Recent Entries

• Bikers, Bikers Everywhere!

  by RevBigJohn May 20, 2023
  This week bikers from across the nation descended on Capitol Hill. The 2023 Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s (MRF) Bikers Inside the Beltway was the largest event in the 14-year history of the event! Motorcyclists from 34 states made the trip to Washington, D.C. to ...
  comments

• Life-long Freedom Fighter - Still Ray Fitzgerald

  by RevBigJohn May 12, 2023
  Sadly, the motorcycling community has lost another life-long motorcycling freedom fighter. STILL RAY FITZGERALD died peacefully in hospice care in Prescott, Arizona on May 2nd.   Still Ray was an ABATE of Arizona lifetime member since...
  comments

• End of the Road... Show

  by RevBigJohn April 21, 2023
  Heartland STEAM in Bismarck this weekend marks the unofficial conclusion of the 2023 MRF “Road  Show”. Beginning in January MRF board members have traveled to 23 states to speak and present at SMRO events. We are honored to be invited to so many ev...

• H.R. 1435 the “Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act

  by RevBigJohn April 18, 2023
  Across the country a battle is underway between those that want to end the availability of combustion engines, and those fighting to protect their survival. While states like California and Massachusetts are setting timelines for purchase bans on internal combustion engines, other states like New Ha...

• BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY 2023

  by RevBigJohn April 15, 2023
  STANDING ON & HOLDING COMMON GROUND Bikers inside the Beltway – Since the late eighties, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and motorcyclists’ rights advocates have journeyed to Capitol Hil...

• Biden’s Full Court Press on Electric Vehicles

  by RevBigJohn April 12, 2023
  Media reports have surfaced regarding a planned announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to ensure that all-electric cars make up as much as 67 percent of new passenger vehicles sold in the country by 2032. According to the New York Times, "The proposed...

• Living Free… on the Road Show

  by RevBigJohn April 4, 2023
  The best state motto in the country is New Hampshire’s… Live Free or Die! Some people may disagree, but the state motto captures what we as bikers believe. We cherish our freedoms and we will fight to defend them!  Last week, the New Hampshire Motorcy...

• Major Car Maker Having Second Thoughts?

  by RevBigJohn March 31, 2023
  A letter released to the public on Thursday, from the Ford Motor Company to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding automated driving systems is eye opener. While not giving up on “self-driving cars” Ford appears to be dialing back their testing and...

• Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program

  by RevBigJohn March 30, 2023
  PennDOT offers free motorcycle training through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. Free courses for novice through seasoned riders are offered to Pennsylvania residents who have a motorcycle learner’s permit or motorcycle license. Four levels of courses are available – includin...

• Show Me a Road Show

  by RevBigJohn March 28, 2023
  Earlier this month the MRF’s “Road Show” made its way to the Show Me State. The Missouri Freedom of Road Riders (FORR) held their 2023 seminar in Jefferson City and the MRF was proud to participate. The seminar entitled “Rebel with a Cause”...

• Battle Lines Being Drawn

  by RevBigJohn March 20, 2023
  In August 2022 California Governor Gavin Newsom announced, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved, an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles be zero-emission by 2035. While the California directive doesn’t include motorcycles yet, motorcyclist advocates i...

• Ride in Peace Wayne

  by RevBigJohn March 18, 2023
  The Motorcycle Riders Foundation mourns the passing of motorcyclist rights activist Wayne Lettau.Wayne was heavily involved in the MRF’S federal legislative agenda, and his efforts with ABATE of South Dakota are legendary. His passion and skills delivered countles...

• Additional Clarity...

  by RevBigJohn March 17, 2023
  Editor’s Note: The MRF wishes to clarify the distinction between an automated driving system (ADS) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) refers to “self-driving” technologies that do not require a d...

• NHTSA Responds to Questions from Congress

  by RevBigJohn March 16, 2023
  Just before the end of 2022, Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan and 26 of his colleagues in Congress sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding recent crashes that involve motorcycles and cars believed to be in self-driving mode. The response from gove...

• HOLDING COMMON GROUND

  by RevBigJohn March 16, 2023
  Bikers inside the Beltway – with the encouragement and direction of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, since the first Bikers inside the Beltway in 2009, thousands of bikers have met with their elected representatives and educated them about issues of importan...

