The Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket

By Bob Kay

And that’s the problem. Most people will never understand what it means to ride. They don’t feel the freedom of choosing your own machine, fixing it with your own hands, or riding with who you want, where you want. Yet those same people — often backed by corporate-think, nearsighted regulators and pandering politicians — are helping shape the rules that affect our lives.

Too many laws are written based on bad information and fear, pushed by folks who don’t ride and don’t care about learning. Corporate profit often outweighs science and common sense at the expense of small business survival, rights, and the needs of minorities, especially a loud, independent group like bikers.

In 2018, around 8% of American households owned a motorcycle. That worked out to roughly 13 million bikes, just 3.5% of all registered vehicles in the U.S. I don’t have newer numbers, but chances are that percentage hasn’t grown — and may have shrunk. Remember, those numbers include all motorcycles. The real biker nation — the folks who wrench on their own bikes, build customs, and support independent shops — is an even smaller slice in the eyes of lawmakers.

I still run drag pipes on some of my bikes, but you can see the shift happening. Riders and shops are dialing things back to keep non-riders happy. Many shops won’t even sell intakes, cams, or exhaust because they’re afraid of government overreach. We’re told motorcycles are a major source of pollution, yet regulations keep tightening, limiting our ability to tune for cleaner operation and better performance.

Let’s be real: the average motorcycle is ridden about 2,500 miles a year. Our narrow tires don’t come close to the pollution from tires that cars produce — never mind trucks, or the massive weight of electric vehicles. Yet we’re treated like the problem.

Meanwhile, corporate motorcycle America is struggling to bring in younger riders. Instead of taking a stand and pushing back, they’re choosing “voluntary compliance” to avoid massive fines. I get it, what they don’t seem to understand is that rising compliance costs and fewer modification freedoms are killing market growth. On top of that, big manufacturers want control. If they can’t control an aftermarket business, they’d just as soon see it disappear.

Look at John Deere. As their equipment becomes more software-driven, they’ve made it harder and more expensive for farmers and ranchers to repair their own machines. John Deere is one of the biggest opponents of the Right to Repair and Modify. They’ve committed $20 billion in investments, and you can bet Congress listens to that louder than they listen to a minority of bikers.

However, a smooth-talking face in a slick suit backed by a $20 million check is not the same as bikers showing up on Capitol Hill taking our message from the heart and soul of motorcycling to all 535 offices of Congress. For 17 years, Bikers Inside the Beltway continues to take our message to Congress and make a difference.

Growing our numbers matters. Membership in the IMA and MRF matters. The dollars represented by aftermarket businesses matter. We may never match John Deere, but if we grow our numbers as I believe they can grow and we answer the Calls to Action and attend events like Bikers Inside the Beltway, we will continue to make a difference.

Motorcycles are what brings us together.  However, it goes beyond just talking about it. Reach out, take action to protect what we love now to ensure that motorcycling is not regulated or legislated out of existence.

Join the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket at imamembers.org.