The Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket

By Bob Kay

The old line goes: the only things you can count on are change and taxes. Most of us do not welcome change. We get comfortable with our families, our jobs and our routines, and we get nervous about what any change will do to those things. You cannot stop change, but you can steer it. The power to spot a coming change, analyze it and make a plan is available to everyone if they will pause and think. That is far better than accepting change without asking why.

Right now, the motorcycle world is facing changes that threaten our freedom to choose what we ride, how we keep our machines running and who we ride with.

What should we be aware of?

First is Right to Repair. Current laws and proposals tend to focus on cars, and we must make sure motorcycles are not left behind. More than Right to Repair, shops and riders need Right to Modify, the right to make our motorcycles personal statements. Independent dealers must have access to the tools and technical information they need, including software updates for current models. The aftermarket must be able to reproduce replacement parts that are no longer offered by OEMs. We must eliminate warranty language that unfairly voids coverage when work is done by independent shops or when aftermarket parts are used. All of this must be available at reasonable cost.

Second is the push to eliminate internal combustion engines. Electric motorcycles and bikes are gaining attention, but they are not the heart thumping machines we all love. Besides, the charging infrastructure for long rides is still inadequate and battery technology will take more time to catch up for the type of riding many of us do. At the same time, false claims about motorcycle emissions are sometimes used to justify blanket green policies that ignore motorcycles and their real-world usage. We have to protect continued access to proper fuels. That means defending non-ethanol or low-ethanol fuel options that work in motorcycle engines.

Other things to watch include end-of-life rules for motorcycles, limits on how many riders can gather at an event, and profiling efforts that single out groups of riders.

How do we fight back?

We do it through the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket. These organizations are tools available to us to protect what we ride, how we ride and who we ride with, in other words our lifestyle and our culture. They will not work unless the industry and riders use them. We need to grow membership fast. We need a bigger presence in Washington so lawmakers take us seriously as a voting bloc. That means local chapters signing people up, more riders showing up for lobby days, and a clear, coordinated message to legislators.

I have talked with some long-time biker enthusiasts who say the scene is not what it used to be and they are drifting away. If the motorcycle industry continues to shrink and bikers drop out, the next set of rules will not favor us. The time to act is now. Read and understand the threat these anti-motorcycle proposals represent. Think about the consequences. Make a plan to share the facts with other bikers, your club and your independent dealers. Get your favorite accessory manufacturers and independent dealers to sign up for the IMA. Get involved and Get ‘Er Done.