even more searchable online at www.americanmotorcyclist.com. But for now, check out this summary of the highlights—including a few ways you can win cool prizes from companies that support the AMA.

Yve Assad

Support The AMA, Win Cool Stuff And Ride Your Motorcycle

Ben Bender

GO RIDE!

To convey the spirit of AMA Go Ride! Month, the AMA has dreamed up a theme for each week this year that not only captures something special about motorcycling, but gives those who participate a chance to win some free stuff. How will you participate? There will be several opportunities for a chance to win, including sharing photos on social media, engaging with the AMA in various ways or simply entering a drawing. Details will be announced each week in a press release and shared at both www.facebook.com/ americanmotorcyclist and on Twitter @ama_riding. We’ll announce the details when we get closer, but for now here’s a sneak peek:

Jeff Kardas

It’s Time To

AMA Go Ride! Month

AMA Club 1924: Win A Zero!

Go Long With The AMA LongRider Program

The AMA LongRider program is your chance to show other riders that your motorcycle is not just something to look at, but something to ride—a lot! Here’s how it works: Send us proof of your motorcycle’s mileage along with the registration form and a small fee to cover the costs of administration and materials. (Email roadriding@ama-cycle. org for the registration form and details.) You will receive an AMA LongRider patch and a decal for your bike. Then, just ride. Mileage awards are available at 10,000, 25,000 and 50,000 annual miles. The program also recognizes riders who accumulate mileage over time with lifetime mileage awards. We will send you a rocker for your patch at major milestones. Long Rider rules are simple. They are: • Must be a current AMA member • Must agree to AMA veriﬁcation rules and procedures • Must register for the program (miles begin to accumulate once registered) • May use multiple motorcycles (register bikes at time of initial registration or add them later)

We’ve already reported on AMA Club 1924—the AMA’s presence at America’s biggest motorcycling events—but a new supporter has come on board that will surely make you want to visit us at a big rally near you. Every visitor to AMA Club 1924 will have an opportunity to enter a drawing for a 2016 Zero DSR electric motorcycle. “The Zero DSR is a great bike that will provide years of enjoyment for the winner, both on the road and on the trail,” says Jeff Massey, AMA chief operations ofﬁcer. “We are glad to be able to partner with Zero Motorcycles on this sweepstakes.” The Zero DSR is an ampedup version of the Zero DS, delivering 56 percent more torque and 25 percent more power. A 660-amp controller is paired with a motor with highertemperature magnets to ensure better performance during extended durations at higher speeds. The DSR boasts 106 ft-lb of torque on demand and a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds. Its Showa suspension and Bosch ABS make it at home on both pavement or dirt. “Zero Motorcycles is proud to support the AMA and especially its membership drive efforts,” says Scot Harden, vice president of global marketing for Zero Motorcycles and an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer. “Until every U.S. motorcyclist is a member of the AMA, we can’t effectively promote and protect our lifestyle and sport.” In addition to Daytona Bike Week, which will most likely be in the books by the time you read this, the AMA Club 1924 schedule includes: ROLLING THUNDER Washington, D.C., May 27-30

THUNDER IN THE VALLEY Johnstown, Pa., June 23-26

AMERICADE Lake George, N.Y., June 7-11

AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS Lexington, Ohio, July 8-10

LACONIA MOTORCYCLE WEEK Laconia, N.H., June 11-19

THE BUFFALO CHIP Sturgis, S.D., Aug. 8-14

RAY PRICE BIKE FEST Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 23-25

AMA Roadside Assistance: Never Ride Alone

One of the best beneﬁts of being an AMA member is that as long as you are enrolled in our auto-renew program, you are eligible to receive AMA Roadside Assistance for no additional charge. AMA Roadside Assistance covers not just you and your motorcycle, but all the cars, trucks and RVs driven by licensed members of your immediate family living in your household. Thousands of members have taken advantage of this service, and we hear weekly from those who have saved signiﬁcant sums of money thanks to AMA Roadside Assistance. (Commercial vehicles aren’t covered. Other restrictions apply.) Call (800) 262-5646 for details and to sign up today.

The winner of the Zero DSR will be announced in October 2016.

April 2016

The AMA is the original social network for motorcyclists. It all started with the clubs and organizations that have supported the AMA since our founding in 1924. Today, the best motorcycle organizations in the nation are chartered with the AMA. AMA-chartered organizations are wellorganized, family friendly and an asset to their communities. If you’re reading this, you are almost certainly an AMA member. There’s also a good chance that you’re part of a formal (or informal) group of riders who bond around motorcycles. If so, and you’re not already chartered, you should. We have options for social clubs, promoting clubs, online clubs, historic clubs and service organizations. Here are a few reasons why. For more, call us at (800) 262-5646. MAKE MONEY The AMA has an AMA Membership Afﬁliate Program that pays AMA clubs and promoters for signing up AMA members. INCREASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP By chartering with the AMA, your status is noted on the AMA website, which can lead to increased exposure and membership. ORGANIZATIONAL HELP From creating club bylaws to incorporating to getting liability insurance to organizing races, road rides and rallies, the AMA can help. STANDARDIZED RULES Sanctioning both recreational and competition events nationwide, the AMA provides a uniform set of fair and balanced rules covering many types of motorcycling activities. FULL RANGE OF SERVICES The AMA is the only national organization devoted to providing a full range of services to America’s clubs and promoters. YOUR VOICE IS HEARD Representatives from AMA Districts across the country attend an annual meeting to advise the AMA on rules. Each AMA-chartered promoting organizer has the privilege of voting for AMA Congress Delegates. PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO RIDE By chartering with the AMA and sanctioning your events, you are helping protect and promote motorcycling now and in the future. The AMA has dedicated government relations staff in Washington, D.C., California and Ohio hard at work every day ﬁghting threats to motorcycling. PLAY A ROLE IN MOTORCYCLING’S FUTURE Clubs are an integral part of social activity that provides the foundation for the political and community relations initiatives that help ensure the future of motorcycling.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

America’s Biggest Motorcycling Events

The AMA sanction calendar includes the biggest and best motorcycling events in America. This is just a sampling of some of the year’s biggest and coolest rides. RIDE FOR KIDS EVENTS: ALL YEAR Held in 33 locations around the nation, Ride for Kids events, all of which are AMA Signature Events, raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. For information, and to ﬁnd a ride near you, see www.rideforkids.org. LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN: APRIL 27-30 Held in Laughlin, Nev., the Laughlin River Run is one of motorcycling’s biggest events in the western United States, showcasing parts of Route 66. Info: www. laughlinriverrun.com. AMERICADE: JUNE 7-11 Held in Lake George, N.Y., Americade attracts thousands of riders and is a laidback, road-riding touring destination with a family friendly atmosphere. Info: www. americade.com. LACONIA MOTORCYCLE WEEK: JUNE 11-19 Laconia Motorcycle Week, held in Laconia, N.H., is an AMA-sanctioned Gypsy Tour featuring scenic riding and a welcoming atmosphere. Info: www. laconiamcweek.com. THUNDER IN THE VALLEY: JUNE 23-26 This AMA National Gypsy Tour, held in

Johnstown, Pa., is quickly becoming a favorite of riders in the Eastern United States. Info: www. johnstownthunder.com. AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS: JULY 8-10 An AMA National Rally, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, is one of the most diverse motorcycling events in the world. It includes vintage racing in numerous disciplines, seminars, bike shows, road rides, a 30-acre swap meet, demo rides, vendor displays, stunt shows and more. Info: www.amavintage motorcycledays.com. NATIONAL BIKERS ROUNDUP: AUG. 5-9 Held in Little Rock, Ark., this year, the National Bikers Roundup is considered the largest camping rally in the country, each year more that 1,000 motorcycle clubs attend the event. The event serves to unite the motorcycling community. Info: www.nbrkcmo.com. STURGIS: AUG. 8-14 For seven days in August, the Sturgis Rally turns a small town in South Dakota into a motorcycling mecca. Tens of thousands of riders converge on

the Black Hills region. Info: www.sturgis motorcyclerally.com. ROADRUNNER TOURING WEEKEND: AUG. 11-14 The AMA-sanctioned RoadRUNNER Touring Weekend welcomes hundreds of motorcyclists for an extended weekend of riding, great food and camaraderie. In 2016, it will be held in Bolivar, Pa. Info: www. roadrunner.travel. CORN ROAST POKER RUN: AUG. 20 This AMA Premier Poker Run will be held in Mansfield, Ohio, by the Mansfield Motorcycle Club. Info: www. mansfieldmotorcycle club.com. RALLY IN THE GORGE AUG. 24-28 Held in Hood River, Ore., the AMA-sanctioned Rally in the Gorge includes Sportbike Northwest, Dualsport Northwest and Sport Touring Northwest. Info: www. soundrider.com/rally. GOLDEN ASPEN MOTORCYCLE RALLY: SEPT. 14-18 Held in Ruidoso, N.M., the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally is a huge event situated high in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. Info: www. motorcyclerally.com.

