This afternoon, Jay Jackson, Motorcycle Riders Foundation Vice President and appointee to the U.S. Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC), was notified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that his appointment has been terminated. We are shocked and disappointed by this decision and are still gathering information. It appears the other appointees have received similar notifications.

The MAC was created by an act of Congress in November 2021. Yet despite a requirement in the law to establish the MAC within 90 days, it took until 2023 for the nomination process to begin. It wasn’t until the summer of 2024 that the members of the MAC were selected.

The inability of NHTSA to convene the 13-member board is a slap in the face to the nearly 10 million motorcyclists in this country. The mandate of the MAC was to advise the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration regarding transportation safety issues of concern to motorcyclists, including — motorcycle and motorcyclist safety, barrier and road design, construction and maintenance practices, as well as the architecture and implementation of intelligent transportation system technologies.

MRF President, Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, said of the decision, “This is a striking example of how the concerns of motorcyclists are ignored. If you aren’t upset, you aren’t paying attention.”

The MRF has already contacted members of Congress, including those on the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, to alert them of this unacceptable action by bureaucrats in D.C.  

This fight is just beginning. Be alert for upcoming messages from the MRF on how you can voice your displeasure with actions that threaten the safety of bikers.

CLICK HERE TO SEE NHTSA LETTER TO JAY JACKSON

A Florida jury’s decision this month to hold Tesla partially liable for a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system has sent shockwaves through the auto industry. It also has motorcyclists’ rights groups reminding people of our concerns.

A jury found that Tesla bore partial responsibility for a 2019 crash in Key Largo, FL, that claimed the life of a woman and seriously injured her boyfriend. The driver had engaged Tesla’s Autopilot system and trusted that the car would see what the driver could not. It didn’t. The vehicle plowed into a parked car at over 60 miles per hour.

“I trusted the technology too much,” the driver told the court. “I believed that if the car saw something in front of it, it would provide a warning and apply the brakes.”

A jury agreed that it wasn’t just the driver at fault but also the automaker, for not designing limits on how the technology could be used and failing to adequately educate their customers.

This is an example of the public’s flawed understanding of what self-driving systems can do. As motorcyclists, we understand how important it is to ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings.

However, it is unfortunate that marketing around these vehicles and their systems often promises ease, comfort, and advanced safety. The reality has shown repeatedly that those promises can quickly become deadly illusions.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) have long pressed for stronger oversight, increased transparency and public awareness of what this technology can do and more importantly, what it cannot do.

Motorcyclists must be included in the development and testing of automated systems; we are road users too. All too often, we are treated as an afterthought.

Now more than ever, it is time to support groups like the MRF and NCOM, who are on the front lines of this battle.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is seeking a temporary suspension of Tesla’s manufacturing and sales licenses, accusing the company of misleading consumers by marketing its driver-assist systems (“Autopilot” and “Full Self Driving”) as capable of full autonomy. In reality, they remain Level 2 systems, requiring constant human oversight. While the suspension would be temporary, it would be a strong signal to other manufacturers about the need to more adequately inform drivers about the capabilities of the vehicles they operate. 

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has consistently raised similar concerns to federal policymakers on the issue. During a meeting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year, MRF President Kirk “Hardtail” Willard cited several examples of marketing by Tesla and other manufacturers that create a false sense of security when operating these vehicles. For motorcyclists sharing the roads, this translated into serious dangers.

An example of this occurred last year when Washington State Patrol confirmed that a Tesla, which hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle, was operating in “full self-driving mode” at the time of the crash. The MRF will monitor the action out in California and continue to voice our concerns here in Washington, D.C. about the deployment and marketing of this technology.

The recently passed H.R. 1 legislation signed by the President includes a provision that will directly benefit those who purchase new motorcycles made or assembled in the United States. Interest paid on loans for qualifying new motorcycle purchases will now be tax-deductible.

Here are some important points to note. The deduction has a cap of $10,000 and the benefit phases out based on increasing income levels. The change creates an "above-the-line" deduction for vehicle loan interest, meaning it reduces your adjusted gross income before calculating your taxable income. The position of the deduction is important because it will be available to most taxpayers, even those who do not itemize deductions. The bill states that vehicles impacted must be “manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways" and are "a car, minivan, van, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, or motorcycle." This policy is temporary, with an expiration in 2028. If you are in the market for a new bike over the next three years, be sure to do some research to see if this new policy will benefit you.

There are diverse policy issues and priorities addressed in this bill. As the voice of the street rider in Washington, D.C., the Motorcycle Riders Foundation applauds the inclusion of this tax provision. Policies that foster the growth of motorcycling while supporting American manufacturing are something we can stand behind.