• Coalitions Rejuvenated

  by RevBigJohn March 10, 2023
  The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) 2023 legislative agenda includes a diverse set of issues that strike at the core of who we are as bikers. Historically, the MRF has fought many battles to defend individuals and the aftermarket motorcycle businesses’ rights ...

• MRF and the Road to Zero Coalition

  by RevBigJohn March 7, 2023
  The Road to Zero Coalition, managed by the National Safety Council, held their Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on February 28th. Their goal is to achieve zero deaths related to motor vehicle crashes.The Motorcycle Riders Foundation attended this activity to keep track of how motorcyclists may be ...
  comments

• Continuing to Bridge the Gap

  by RevBigJohn February 24, 2023
  Almost a decade ago, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) began outreach to motorcycle clubs to find common ground on key legislative items. An MRF board seat, titled Director of Sustaining Member Motorcycle Clubs, was created and that seat is held by Russell Radke. P...

• Pressure Mounts on Federal Government to Act on Self-Driving Ca

  by RevBigJohn February 20, 2023
  Late last week it was announced that Tesla will recall 362,000 vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta software. This comes after U.S. regulators said on Thursday the driver assistance system did not adequately adhere to traffic safety laws and could cause crashes. The reca...

• MRF Road Show Marches On

  by RevBigJohn February 15, 2023
  The leadership of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) continues our visits to annual state meetings with recent visits to Wisconsin and Ohio.MRF President Kirk “Hardtail” Willard and Wa...

• U.S. Capitol Is Open for Business

  by RevBigJohn February 10, 2023
  After nearly 3 years of limited access, the U.S. Capitol and its related office buildings are now fully open to the public. One of the first acts by Kevin McCarthy after his election to Speaker of the House was to reopen all office buildings under his control, the U.S...

• Nominees Wanted - Class of 2023 Motorcycle Riders Foundation Ha

  by RevBigJohn February 4, 2023
  The Motorcycle Riders Foundation Hall of Fame (MRFHOF) was introduced at the Meeting of the Minds in Denver, Colorado. This institution was created to recognize individuals that have worked through the MRF to positively impact motorcycling. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is proud to announce that ...

• MRF 2023 Road Show Continues...

  by RevBigJohn February 3, 2023
  On January 27th, MRF President Kirk "Hardtail" Willard, Executive Director Mark Buckner, and Assistant Executive Director Ryan Hubbard traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to join MRF Rep's Representative Andy Kelly and Past Treasurer Frank Carbone in representing...

• MRF Road Show 2023

  by RevBigJohn January 19, 2023
  The start of a new year means many state motorcyclist rights organizations are holding their annual meetings. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is always honored to be invited to attend and present at these events across the country. This weekend representatives fr...

• BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY FINDING COMMON GROUND

  by RevBigJohn January 6, 2023
  Bikers inside the Beltway – with the encouragement and direction of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, since the first Bikers inside the Beltway in 2009, thousands of bikers have met with their elected representatives and educated them about issues of importance to all street rid...

• 2022 Ends With Multiple D.C. Victories for Bikers

  by RevBigJohn December 30, 2022
  In case you missed it, the last two weeks of 2022 saw multiple victories for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and all motorcyclists in this country. With the clock ticking down before the 117th Congress adjourned, three major parts of the MRF legislative agenda were addressed by...

• NHTSA Put on Notice Regarding the Profiling of Motorcyclist

  by RevBigJohn December 23, 2022
  This week, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives agreed to a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package that funds the federal government through September 2023 and avoids a government shutdown. Attached to that 4,155-page bill is a request by Congress to learn more about the profiling of motorcy...

• House Passes Motorcyclist Profiling Resolution!

  by RevBigJohn December 23, 2022
  In one of the final actions before the 117th Congress dissolved the House of Representatives passed, H. Res 366, the motorcyclist profiling resolution. The resolution, which was first introduced in 2016, failed to receive a vote on the House floor until today. In the six years since ...

• Motorcycle Riders Foundation news

  by RevBigJohn December 16, 2022
  This week, thousands of American bikers contacted their elected officials to express concern about recent crashes involving motorcycles and cars believed to be in self-driving mode. Specifically, three crashes this summer, which occurred in California, Florida and Utah have been a major topi...

• You Have Until Thursday to Help Protect Bikers

  by RevBigJohn December 13, 2022
  The Co-Chairman of the House Motorcycle Caucus, Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, is sending a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding self-driving cars and motorcycles. Crashes involving self-driving cars and motorcycles have made news over the last few months a...