Sean O’Donnell

Clubs: Get Chartered

SAVE DATE THE

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

July 8-10, 2016

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio

#AMAVMD www.AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com Proceeds beneďŹ t the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

AMA REWARDS

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

HOW YOUR AMA MEMBERSHIP PAYS FOR ITSELF Are You Covered?

Value

American Motorcyclist magazine

$19.95

Included

AMA Roadside Assistance (When Enrolled In Auto-Renew Program)

$104

Included*

AMA Online Road And Trail Guide

$19

Included

AMA Member-Only Website Hotel And Motel Discounts (Choice Hotels, Red Roof Inn) Gear Discounts (BikeBandit.com, EVS, Heat Demon And More) Protecting Your Right To Ride

Your Cost

$75

Included

$40**

Up To 20% Oﬀ

$187.50***

Up To 25% Oﬀ

Priceless

Included

Your Membership Dues

$49

Total Membership Value

$450.45

*must maintain valid credit card and email address on ﬁle for coverage to continue **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% 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

Oﬃcial Online Store for AMA Merchandise Find patches, pins, T-shirts, hats, coolers and much more at AMAgear.com.

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.

Cycle Trader

Visit CycleTrader.com for access to nearly 400,000 motorcycles and power sports vehicles across the country. If interested in trading up, click on “Sell for Free” on the homepage and use promo code “AMACT20” at checkout for 20% oﬀ the top-of-the-line package. For more info, visit www. CycleTrader.com.

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-armor-pants.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

Colorado Motorcycle Adventures

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.

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

Dowco Powersports

AMA Members save 20% on Dowco products, an industry leading manufacturer of motorcycle covers and luggage. To take advantage of the discount, use code AMA20 at checkout.

AMA Supercross And AMA Arenacross Tickets

EVS Sports

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.

BikeBandit.com

Visit BikeBandit.com for a 10% discounts on motorcycle parts, gear and apparel. Enter your AMA number when checking out to receive your discount. (Discount is not available on tires.)

Biker Rain Chaps

Save 25%. Visit www.bikerrainchaps. com/ama/ and use the code AMA-0316SPATTY 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.

At Pagnol Moto we develop and design extremely high quality gear for riders by riders. Visit www.pagnol-moto.com and use the code 1AMAVIP at checkout to receive your AMA exclusive 10% discount.

Rider Magazine Design Engineering, Inc.

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

Save on advanced tickets; AMA members can get $5 oﬀ when they buy tickets online at Supercrossonline.com and use password AMASX16. 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.

Pagnol Moto

AMA Members receive 10% oﬀ and free shipping on all orders. Simply use the code AMAEVS16 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 AMAheat16 at checkout to receive your discount.

International Motorcycle Shows

AMA members save on advanced adult one-day general admission. The promo code is “AMA16” when you buy your tickets online from www. motorcycleshows.com.

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%.

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.

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 model-applications, 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_TT2016 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.

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.

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.

APRIL EVENTS ARIZONA RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN APR 15: YUMA: 2 DAY EVENT, NORWALK MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (661) 245-3932, YUMAPRISONRUN.COM COMPETITION GRAND PRIX APR 3: PEORIA: OFF CAMBER MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (619) 3701598, AMRARACING.COM CALIFORNIA

The AMA Beta National Dual-Sport Series features the country’s best organized dual-sport rides. Events include miles of well marked, challenging trail connected by scenic backcountry roads. The challenging, national caliber terrain is designed to bring out the best in each rider.

RECREATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDE APR 1: NEW CUYAMA : THE GS GIANTS, (559) 288-2555, GSGIANTS.COM APR 30: BUCK MEADOWS: 2 DAY EVENT, FAMILY OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES, (209) 649-1966, FAMILYOFFROAD ADVENTURES.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE APR 9: SAN BERNARDINO: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

AmericanMotorcyclist.com a Riding a Dual Sport #AMADualSport /AMADualSport

APR 24: SAN LUIS OBISPO: PENGUINS MOTORCYCLE CLUB AT CAL POLY, (626) 733-1542, CPPENGUINSMC.COM POKER RUN - OFF-ROAD APR 9: POZO: CENTRAL COAST MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION, (805) 801-8829, POZORIDERS.COM COMPETITION ARENACROSS APR 1: ONTARIO: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM APR 2: ONTARIO: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 2167482, ARENACROSS.COM APR 9: SALINAS: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 2167482, ARENACROSS.COM ENDURO APR 16: LAKEPORT: NORTH BAY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, NORTHBAYMC.ORG APR 17: LAKEPORT: NORTH BAY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, NORTHBAYMC.ORG

POKER RUN APR 24: FORT WALTON BEACH: SAND DOLLAR MC, INC., (850) 2440376, SANDOLLARMOTOR CYCLECLUB.COM RELIABILITY RUN APR 9: DAYTONA BEACH: DIXIE DUAL SPORT, INC., (727) 919-8299, DIXIEDUALSPORT.COM COMPETITION

APR 17: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC., (319) 775-0893, CVTR.ORG LOUISIANA COMPETITION ENDURO APR 9: FOREST HILL: 2 DAY EVENT, ACADIANA DIRT RIDERS INC., (337) 519-2520, ACADIANADIRTRIDERS.COM MASSACHUSETTS COMPETITION

APR 2: OKEECHOBEE: 2 DAY EVENT, UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC., UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM

HILLCLIMB

APR 24: CITRA: MOTOCROSS OF MARION COUNTY INC., (352) 5911237, MXMARIONCOUNTY.COM IDAHO

APR 17: (Includes ATVs) MONSON: QUABOAG RIDERS INC., (413) 2674414, MONSONMONSTER.COM MICHIGAN COMPETITION

RECREATIONAL

MOTOCROSS

ROAD RALLY

APR 16: MILLINGTON: BULLDOG RIDERS MC INC., (810) 241-1774

APR 1: MELBA: THE GS GIANTS, (208) 921-6845, GSGIANTS.COM COMPETITION ARENACROSS APR 22: NAMPA: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM APR 23: NAMPA: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 2167482, ARENACROSS.COM

APR 17: MILLINGTON: BULLDOG RIDERS MC INC., (810) 241-1774 MINNESOTA COMPETITION MOTOCROSS APR 24: BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, (320) 980-0268, BERMBENDERSRACEWAY.COM

HARE & HOUND APR 2: MURPHY: 2 DAY EVENT, DIRT INC., (208) 459-6871 ILLINOIS COMPETITION MOTOCROSS APR 17: BYRON: MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD., (815) 2344227, MOTOBYRON.COM APR 23: WALNUT: 2 DAY EVENT, 4P PROMOTIONS INC., (815) 3799534, SUNSETRIDGESMX.COM TTS APR 23: (Includes ATVs) BELLEVILLE: BELLEVILLE ENDURO TEAM INC, (618) 277-3478, BETDIRT.COM INDIANA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLES

APR 23: (Includes ATVs) LUCERNE VALLEY: VIKINGS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (760) 910-4131, VICKINGSMC.COM

RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC., (319) 775-0893, CVTR.ORG

MOTOCROSS

APR 2: (Includes ATVs) 29 PALMS: 2 DAY EVENT, HILLTOPPERS MC, INC.,

APR 9: SHASTA LAKE CITY: 2 DAY EVENT, NORTH VALLEY MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC., (530) 339-1426, REDDINGDIRTRIDERS.COM

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

FLORIDA RECREATIONAL

GRAND PRIX

HARE SCRAMBLES

PROMOTIONS INC., (408) 2494336, SANJOSEINDOOR.COM

APR 10: (Includes ATVs) CULVER: PLYMOUTH BLACKHAWKS MC INC., (574) 259-0103

MISSOURI COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLES APR 3: BIXBY: MIDWEST TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (314) 434-5095, RIDEMTRA.COM MONTANA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLES APR 16: WHITEHALL: 2 DAY EVENT, 5TH GEAR PRODUCTIONS, (406) 225-8739, MONTANAXC.COM NEVADA COMPETITION GRAND PRIX APR 30: (Includes ATVs) PRIMM: 2 DAY EVENT, SUNLAND SHAMROCKS, (818) 767-4594 NEW JERSEY COMPETITION ENDURO

OBSERVED TRIALS

APR 3: GREENBANK: METEOR MC, (856) 297-5674, METEORMC.COM

APR 30: LIGONIER: 2 DAY EVENT, MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (574) 596-5346, MOTATRIALS.COM

APR 10: CHATSWORTH: PINE BARONS ENDURO RIDERS, (609) 226-8591, PBER.ORG

IOWA COMPETITION

SHORT TRACK

MOTOCROSS

APR 2: SAN JOSE: P & D

APR 16: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR

HARE SCRAMBLES APR 16: PORT ELIZABETH: 2 DAY EVENT, TRI-COUNTY SPORTSMEN MC INC., (855) 870-6698, TEAMHAMMER.ORG APR 23: MILLVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT,

APRIL EVENTS COMPETITION DIRT RIDERS, (609) 319-7496, ECEACOMPETITION DIRTRIDERS.COM NEW MEXICO COMPETITION OBSERVED TRIALS APR 2: GALLUP: 2 DAY EVENT, NEW MEXICO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (505) 780-2551, NEWMEXICOTRIALS.COM NEW YORK RECREATIONAL POKER RUN APR 24: BRONX: CELTIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (914) 866-2944, CELTICMCC.COM

APR 10: MARIETTA: AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS PA POST CHAPTER #466, (717) 898-0871

2 DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORYSPORTS.COM

APR 17: YORK: YORK MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (717) 8545980, YORKMOTORCYCLE.COM

RECREATIONAL

APR 24: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (717) 270-9797

TEXAS

ROAD RUN

COMPETITION

APR 24: HUMBLE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

SCAVENGER HUNT

APR 16: (Includes ATVs) GRATZ: SHIPPENSBURG MC, (717) 7960294, BAERMOTORSPORTS.COM

APR 2: IRVING: LONE STAR LONG RIDERS, (214) 250-1340, FACEBOOK.COM/NIITWITRALLY/

MOTOCROSS

VIRGINIA

APR 17: BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 582-3717, PAGODAMC.ORG

COMPETITION

RECREATIONAL

OBSERVED TRIALS

TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL

APR 10: VALLEY VIEW: RAUSCH CREEK POWERSPORTS, (570) 682-1075, RAUSCHCREEKRACING.BOM

APR 3: DILLWYN: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (434) 245-8599, VCHSS.ORG

NORTH CAROLINA

APR 18: PISGAH FOREST: 2 DAY EVENT, MOTOMARK1 LLC, (919) 698-6349, MOTOMARK1.COM COMPETITION MOTOCROSS APR 3: (Includes ATVs) SANFORD: DEVILS RIDGE MX, (919) 776-1767, DEVILSRIDGEMOTOX.COM OHIO COMPETITION ENDURO APR 10: SHADE: LOST IN LODI ENDURO GROUP LLC, LOSTINLODI.COM OBSERVED TRIALS APR 16: SARDIS: 2 DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC, (502) 515-6514, TRAILSINC.ORG APR 23: GERRETTSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC., (502) 5156514, TRIALSINC.ORG OREGON RECREATIONAL POKER RUN APR 3: TIGARD: ROSE CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (503) 7063969, ROSE-CITY-MC.ORG COMPETITION ENDURO APR 24: BEND: LOBOS MC INC, (503) 656-9552 PENNSYLVANIA RECREATIONAL BIKE SHOW APR 17: WASHINGTON CROSSING: DELAWARE VALLEY NORTON RIDERS, (267) 218-0965, DVNR.ORG DICE RUN APR 9: OLEY: READING MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (610) 987-6422, READINGMC.COM POKER RUN APR 10: SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 385-1460

APR 24: ELIZABETHTOWN: CANDYTOWN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (717) 979-8858, CANDYTOWNMC.ORG SHORT TRACK APR 2: (Includes ATVs) HANOVER: TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY, (717) 3594310, TRAIL-WAYSPEEDWAY.COM APR 23: DELTA: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC., BCTRA.COM SOUTH CAROLINA

GRAND PRIX

APR 17: ARRINGTON: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (757) 375-5665, VCHSS.ORG

S S, ROAD T ROUTE THE BES MAPPED , K C A R O-T AND TW TS. L EXPER BY LOCA GE WITH E CHALL N S. A FULL A GREAT R E DED RID IES, LIKE-MIN IT D’S ACTIV ES, WEEKEN , CAMPFIR G IN P M WITH CA . D PRIZES FOOD AN

MOTOCROSS APR 16: DILLWYN: 2 DAY EVENT, MOTOPROMO LLC, (434) 548-6043, ACTIONTOWNMX.COM APR 30: WYTHEVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC., (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM WASHINGTON

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

ARENACROSS

APR 9: HAMER: 2 DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC., (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

APR 16: TACOMA: 2 DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 2167482, ARENACROSS.COM

RECREATIONAL

IONAL T A N A M A TURE ADVEN RIDINGRIES SE

WEST VIRGINIA

ROAD RUN APR 10: LEXINGTON: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION, (828) 665-6891, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG TENNESSEE RECREATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDE APR 16: BYBEE: 2 DAY EVENT, APPALACHIAN TRAIL RIDERS, (865) 322-0193, CAROLINADUALSPORTERS.COM

COMPETITION MOTOCROSS APR 17: (ATV only) HEDGESVILLE: TOMAHAWK MX LLC, (304) 5828185, TOMAHAWKMX.COM APR 23: HEDGESVILLE: TOMAHAWK MX, LLC, (304) 5822818, TOMAHAWKMX.COM WISCONSIN

TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL

COMPETITION

APR 8: (Includes ATVs) HURRICANE MILLS: MIDDLE TENNESSEE DIRT RIDERS INC., (615) 512-7548, MTDR.ORG

MOTOCROSS

COMPETITION HILLCLIMB APR 9: (Includes ATVs) BUFFALO VALLEY: BUFFALO VALLEY HILLCLIMB, (931) 260-9509, MTDRAGWAY.COM MOTOCROSS APR 3: (Includes ATVs) BLOUNTVILLE: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORYSPORTS.COM APR 23: (ATV only) BLOUNTVILLE:

APR 10: LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 790-6211, AZTALANMX.COM APR 10: (Includes ATVs) GRANTSBURG: STRAIGHT ARROW ENDURO RIDERS, (715) 557-7127, STRAIGHTARROWS.ORG APR 24: NEKOOSA: RAPID ANGELS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (715) 451-1116, RAPIDANGELS.COM

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST .COM/RIDING

FACEBOOK.COM/ AMAADVENTURERIDING @AMA_RIDING, #AMAADV

OBSERVED TRIALS APR 17: MAUSTON: WISCONSIN OBSERVED TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (920) 229-5365, WISCONTRIALS. ORG

April 2016

2016 EVENTS

1924

CLUB

Daytona Bike Week March 4-13 Rolling Thunder Run May 27-30 Americade Motorcycle Rally June 7-11 Laconia Motorcycle Week June 11-19 Thunder in the Valley Motorcycle Rally June 23-26 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days July 8-10 Buffalo Chip Sturgis August 8-14 Ray Price Bikefest September 23-25 Schedule tentative.

