United States Motorcycle Association

United States Motorcycle Association
Name	United States Motorcycle Association
Abbreviation	USMA
Formation	1924
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Region served	United States
Membership	Motorcyclists, clubs, dealers
Leader title	President
Leader name	John Doe

United States Motorcycle Association The United States Motorcycle Association traces roots to early 20th-century motorcycling clubs and national organizations such as the American Motorcyclist Association, Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, and Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, shaping a federation that advocates for riders, organizes competitions, and publishes periodicals across the United States and territories.

History

Founded amid post-World War I motorcycling growth, the association evolved alongside entities like the Good Roads Movement, the Lincoln Highway Association, the American Automobile Association, the National Motorcycle Museum, and manufacturers such as Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Company and Indian rivals. Early leadership included figures associated with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Daytona 200, and organizers from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, linking the association to events triggered by veteran riders from the American Legion, veterans of World War I, and promoters of the National Road preservation. Mid-century interactions with the Federal Highway Administration, labor groups like the United Auto Workers, and media outlets including Cycle World shaped advocacy tactics. In the late 20th century, the association intersected with legal disputes similar to those involving Harley Owners Group, consumer campaigns led by Ralph Nader, and safety initiatives reflecting research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Organization and Membership

The association's governance mirrors structures found in organizations such as the American Motorcyclist Association, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the National Sheriffs' Association, and motorcycle clubs like Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club and Patriots Motorcycle Club, with a board drawn from club delegates, manufacturer representatives from Yamaha Motor Company, Honda Motor Company, and dealer groups akin to the Motorcycle Dealers Association of America. Membership categories parallel those of the Harley Owners Group, including individual riders, family memberships, club charters, corporate partners such as Progressive Corporation and GEICO, and affiliated chapters in states including California, Florida, Texas, New York, and territories like Puerto Rico. Committees reflect models used by the National Rifle Association and the American Red Cross for events, safety, lobbying, and heritage preservation.

Events and Competitions

The association sanctions competitions similar to the Daytona 200, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, the AMA Supercross Championship, and vintage meets modeled on gatherings at the Barber Vintage Festival and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It organizes road races, trials, flat track events inspired by the Dirt Track Championships, enduro competitions like the International Six Days Enduro, and charity rides reminiscent of campaigns by Operation Ride Home and Rolling Thunder (aviation demonstration) affiliates. Partnership events have included collaborations with venues such as Laguna Seca Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, and institutions like the Smithsonian Institution for motorcycle history exhibits, and coordination with law enforcement agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for traffic management.

Safety and Training Programs

Safety programs draw upon curricula and research from institutions like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and rider-education frameworks used by the British Motorcyclists Federation and the California Highway Patrol's training units. The association offers basic rider courses, advanced maneuvering clinics, and vintage-vehicle handling seminars, often partnering with universities such as University of Michigan for biomechanics studies, technical standards organizations like SAE International, and certification bodies resembling the National Safety Council. Initiatives address helmet standards informed by the National Transportation Safety Board recommendations and coordinate with campaigns from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on impaired riding and workplace standards for courier riders.

Advocacy and Policy Positions

Advocacy efforts align with lobbying patterns of organizations like the American Motorcyclist Association, the National Motorists Association, and trade groups such as the Motorcycle Industry Council, focusing on legislation at state capitols including Sacramento, California, Austin, Texas, and Albany, New York, as well as engagement with federal entities such as the United States Congress, the Department of Transportation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Policy positions emphasize rider rights, lane-splitting debates as seen in California Assembly discussions, helmet law variations akin to statutes in Florida and Texas, emissions standards interacting with Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking, and trade policy issues relevant to United States International Trade Commission actions affecting imports from manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha.

Publications and Communications

The association publishes magazines, newsletters, and digital content comparable to Cycle World, Motorcyclist, and the AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST magazine, maintains archives paralleling collections at the National Motorcycle Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, and operates a communications arm that issues press releases to outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and specialty media including Motorcycle News and Racer Magazine. It also produces technical bulletins referencing standards from SAE International, safety advisories echoing guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and social media engagement modeled on practices used by the Harley-Davidson Owners Group and advocacy campaigns coordinated with the American Civil Liberties Union on roadway access issues.

Category:Motorcycle organizations Category:Organizations established in 1924