We Are The Motorcycle Riders Foundation:
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. 2027 High Priority Agenda In September, the Legislative Committee of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) hosted a legislative strategy session during the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Minds in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The Committee had gathered to establish and prioritize the MRF’s 2027 Federal Legislative Agenda. The MRF’s legislative issues fall into three priority categories: high, medium or monitor. This list remains fluid and can be adapted depending on developments regarding the issue or the political environment. Below is a brief description of the top 12 issues on the MRF’s 2027 Legislative Agenda, listed as “High Priority.” The January 2027 issue of the American Bikers Journal will have more detail on each of these high priority issues, as well as the full list of an additional 14 priority items that fall into “Medium” or “Monitor” classifications. As a reminder, all MRF members receive a copy of the American Bikers Journal with their membership. If you are not a member of the MRF, click the button at the end of this message to support the organization working in Washington, D.C., on behalf of America’s street motorcyclists. From The 2027 Motorcycle Riders Foundation Legislative Priorities List HIGH PRIORITY OBJECTIVES: Autonomous Vehicles: Advocate and monitor any legislation or regulations related to motorcycles concerning connected and autonomous vehicles. Crash Avoidance: Continue to promote the theme of crash avoidance versus safer crashing urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to focus on crash prevention and support rider education by providing funding and other resources. Data Recording: Pursue legislative language that any collected or available vehicle data is the property of the consumer and in which the consumer has the choice of whether to opt-in to having their personal data communicated to interested parties. Definition of a Motorcycle: Educate policymakers and advocate for change to the current definition that better reflects the current two and three-wheel motorcycle landscape. Emission Regulations: Engage the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) & Congress on any activity related to motorcycle emission regulations. Helmet Laws/Equipment Mandates: Oppose any mandatory federal helmet or personal protective equipment/apparel mandates. Internal Combustion Engines: Work to ensure the survival of internal combustion engines. Profiling: Sustain lobbying efforts for the passage of resolutions or legislation that promotes awareness and prohibition of motorcyclist profiling. Renewable Fuels: Advocate for targeted changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Right to Repair/Modify: Protect and advocate for “Right to Repair” provisions that allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their motorcycles. Surface Transportation Reauthorization (Highway Bill): Advocate and pursue legislative efforts related to the next highway bill reauthorization (the current act is set to expire in 2026). Vulnerable Roadway User Terminology: Monitor and ensure that motorcycles and motorcyclists are a specific and unique category or classification. Remember, a full list of all items on the legislative agenda with further detail will be part of your January issue of the American Bikers Journal. Thank you for supporting the MRF. It’s time to get to work! Join The MRF About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 
A Defining Moment For Motorcycling There are moments in advocacy when the issue at hand is bigger than a single bill, a single meeting, or a single news cycle. This is one of those moments. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is engaged in a fight to modernize and clarify the federal definition of a motorcycle. That may sound technical, but it is not. Definitions shape regulations. Regulations shape enforcement. And enforcement shapes every rider’s experience on the road. For years, certain three-wheeled autocycles (equipped with steering wheels, bucket seats, and automotive-style controls) have been classified under the motorcycle definition. By removing a wheel from what is otherwise an automotive platform, these vehicles have been allowed to fit into a regulatory gap that was never intended for enclosed, steering-wheel-operated machines. Let’s be direct: removing one wheel from a small car does not make it a motorcycle. A motorcycle is designed to be straddled. It is steered with handlebars. It requires balance, coordination, and direct engagement with the roadway environment. That design carries unique risks. It carries unique responsibilities. And it has always justified unique regulatory treatment. When vehicles that function more like cars are allowed to shelter under the motorcycle definition, it blurs lines that matter. It weakens the clarity of laws written specifically for riders. It creates confusion in regulatory agencies. And it opens the door to unintended consequences that motorcyclists will ultimately have to live with. This effort is not about punishing innovation. It is not about targeting any company or product. If autocycles have a place in the marketplace, they deserve a clear and honest classification. But motorcycling should not be redefined by convenience or by marketing strategy. The MRF has faced pressure before. We have been criticized for refusing to compromise when compromise would have been a sell-out. We have been told to “go along” for the sake of smooth politics. Each time, we chose principle over popularity. Because once you allow definitions to stretch beyond recognition, it becomes harder to defend the rights attached to them. This is why engagement matters right now. Lawmakers do not hear from “motorcycles.” They hear from people. They hear from constituents who take the time to call, write, and *most importantly* show up. They listen more closely when you’re there in person! That is exactly what happens at Bikers Inside the Beltway. Every year, riders travel to Washington, D.C., not for a parade, nor symbolism, but for scheduled, face-to-face meetings with Members of Congress and their staff. We sit across the table. We explain the issues. We answer questions. We ensure lawmakers understand how federal policy affects real riders in their districts. That presence makes a difference. When legislators see motorcyclists organized, informed, and unified, it changes the tone of the conversation. It reinforces that we are not a fringe interest. We are voters. We are