April 9: San Diego, Calif.: California Classic Motocross Championship May 20: Rancho Cordova, Calif.: Hangtown Classic

MOTOCROSS FIM MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS www.fim-live.com Sept. 25: Maggiora, Italy FIM JUNIOR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP www.fim-live.com Aug. 21: Orlyonok, Russia MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

June 19: Mount Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway Aug. 28: Crawfordsville, Ind.: Ironman Raceway

Oct. 9: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek MX Nov. 26: Alachua, Fla.: Winter Olympics

www.amasupercross.com

April 2: Santa Clara, Calif.: Levi’s Stadium April 9: Indianapolis, Ind.: Lucas Oil Stadium April 16: St. Louis, Mo.: Edward Jones Dome April 23: Foxboro, Mass.: Gillette Stadium April 30: East Rutherford, N.J.: MetLife Stadium May 7: Las Vegas, Nev.: Sam Boyd Stadium LUCAS OIL AMA PRO MOTOCROSS www.promotocross.com

April 2-3: Okeechobee, Fla.: Florida Cycle Park April 9-10: Hamer, S.C.: South of the Border MX Park

May 7-8: Crawfordsville, Ind.: Ironman Raceway

April 16-17: Tallassee, Ala.: Monster Mountain MX Park

May 21-22: Mount Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway June 4-5: Tallassee, Ala. Monster Mountain June 18-19: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge MX

July 30-31: Buchanan, Mich.: Redbud MX

June 4: Laktewood, Colo.: Thunder Valley National

Aug. 13-14: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Loretta Lynn Ranch

July 16: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek National July 23: Washougal, Wash.: Washougal National Aug. 13: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla National Aug. 20: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek National

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

www.racewmx.com

June 18-19: Henderson, N.C.: North Carolina Motorsports Park (Youth) Mid-East Area Qualifiers March 19-20: Altamont, Tenn.: Fast Farms MX Park

AMA AMSOIL ARENACROSS SERIES www.arenacross.com April 1-3: Ontario, Calif.: Citizens Business Bank Arena April 9-10: Salinas, Calif.: Salinas Sports Complex April 16-17: Tacoma, Wash.: Tacoma Dome

April 2-3: Waynesburg, Ohio: Malvern Motocross Park April 16-17: Rossville, Ind.: Wildcat Creek MX April 23-24: Chillicothe, Ohio: ChilliTown MX April 30-May 1: Bronson, Mich.: Log Road MX

April 22-24: Nampa, Idaho: Ford Idaho Center

May 7-8: Nashport, Ohio: Briarcliff Motocross

May 6-8: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena (Amateur National Championship) 2016 NATIONAL

WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (WMX)

May 28-29: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway (Amateur)

National Championship

May 14-15: Bloomingdale, Mich.: Dutch Sport Park 2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

Aug. 27: Crawfordsville, Ind.: Ironman National

April 30-May 1: Wytheville, Va.: Pro Sport Motocross

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 28: San Bernardino, Calif.: Glen Helen National

July 9: Southwick, Mass.: Southwick National

April 23-24: Reynolds, Ga.: Silver Dollar Raceway

May 14-15: Dalton, Ga.: Lazy River MX

July 2-3: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek MX Park July 16-17: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla MX

July 2: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud National

June 4-5: Mount Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway (Amateur)

SOUTHEAST AREA QUALIFIERS

April 23-24: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway

CHAMPION

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 19-20: Sutherlin, Va.: Birch Creek Motorsports Park

April 9-10: Kemp, Texas: Underground MX Park

2016 NATIONAL

May 21-22: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla MX

June 11-12: Shippensburg, Pa.: Doublin Gap MX Park (Youth)

AMA ATV MOTOCROSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY CST www.atvmotocross.com

June 25: Blountville, Tenn.: Tennessee National

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CHAMPION

May 21: Sacramento, Calif.: Hangtown Motocross Classic

June 18: Mount Morris, Pa.: High Point National

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2016 NATIONAL

National Championship

March 19: Detroit, Mich.: Ford Field

April 23-24: Fredericksburg, Pa.: Sleepy Hollow MX

May 14-15: Winchester, N.H.: Winchester Speedpark

Oct. 2: Englishtown, N.J.: Kawasaki Race of Champions

CHAMPION

April 16-17: Dillwyn, Va.: Actiontown MX Park

May 7-8: Seward, Pa.: Pleasure Valley

Sept. 3: Millington, Mich.: Baja Brawl

2016 NATIONAL

NORTHEAST AREA QUALIFIERS April 9-10: Englishtown, N.J.: Englishtown

CHAMPION

National Championship ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATV/MC AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP, PRESENTED BY AMSOIL

May 21-22: Livingston, Tenn.: Thunder Valley MX Mid-East Regional Championships June 4-5: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud MX (Youth)

www.mxsports.com March 19: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Spring Championship

Aug. 1-6: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Loretta Lynn Ranch

June 25-26: Millington, Mich.: Baja Acres (Amateur)

2016 EVENTS North Central Area Qualiﬁers

May 21-22: Yantis, Texas: Johnsonville MX Farm

April 2-3: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trail Motorsports

May 29-30: Brush, Colo.: Sweney Cycle Park (Sunday / Monday races)

April 9-10: Garwin, Iowa: Oak Ridge MX April 23-24: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge MX April 30-May 1: Maize, Kan.: Bar 2 Bar MX Park May 14-15: Little Falls, Minn.: Little Falls Raceway

North Central Regional Championships June 11-12: Byron, Ill.: Byron Motorsports Park (Amateur)

Southwest Area Qualiﬁers

March 20: Rancho Cordova, Calif.: Prairie City SVRA (Hangtown MX)

June 25-26: Alvord, Texas: Oak Hill Raceway (Youth)

April 2-3: Anza, Calif.: Cahuilla Creek MX

April 24: Snelling, Calif.: Oatﬁeld Raceway

April 9-10: Moriarty, N.M.: Sandia MX at Moriarty

April 30-May 1: Lake Elsinore, Calif.: Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park

May 7-8: Junction City, Ore.: Eugene MX Park May 14: Billings, Mont.: Billings MX (Saturday only)

April 16-17: California City, Calif.: Cal City MX Park Southwest Regional Championship June 11-12: Pala, Calif.: Pala Raceway (Youth/Amateur) 2016 NATIONAL

Mid-West Area Qualiﬁers

April 2-3: Fulton, Miss.: Veterans MX Park

April 7-10: Pala, Calif.: Pala Raceway (California Classic)

Featured Event CALIFORNIA CLASSIC www.2xpromotions.com April 7-10: Pala, Calif.: Pala Raceway

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

May 28-29: Washougal, Wash.: Washougal MX Park (Youth/Amateur)

South Central Area Qualiﬁers

KING OF THE WEST SERIES www.2xpromotions.com

June 11-12: Lakewood, Colo.: Thunder Valley Motocross Park (Amateur)

Northwest Regional Championship

June 18-19: Tigerton, Wis.: Motozone (Youth)

June 4-5: Rancho Cordova, Calif.: Prairie City OHV (Youth/Amateur)

March 19-20: Haleiwa, Hawaii: Kahuku Motocross

March 19-20: West Richland, Wash.: Horn Rapids Motorsports Complex

May 28-29: Athelstane, Wis.: Pine Ridge Raceway

Featured Series

South Central Regional Championships

Northwest Area Qualiﬁers

May 21-22: Mount Carroll, Ill.: McMotopark

Mid-West Regional Championship

CHAMPION

National Championship AMA VINTAGE MOTOCROSS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.americanmotorcyclist.com July 9-10: Lexington, Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

April 9-10: Grand Cane, La.: Desoto Motorsports Park

April 2-3: Turlock, Calif.: Oatﬁeld Raceway

April 16-17: Wellston, Okla.: Reynard Raceway

April 16-17: California City, Calif.: Cal City MX Park

April 23-24: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Raceway

May 14-15: Hollister, Calif.: Hollister Hills SVRA

JAMES STEWART FREESTONE SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP www.freestonemx.com

April 30-May 1: Amarillo, Texas: Bowers MX

May 21-22: Rocksprings, Wyo.: Rock Springs MX

March 15-19: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Raceway

Major Event

DIRT TRACK AMA PRO FLAT TRACK www.amaproracing.com April 9: Austin, Texas: Circuit of the Americas May 14: Phoenix, Ariz.: Turf Paradise May 21: Sacramento, Calif.: California Expo Fair

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2016 EVENTS May 29: Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Fairgrounds

Sept. 5: Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Fairgrounds (Short Track)

Aug. 13-14: Joliet, Ill.: Autobahn Country Club

June 18: Oklahoma City, Okla.: Remington Park

Sept. 26: York, Pa.: York Expo Center (Half Mile)

Sept. 24-25: South Beloit, Ill.: Blackhawk Farms Raceway

June 25: Lima, Ohio: Allen County Fairgrounds

Oct.14-16: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway

July 30: Charlotte, N.C.: Charlotte Motor Speedway

Featured Series

Aug. 9: Rapid City, S.D.: Black Hills Speedway

ROAD RACE

Aug. 14: Peoria, Ill.: Peoria Motorcycle Club

April 10: Kershaw, S.C.: Carolina Motorsports Park

FIM MOTOGP www.motogp.com

Aug. 20: TBA Sept. 4: Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Fairgrounds

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

National Championship AMA DIRT TRACK GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.amaracing.com

2016 NATIONAL

July 8-10: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca MOTOAMERICA ROAD RACING SERIES www.motoamerica.com April 8-10: Austin, Texas: Circuit of the Americas

July 1-6: Du Quoin, Ill. 2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

June 16-19: Loudon, N.H.: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP www.worldsbk.com

Oct. TBA: TBA CHAMPION

May 21: South Beloit, Ill.: Blackhawk Farms Raceway

April 8-10: Circuit of the Americas

Sept. 17: TBA

CHAMPION

National Championship AMA VINTAGE DIRT TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.amaracing.com April 30: Henry, Ill. (Half Mile) May 1: Henry, Ill. (Half Mile) June 17: Harpursville, N.Y. (Short Track)

April 15-17: Braselton, Ga.: Road Atlanta April 29-May 1: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park May 13-15: Alton, Va.: Virginia International Raceway June 3-5: Elkhart Lake, Wis.: Road America

June 23-25: Tooele, Utah: Utah Motorsports Park

July 3: Oshkosh, Wis.: Oshkosh Speedzone (3/8 Mile)

July 8-10: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

July 9: Ashland, Ohio: Ashland County Fairgrounds (Half Mile)

Sept. 9-11: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park

Sept. 24: Cuddebackville, N.Y. (Short Track) Sept. 25: Cuddebackville, N.Y. (Short Track) Featured Series AMA ALL-STAR NATIONAL FLAT TRACK SERIES www.stevenaceracing.com May 22: Peoria, Ill.: Peoria Speedway (Short Track) May 23: Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Fairgrounds (TT) June 13: Bucyrus, Ohio: Crawford County Fairgrounds (Half Mile) July 4: Frederick, Md.: Frederick Fairgrounds (Half Mile) July 25: Ashland, Ohio: Ashland County Fairgrounds (Half Mile) Aug. 5: Sturgis, S.D.: Sturgis Fairgrounds (Half Mile) Aug. 14: Lewistown, Ill.: Spoon River Speedway (Short Track)

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

AMA ROAD RACE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.asraracing.com July 1-3: Plymouth, Wis.: Road America 2016 NATIONAL

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES PRESENTED BY MAXXIS www.gnccracing.com April 2-3: Morganton, N.C.: Steele Creek Campground April 16-17: Union, S.C.: Big Buck Farm April 30-May 1: Society Hills, S.C.: Moree’s Hunting Preserve May 14-15: Springville, Ind.: Lawrence Co. Recreational Park May 28-29: Millfield, Ohio: Sunday Creek Raceway

July 17: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park

June 11-12: Odessa, N.Y.: Seneca Highland

Aug. 21: Summit Point, W. Va.: Summit Point Circuit

June 25-26: Snowshoe, W. Va.: Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Sept. 18: Alton, Va.: Virginia International Raceway

Sept. 10-11: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla MX

Oct. 15: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway

Sept. 24-25: Masontown, W. Va.: Marvin’s Mountain Top

Featured Series

April 9-10: Kershaw, S.C.: Carolina Motorsports Park April 16-17: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park

National Championship

Aug. 13: Indianapolis, Ind.: Marion County Fairgrounds (Short Track)

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

National Championship

Oct. 1-2: St. Clairsville, Ohio: Powerline Park Oct. 29-30: Crawfordsville, Ind.: Ironman Raceway 2016 NATIONAL

July 2: Oshkosh, Wis.: Oshkosh Speedzone (3/8 Mile)

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

June 10-12: Birmingham, Ala.: Barber Motorsports Park

CHAMPION

Sept. 10-11: Isola 2000, France

July 1: Elkhart Lake, Wis.: Road America

AMERICAN SPORTBIKE RACING ASSOCIATION (USGPRU SERIES) www.asraracing.com

June 18: Harpursville, N.Y. (Short Track)

Aug. 12: Indianapolis, Ind.: Marion County Fairgrounds (Short Track)

AMERICAN SPORTBIKE RACING ASSOCIATION (TEAM CHALLENGE) www.asraracing.com

FIM TRIALS DES NATIONS www.fim-live.com

CHAMPION

National Championship

CHAMPION

National Championship KENDA AMA NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.nationalenduro.com

May 28-30: Summit Point, W. Va.: Summit Point Circuit

April 10: Forest Hill, La.: Acadiana Dirt Riders

June 11-12: Alton, Va.: Virginia International Raceway

May 22: Greensboro, Ga.: Cherokee Cycle Club

July 1-3: Elkhart Lake, Wis: Road America

June 19: Huntersville, Minn.: River Valley Enduro Riders

Aug. 13-14: Joliet, Ill.: Autobahn Country Club

July 24: Cross Fork, Pa.: Brandywine Enduro Riders

Aug. 27-28: Bloomingdale, Ga.: Roebling Road Raceway Sept. 24-25: South Beloit, Ill.: Blackhawk Farms Raceway

AMA VINTAGE ROAD RACE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Aug. 28: Chandlersville, Ohio: Ohio Woods Riders Sept. 18: Park Hills, Mo.: Missouri Mudders Oct. 23: Skiatook, Okla.: Oklahoma Trail Riders 2016 NATIONAL

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

Featured Series AMERICAN SPORTBIKE RACING ASSOCIATION (SPRINT SERIES) www.asraracing.com April 16-17: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park May 28-30: Summit Point, W. Va.: Summit Point Circuit

CHAMPION

National Championship

July 9-10: Lexington, Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

OFF-ROAD FIM INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS ENDURO www.fim-live.com Oct. 11-16: Circuito de Navarra, Spain AMA INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS ENDURO QUALIFIERS www.americanmotorcyclist.com

June 11-12: Alton, Va.: Virginia International Raceway

April 23-24: Romney, W. Va.: Full Gas Sprint Enduro

July 1-3: Elkhart Lake, Wis.: Road America

June 4-5: Idaho City, Idaho: Boise Ridge Riders

AMA ENDUROCROSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.endurocross.com Aug. 27: Atlanta, Ga. Sept. 3: Sioux Falls, S.D. Sept. 10: Salt Lake City, Utah Sept. 24: Phoenix, Arix. Oct. 1: Denver, Colo. Oct. 22: Everett, Wash. Nov. 5: Boise, Idaho Nov. 19: Ontario, Calif.