workers. We are business owners. We are veterans. We are community members. And we expect fairness and clarity in the laws that govern us. The current definition debate is not abstract. It is about protecting the distinct identity of motorcycling and ensuring that regulations written for us remain focused on us. If you have ever appreciated the work done on your behalf in Washington, now is the time to step forward. Answer the calls to action on HB 3385 – among others. Contact your elected officials. And commit to attending Bikers Inside the Beltway. Advocacy does not happen by accident. It happens because riders decide their voice matters. This is one of those times. Hold the line. Protect the definition. Show up and make it clear: motorcyclists are paying attention — and we are engaged. We will see you in Washington at Bikers Inside the Beltway, May 18-19. SCHEDULE: Monday, May 18th MRF Board Meeting @ Embassy Suites Lobbying Prep. Session @ Embassy Suites 6-8 pm Tuesday, May 19th Lobby Day @ Congressional Offices (KSU: TBD) Post Debrief Session @ Embassy Suites 6-8pm Room Rate $270 per night incl. breakfast Room Rate Cutoff: April 22, 2026 HOTEL: EMBASSY SUITES 1900 Diagonal Rd Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-5900 Reservation Phone #: 800-362-2779 Ref. Code: MRF MAKE YOUR CONGRESSONAL APPOINTMENTS NOW! REGISTER FOR BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY 2026 Event Registration Join The MRF About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 
Take Action Now To Save Your Rights
You’re a biker and you belong to a motorcyclist rights organization, but are you doing everything you can to maintain your rights? Are you actively reaching out to your elected officials to request that they act on our issues? Have you asked your friends and family members to reach out to their legislators? Or, are you just ready to give up and let the government and manufacturers do what they want? Now is the time to take action! RIGHT TO REPAIR Do you have and ride a completely stock motorcycle? I mean 100% stock, no changes since it left the OEM’s facility. Original tires, exhaust, windshield, handgrips, floorboards, oil, and filter. If not, did you pay the dealership for all the work and only purchase OEM parts? Guess what, the manufacturers think you and your local aftermarket shop are too stupid to work on your own motorcycle, and they are working to take that ability from you. The REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566), currently assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, can affect our ability to work on or modify our motorcycles. The passage of this bill will ensure that OEMs provide us access to the manuals, diagnostic tools, and parts needed to repair, maintain, and modify our motorcycles without going through the OEM’s dealership. If it doesn’t pass, we are barreling towards a world where ALL of your maintenance and repair work (tires, oil changes, etc…) must be done by a licensed dealer or the OEM will render your motorcycle inoperable. As for that local shop you currently use for oil changes or parts, you know, the one you hang out at trading riding stories with your buddies, they will be driven out of business. DEFINITION OF A MOTORCYCLE Today, there are vehicles classified as motorcycles that have a steering wheel, bucket seats, and seatbelts. Yes, you read that right. The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) thinks this is a good thing, because their OEMs created and sell these vehicles. H.R. 3385 was written to update the nearly 60-year-old definition of a motorcycle and is assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It states a motorcycle, as originally manufactured, has a seat or saddle requiring the rider to sit astride, not more than three wheels, steering controlled by handlebars, acceleration and braking controlled by handlebar and foot controls, and capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 mph. The MIC disagrees with MRF on this issue and doesn’t understand our concern. Why does this definition matter?
It is imperative you act now! Click below to inform your legislator on these issues: RIGHT TO REPAIR H.R. 1566 DEFINITION OF A MOTORCYCLE H.R. 3385 Your attendance is needed at Bikers Inside the Beltway on May 18th and 19th. While there, you will personally meet with your legislators and / or their staff members on these important issues. The section below contains all the information you need to attend. Now is the time to stand and be counted. Can we count on you? SCHEDULE: Monday, May 18th MRF Board Meeting @ Embassy Suites Lobbying Prep. Session @ Embassy Suites 6-8 pm Tuesday, May 19th Lobby Day @ Congressional Offices (KSU: TBD) Post Debrief Session @ Embassy Suites 6-8pm Room Rate $270 per night incl. breakfast Room Rate Cutoff: April 22, 2026 HOTEL: EMBASSY SUITES 1900 Diagonal Rd Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-5900 Reservation Phone #: 800-362-2779 Ref. Code: MRF MAKE YOUR CONGRESSONAL APPOINTMENTS NOW! REGISTER FOR BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY 2026 Event Registration Join The MRF About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 
Support H.R. 2165 - The Choice In Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act Of 2025
Congress is currently on a one-week recess, but before they left town, Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act of 2025. This bill is similar to legislation Mr. Walberg introduced in 2023, which was passed by the U.S. House. The Senate failed to move on that bill, so it died at the end of the 118th Congress. U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher of Idaho, Gus Bilirakis of Florida and Rick Allen of Georgia have joined Mr. Walberg as lead cosponsors for the 2025 bill. This bill focuses on protecting the internal combustion engine. It does this in two ways. First, the bill prohibits using authority under the Clean Air Act to issue regulations that mandate the use of any specific technology or would limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on the vehicle’s engine type. Second, the legislation requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update any regulations that result in the limited availability of new vehicles based on the engine. This legislation would overturn a 2024 EPA rule, which, if not revoked, would cause about 56% of new vehicles sold between 2030 and 2032 to require electric motors. If you want to save the internal combustion engine, ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 2165. Join The MRF About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983 |
|
|