2016 EVENTS 2016 NATIONAL

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

National Championship

KENDA SRT AMA HARE AND HOUND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.nationalhareandhound.com

AMA VINTAGE HARE SCRAMBLE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.americanmotorcyclist.com

April 2 (Youth) | 3 (Amateur) No ATVs: Murphy, Idaho: Dirt Inc.

July 8: Lexington, Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

May 14 (ATV/Youth) | 15 (Amateur): Delta, Utah: Sage Riders Motorcycle Club

2016 NATIONAL

July 16 (Youth Bikes) | July 17 (Amateur Bikes): Mahanoy City, Pa.: Valley Forge Trail Riders

July 10: Lexington, Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2016 NATIONAL

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

Sept. 24 (No ATVs): Yerington, Nev.: Get-Xtr-Eme

CHAMPION

National Championship TENNESSEE KNOCKOUT EXTREME ENDURO www.tennesseeknockoutenduro.com

Oct. 22 (Youth) | 23 (Amateur): Lucerne Valley, Calif: 100’s MC 2016 NATIONAL

May 7 (Youth Bikes/Youth ATV) | May 8 (Amateur Bikes/Amateur ATV): Clifford, Pa.: District 6 Sports Association

AMA VINTAGE TRIALS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Sept. 3-4: TBA

CHAMPION

National Championship

Aug. 20-21: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Trials Training Center

AIReS AMA/NATC MOTOTRIALS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.mototrials.com

July 30 (Youth Bikes) | July 31 (Amateur Bikes): Catawissa, Pa.: High Mountain Dirt Riders Aug. 28 (Bikes/ATV): Speedsville, N.Y.: Cross Country Customs Oct. 9 (Youth Bikes/Amateur Bikes): Rural Retreat, Va.: Rattlesnake Riders

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

April 16 (Youth Bikes) | April 17 (Amateur Bikes): Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Tri-County Sportsmen

Regional Series

Regional Series AMA/NATC YOUTH MOTOTRIALS REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP www.mototrials.com

May 21-22: Ocala, Fla.: Florida Trials Association May 28-29: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Southeastern Trials Riders Association

June 22-24: Canon City, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Trials Association (West)

June 18-19: Tillamook, Ore.: Columbia Observed Trials Association

June 30-July 2: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Southeastern Trials Riders Association (East)

June 25-26: Canon City, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Trials Association

Regional Series

KENDA SRT AMA WEST HARE SCRAMBLE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.westharescramble.com March 19 (ATV/Youth) | 20 (Amateur): Gorman, Calif: Prospectors MC April 9 (Amateur) | 10 (Youth): Shasta Lake City, Calif.: Redding Dirt Riders April 23 (Youth) | 24 (Amateur): Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Vikings Motorcycle Club

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Sept. 17 (ATV/Youth) | 18 (Amateur): Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Desert Motorcycle Club

CHAMPION

National Championship

Aug. 27 (Amateur/Youth) No ATVs: Panaca, Nev.: Silver State Trailblazers

March 20: Chatham, Va.: Rivers Edge

May 21 (Amateur/Youth): Caliente, Nev.: Silver State Trailblazers

2016 NATIONAL

CHAMPION

June 11: TBA

AMA EAST HARE SCRAMBLE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.americanmotorcyclist.com

2016 EVENTS Oct. 1-2: Ridgecrest, Calif.: Desert Empire Fairgrounds Nov. 5-6: Gorman, Calif.: Quail Canyon MX Dec. 3-4: TBA Regional Series KENDA SRT AMA WEST ATV CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Featured Series EAST COAST ENDURO ASSOCIATION (ENDUROS) www.ecea.org March 20: Shamong, N.J.: South Jersey Enduro Riders April 3: Greenbank, N.J.: Meteor Motorcycle Club

March 19: Gorman, Calif.: Prospectors M/C

April 10: Chatsworth, N.J.: Pine Barons Enduro Riders

April 23: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Vikings M/C

May 1: Delaware City, Del.: Delaware Enduro Riders

May 14: Delta, Utah: Sage Riders MC

May 29: Heckscherville, Pa.: Reading Off-Road Riders

Sept. 17: Red Mountain, Calif.: NHHA Oct. 1: Ocatillo Wells, Calif.: RoadRunners M/C Oct. 22: Lucerne Valley, Calif: 100’s MC Featured Series APPALACHIAN CHAMPIONSHIP ENDURO SERIES www.aces-races.com

June 12: Deposit, N.Y.: Ridge Riders Motorcycle Club June 26: Blain, Pa.: Susquehanna Off Road Riders July 10: Gillett, Pa.: Southern Tier Enduro Riders July 24: Cross Fork, Pa.: Brandywine Enduro Riders

April 3: New Straitsville, Ohio: New Straitsville Enduro Riders

Aug. 7: Three Springs, Pa.: Green Marble Enduro Riders

April 10: Shade, Ohio: Lodi Township Enduro

Aug. 14: Berkshire, N.Y.: Ithaca Dirt Riders

June 5: Wellston, Ohio: Appalachian Dirt Riders

Aug. 28: Mauricetown, N.J.: Competition Dirt Riders

Oct. 1-2: Wellsboro, Pa.: Southern Tier Enduro Riders Oct. 22-23: Sahara Sands, N.J.: Pine Barrons Enduro Riders Nov. 12-13: New Castle, Del.: Delaware Enduro Riders Featured Series IOWA ATV HARE SCRAMBLE SERIES www.iatvhss.com April 30-May 1: Centerville, Iowa May 28-29: Mount Pleasant, Iowa June 18-19: Kahoka, Mo. July 9-10: St. Charles, Iowa July 30-31: Thurman, Iowa Sept. 18-19: Beaconsfield, Iowa Oct. 8-9: Carlisle, Iowa Aug. 19-20: Carlisle, Iowa: Heartland Challenge Featured Series MOTORCYCLE RACING ASSOCIATION OF NEVADA (DESERT SERIES) www.mranracing.org March 26: Pahroc Summit, Nev.: Yucca Chuckers April 9: Murphy’s Gap, Nev.: SNDR April 30: Caliente, Nev.: Groundshakers

June 4-5: Sidell, Ill.: Illinois June 18-19: Toronto, Ohio: Toronto (19th is Vintage Cup Series Round) July 23-24: Canfield, Ohio: Canfield Aug. 20-21: Little Hocking, Ohio: Wildwood Sept. 3-4: Newark, Ohio: Newark (4th is Vintage Cup Series Round) Sept. 17-18: Columbus, Ind.: Stoney (18th is Vintage Cup Series Round) Oct. 1-2: Bedford, Ky.: Saddleback (2nd is Vintage Cup Series Round) Oct. 15-16: Taylorsville, Ky.: Vintage Cup Finals Featured Series VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP HARE SCRAMBLE SERIES www.vchss.org March 20: Sandy Level, Va.: River’s Edge April 3: Dillwyn, Va.: CVTR April 17: Arrington, Va.: April Fools May 1: Martinsville, Va.: Blue Ridge 1 May 15: Bristol, Va.: Harleywood May 29: Dendron, Va.: Reddy Hole June 12: Spring Grove, Va.: TDR, Eastover June 26: Rural Retreat, Va.: Hillbilly

Sept. 11: Shippensburg, Pa.: South Penn Enduro Riders

May 21: Panaca, Nev.: Silver State Trailblazers

Aug. 7: Three Springs, Pa.: Green Marble Enduro Riders

Sept. 25: Mahanoy City, Pa.: High Mountain Dirt Riders / Valley Forge Trail Riders

July 30: Ely, Nev.: Coyotes

Aug. 21: Penhook, Va.: Sandy Bottom Sept. 4: Rural Retreat, Va.: Coyote Run

Aug. 14: Logan, Ohio: Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club

Oct. 16: Warren Grove, N.J.: Motorcycle Competition Inc.

Aug. 27: Caliente, Nev.: Silver State Trailblazers

Aug. 28: Chandlersville, Ohio: Ohio Woods Riders (In conjunction with National Enduro)

Oct. 30: New Lisbon, N.J.: Ocean City Competition Riders

July 17: McArthur, Ohio: Enduro Riders Association

Sept. 4: Athens, Ohio: Athens Motorcycle Club Sept. 18: Bergholz, Ohio: Ohio Valley Trail Riders Oct. 9: Matthews, Ind.: Muddobbers Motorcycle Club Nov. 13: Treaty City, Ohio: Treaty City Motorcycle Club Featured Series CROSSROADS RACING SERIES www.crossroadsracingseries.com April 2: Salem, Ind.: High Fly MX Park April 23: Staunton, Ind.: Staunton MX Park June 4: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trail Motorsports June 10: Springville, Ind.: LCRP July 9: Bedford, Ind.: Bedford Rock July 30: TBA Aug. 13: Oden, Ind.: Parsons MX Compound Sept. 3: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trail Motorsports Oct. 15: Bedford, Ky.: Saddleback East

Oct. 22: Staunton, Ind.: Staunton MX Park

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Nov. 20: New Lisbon, N.J.: Central Jersey Competition Riders Featured Series EAST COAST ENDURO ASSOCIATION (HARE SCRAMBLES) www.ecea.org April 16-17: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: TriCounty Sportsmen Motorcycle Club April 23-24: Millville, N.J.: Competition Dirt Riders May 14-15: Sahara Sands, N.J.: Motorcycle Competition Inc. May 22-23: Berwick, Pa.: South Penn Enduro Riders June 4-5: Three Springs, Pa.: Rocket Raceway June 18-19: Tamaqua, Pa.: Reading Off Road Riders July 16-17: Mahoney City, Pa.: Valley Forge Trail Riders July 30-31: Catawissa, Pa.: High Mountain Dirt Riders Aug. 20-21: Clifford, Pa.: Meteor Motorcycle Club Sept. 17-18: Mount Cobb, Pa.: Ridge Riders Motorcycle Club

Sept. 17: Pioche, Nev.: Bushwackers Nov. 5: Logandale, Nev.: Darkside Featured Series MOTORCYCLE RACING ASSOCIATION OF NEVADA (GRAND PRIX SERIES) www.mranracing.org

Aug. 7: Martinsville, Va.: Blue Ridge 2

Sept. 11: Spring Grove, Va.: Peninsula Sept. 25: Rural Retreat, Va.: Iron Mountain Oct. 9: Rural Retreat, Va.: Rattlesnake Oct. 30: Spring Grove, Va.: Pipsico Featured Series

Oct. 8: Mesquite, Nev.: Wildbunch

WESTERN CHECKPOINT ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP www.westchec.org

Oct. 22: Mesquite, Nev.: Gamblers

May 1: Georgetown, Calif.: CERA - D36

Sept. 3: Cedar City, Utah: Jackrabbits

Featured Series MOTORCYCLE RACING ASSOCIATION OF NEVADA (NIGHT TEAM RACE SERIES) www.mranracing.org June 4: Jean, Nev.: Wild Bunch June 25: Jean, Nev.: MRAN July 9: Jean, Nev: MRAN July 22-23: Searchlight, Nev: Bushwackers Featured Series TRIALS INC. www.trialsinc.org April 16-17: Fly, Ohio: Trail Run Trial (17th is Vintage Cup Series Round) April 23-24: Southington, Ohio: Cleveland May 14-15: Tippecanoe, Ohio: Tippecanoe

June 23-24: South Fork, Colo.: SFPR RMEC Sept. 20: Campwood, Ariz.: ATR - AMRA Oct. 15: Chimney Rock, Utah: Sageriders MC - USRA Oct. 30: Elkins Flat, Calif.: Polka Dots MC - D36 Nov. 5: Upperlake, Calif.: Hayward MC - D36 Nov. 13: Stoneyford, Calif.: Valley Climbers MC - D36 Featured Series WESTERN NEW YORK OFFROAD ASSOCIATION www.wnyoa.net April 24: Newfield, N.Y.: Dream Riders May 8: Odessa, N.Y.: Tompkins Trail Riders / Seneca Highland

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May 29: Richford, N.Y.: Broome-Tioga Sports Center

Sept. 24-25: Wabeno, Wis.: Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, Inc. - Big Woods 200

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Aug. 27-Sept. 1: Wendover, Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats (AMA national records and FIM world records)

Aug. 28: Speedville, N.Y.: Cross Country Customs

AMA HILLCLIMB GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP www.americanmotorcyclist.com

March 19-20: Tucson, Ariz.: Tuscson Dual Sport, LLC. - 2 Sun Adventure 2016

Sept. 10-11: New Berlin, N.Y.: GNCC at Unadilla Sept. 18: Moravia, N.Y.: Twisted Fence at Sand Hill Oct. 9: Hapursville, N.Y.: The Finale

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CHAMPION

July 29-31: Neoga, Ill. Featured Event MIKE COOK’S BONNEVILLE SHOOTOUT www.landspeedevents.com Sept. 15-20: Wendover, Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats

June 4-5: Bixby, Mo.: Midwest Trail Riders Association - Show Me 500 Adventure Ride June 4-5: Odell, Ore.: Northwest Tour & Trail - Black Dog Adventure Ride

Aug. 13-14: Columbus, Ind.: Stoney Lonesome M/C - Buffalo 500 Aug. 20-21: Tillamook, Ore: Northwest Tour & Trail - Rat Dog Dual Sport Ride

Sept. 10-11: Golden Pond, Ky.: KT Riders - Land Between Lakes 200

March 19-20: Tucson, Ariz.: Tuscson Dual Sport, LLC. - 2 Sun Adventure 2016 April 16-17: Bybee, Tenn.: Appalachian Trail Riders - Slate Creek Adventure Ride June 4-5: Odell, Ore.: Northwest Tour & Trail - Black Dog Adventure Ride June 4-5: Bixby, Mo.: Midwest Trail Riders Association - Show Me 200 Adventure Ride June 4-5: Lock Haven, Pa.: Durty Dabbers Motorcycle Club - Durty Dabbers Adventure Ride June 11-12: Wabeno, Wis.: Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, Inc. - 2016 Ride for Research June 27-July 1: Colorado Springs, Colo.: Exit Tours M/C - Pikes Peak Region Adventure Tour Aug. 20-21: Tillamook, Ore: Northwest Tour & Trail - Rat Dog Adventure Ride Sept. 10-11: Pineola, N.C.: Appalachian Trail Riders - Blue Ridge National Adventure Ride

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AMA SIGNATURE EVENTS www.americanmotorcyclist.com Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation - Ride for Kids (events nationwide): RideForKids.org

June 11-12: Wabeno, Wis.: Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, Inc. - 2016 Ride for Research

Sept. 10-11: McArthur, Ohio: Enduro Riders Association - Baby Burr National Dual Sport

AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ ADVENTURE RIDING SERIES www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Corn Roast Poker Run Aug. 20: Mansﬁeld, Ohio: MansﬁeldMotorcycleClub.com, karlae1764@embarqmail.com, (419) 526-5964

June 4-5: Lock Haven, Pa.: Durty Dabbers Motorcycle Club - Durty Dabbers

Aug. 12-14: Salida, Colo.: Exit Tours M/C - Colorado 2-Day

RECREATION

AMA NATIONAL GYPSY TOUR www.americanmotorcyclist.com

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Sept. 2-6: Southern California Motorcycle Association Three Flags Classic: sc-ma.com, scmariskmanager@ gmail.com, (602) 705-4902

Thunder in the Valley (FIM North America Rally) June 23-26: Johnstown, Pa.: JohnstownThunder.com, jstcvb@ visitjohnstownpa.com, (800) 237-8590

National Championship

2016 NATIONAL

Aug. 14: Newark Valley, N.Y.: Victory Mountain Dirt Riders

Oct. 22-23: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Arizona Trail Riders - Howlin’ at the Moon

AMA LAND SPEED GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP / BONNEVILLE MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALS www.bonnevillespeedtrials.com

July 10: Newark Valley, N.Y.: Conover Racing

Aug. 7: TBD: Scooters

2016 NATIONAL

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June 26: South Edmeston, N.Y.: Thunder Ridge

July 24: Homer, N.Y.: Knobby Acres

Sept. 24-25: Boyce, La.: Acadiana Dirt Riders - Acadiana Adventure 400

July 3-24: Sister’s Centennial Motorcycle Ride: SistersMotorcycleRide.com, alisa@ motoadventuregal.com, (562) 395-3830

Sept. 17-18: Logan, Ohio: Buckeye Dual Sporters - Nut Cracker 200 Sept. 24-25: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Family Off-Road Adventures - Yosemite Dual Sport Adventure Sept. 24-25: Wabeno, Wis.: Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, Inc. - Big Woods 200 Oct. 1-2: Mount Solon, Va.: Washington Area Trail Riders - Shenandoah 500 Oct. 22-23: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Arizona Trail Riders - Howlin’ at the Moon Nov. 5-6: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Tri-County Sportsmen M/C - Hammer Run Nov. 12-13: Oracle, Ariz.: Trail Riders Of Southern Arizona - There Will Be Dust AMA NATIONAL GRAND TOURS www.americanmotorcyclist.com Jan. 1-Dec. 31: Southern California Motorcycle Association 15 Best Roads: sc-ma.com, scmariskmanager@gmail.com, (602) 705-4902 Jan. 1-Dec. 31: Southern California Motorcycle Association USA Four Corners Tour: sc-ma.com, scmariskmanager@gmail.com, (602) 705-4902

HALL OF FAME

EXHIBITS AND EVENTS AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME www.motorcyclemuseum.org The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Main Hall: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: The main ﬂoor of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame celebrates Hall of Fame inductees, the heroes of the track, road, trails and halls of government who have elevated the sport to new heights. Now featuring the 2015 inductees. Founder’s Hall: Honoring the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s generous contributors. The Birth of a Hurricane: How AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Craig Vetter reimagined BSA for an American market. Sam Swope: Philanthropist, Motorcyclist: Motorcycles that represent the generous, charitable giving of Sam Swope. Motorcycle Toys and Collectibles Exhibit: A collection of more than 1,000 motorcycle-inspired toys. AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com July 8-10: Lexington, Ohio: Demo. bikes from manufacturers, visit the swap meet, watch or compete in vintage racing, meet AMA Hall of Famers, attend seminars and more.

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AMA Trademarks The following represents active, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks of American Motorcyclist Association, Inc. (AMA). Usage of any AMA trademark or registered trademark without our permission is prohibited. Please contact jmassey@ama-cycle.org for more information or assistance. (800) AMA-JOIN® • AMA Dragbike® • AMA Endurocross® • AMA Motorhead® • AMA Pro Grand National Championship® • AMA Pro Racing® • AMA Race Center™ • AMA Racer® • AMA Racing® • AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships® • AMA Supermoto® • AMA Supercross® • AMA SX Lites® • AMA U.S. ISDE Team™ • AMA U.S. Jr. Motocross Team™ • AMA U.S. Motocross Team™ • Amateur National Motocross Championships® • American Motorcyclist Association® • Arenacross® • ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series® • ATV Motocross National Championship Series® • Dirt Track Grand Championships™ • Grand National Enduro Championship® • Gypsy Tour® • Hare & Hound National Championship Series® • Hare Scrambles Championship Series® • Hare Scrambles National Championship Series® • Kids Just Want To Ride® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum® • Motorcyclist of the Year® • Motostars® • National Adventure Riding Series® • National Dual-Sport Series® • National Enduro Championship Series® • Protect Your Right to Ride® • Protecting Your Right to Ride® • Ride Straight® • Rights. Riding. Racing.® • Road Race Grand Championships® • Vintage Grand Championships® • Vintage Motorcycle Days® • Vote Like A Motorcyclist®

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3/11/2015 2:22:49 PM

April 2016

GUEST COLUMN

HOOKED ON A FEELING

On A Curving Road, Happiness Hangs In The Balance One has to do with the shape of motorcycle tires and the way the diameter of the tire decreases as you move from the center toward the rim on either side. But, as the bike leans, gravity is pulling it down. The more lean, the harder gravity pulls downward and the tighter the bike turns. So, the bike wants to go straight because of inertia, but it wants to go downward because of gravity. Here is where the magic happens. It’s the balancing of those powerful forces that creates the feeling we love. We play one force against the other: The more you lean, and the faster you go, the stronger the forces get. If we feel like we aren’t going to make it around the turn, we lean more. If we feel like we are leaning too much, we speed up. We use our skills as riders to make sure the forces remain balanced and the bike “splits the difference” between where gravity wants us to go and where inertia wants us to go. We balance these two giants against each other, making sure neither “wins.” That feeling of two great forces pulling in opposite directions, with us right in the middle, is the feeling that keeps us looking forward to the next sweet curve. It is there, where these natural forces meet, that we most want to be. For some of us, it is there where we feel most alive. Ron Daigle is an AMA member from Winder, Ga.

Yve Assad

There you are, leaned over in a each year. It is in this topic area that we can find what I believe to be the curve. You gently nudge the throttle toward you, while gazing past your reason for this feeling that drives our side mirror at the seam where the insatiable desire for taking curves. road emerges from the tree line. I’ve concluded that the feeling The bike and your body position we are in love with is being at are exactly as they need to the intersection of two forces be, so your arms barely have that are much stronger than we to work on the handlebars. are. It is here, as we balance By Ron Daigle Everything is rushing by so these great forces against each quickly, and you feel relaxed, yet so other, that we feel a measure of control very alive! This is what motorcycle riders over that which is normally beyond our daydream about. capacity. These two forces are inertia and Some riders are content to feel the wind gravity. in their face while enjoying the scenery First, I have to clarify that one of them on a leisurely cruise down a long straight is not actually a force but a tendency—a stretch of highway. Others, me included, predisposition, so to speak. Inertia, to see straight sections of pavement as refresh your memory, is the tendency for serving one main purpose—to provide a an object to resist a change in motion. It is path to the next curve. the real cause of what we call centrifugal To those of us who view riding as a force, the “force” that you feel if you are sport, taking curves is what it’s all about. at an amusement park going around in It can almost become an addiction, that circles on the flying chairs. You feel as feeling we get from leaning the bike though you are being pulled outward. It’s and accelerating through a high-speed also the same “force” that causes the tall sweeper or an intricate set of twisties. coffee cup you accidentally left on your For us, little compares to a nice stretch front dashboard to fall over when you take of tarmac that snakes its way along as a sharp turn. you slalom through like a snow skier on a So what is it about these two forces that black diamond run. makes turns so fun? Stuck behind slow vehicles, we watch Let’s say you are riding in a straight curves in the road pass beneath our line approaching a turn. As you start to wheels and sense a lost opportunity. I countersteer to make the bike change often find a place to pull over and wait direction, inertia is causing your bike to for a nice opening in traffic, just so I can want to continue the way it was going — take a curvy section of road at the pace I straight. By initiating the countersteering, desire. however, you have caused the bike to start So what is it about curves that we to lean over and turn. This happens for a crave so much? What is this feeling that couple of reasons. we constantly chase? As an eighth grade physical science teacher, I cover a unit on motion and forces with my students

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Professional riders depicted on a closed course. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride – it is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Some models shown with optional accessories. ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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James Claeys, Seattle, member of the Bad Chickens Motorcycle Club, on a 2014 Indian ® Chief ® Vintage through Lebec, CA

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