American Made/Assembled Motorcycles
Reporting 2025 Production

Full Production Motorcycles:
Buell Motorcycles
Harley Davidson Motorcycles
Indian Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles

Bespoke/Boutique/Limited Production Motorcycles:
ARCH Motorcycle
Boss Hoss Cycles
Cleveland CycleWerks
Combat Motors Motorcycles
Curtiss Motorcycles
Janus Motorcycles
Lightning Motorcycles

**Examples not intended as fully comprehensive list

Monday, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) sent letters to leaders in the U.S. Senate supporting motorcycle ownership provisions in the House passed H.R. 1, better known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The letters were sent to Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo of Idaho.

The provisions make interest on loans used to purchase American-made personal vehicles, including motorcycles, tax-deductible. There is concern that this provision may be changed in the Senate, applying the tax deduction only to automobiles. This change would not allow those purchasing new, American-made motorcycles that same benefit.

The MRF believes that by making the interest on loans for American-made motorcycles deductible, more money will be put back in the pockets of U.S. middle-class riders while further strengthening U.S. manufacturing, U.S. dealers and after-market repair and mechanic shops, ensuring a solid, safe, and strong motorcycle industry.

Expanding opportunities for Americans to purchase motorcycles is a good thing! The MRF is proud to support the efforts of companies like the Harley-Davidson Motor Company as they seek to grow the community of riders.

CLICK HERE TO READ THUNE LETTER

Thursday, President Trump signed three (3) pieces of legislation, H.J. Res 87, H.J. Res 88 and H.J. Res 89, which revoke waivers granted to the State of California, allowing it to set its own emissions standards. These resolutions were passed by the U.S. Congress in recent months and are a strong sign of the commitment by some in Washington D.C., to push back against the attack on the internal combustion engine.

Support for actions like this has been a key part of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s (MRF) legislative agenda. During the recent Bikers Inside the Beltway event, MRF members spent time advocating for the passage of these bills in the U.S. Senate, where they had temporarily stalled after being passed by the U.S. House earlier in the year. Additionally, the MRF wishes to thank the thousands of you who answered recent online Calls to Action on this topic. 

A process known as the Congressional Review Act was the mechanism by which these bills were passed. Because of the unique way they moved through Congress, opponents are already signaling their intent to file legal challenges. While this battle will now likely continue in the courts, it is nevertheless important to celebrate this victory for the survival of the internal combustion engine. The fight will go on… and the MRF will be here for that fight.

Monday, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) joined several other members of the Washington, D.C. motorcycling community to celebrate the annual “Ride to Work Day.”  To kick off the evening, members of Congress rode to the U.S. Capitol to cast votes on several pieces of legislation before joining a larger ride to Mt. Vernon, home of our first president, George Washington. 

2025 is the second year the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus has hosted the event, which is growing in popularity! This year, eight members of Congress attended the event, six of whom led the ride. We are most grateful to the United States Park Police, with a Motor Unit established in 1917, for escorting the ride. The MRF thanks Representatives Tim Walberg (MI), Don Bacon (NE), Troy Balderson (OH), Mike Bost (IL), Mike Collins (GA), Warren Davidson (OH), Claudia Tenney (NY) and Derrick Van Orden (WI) for joining the festivities.

The MRF joined with representatives from the American Motorcyclist Association, BMW, Buell Motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Indian Motorcycle for this fantastic event. Working with like-minded motorcycle organizations is important for achieving our legislative goals.

In the words of Congressional Motorcycle Caucus Chair Tim Walberg, “Today was a great day!” We at the MRF couldn’t agree more. Any day you can get on a motorcycle and ride with others who truly want to make things better for all riders is indeed a great day.

In May, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the Trump Administration’s executive order regarding efficiency and deregulation. Within the framework of the request, the MRF submitted comments on rules instituted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and fuel economy standards.

As you may remember, the attack on the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is occurring in three ways. First through emissions regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, second through the power of the California Air Resources Board and finally through increased fuel economy standards issued by NHSTA. Our comments in this submission related only to NHTSA’s new fuel standards as that is where the DOT’s jurisdiction exists.

We highlighted four concerns the MRF has with the new fuel economy standards which would threaten the Internal Combustion Engine, in an attempt to promote more electric vehicles.

• Reduced availability of affordable support technologies and fuels for motorcycle riders
• Distorted market dynamics and limited consumer choice
• Decreased relevance and impact of the aftermarket parts industry
• Rural motorcyclists will be disproportionately impacted due to insufficient infrastructure

We also offered three actions the DOT could take.

• Repeal or rollback of the 53.5 mpg target
• Consideration of non-EV pathways to efficiency that respect consumer diversity
• Protections for ICE technology development that support the motorcycling community

These comments are another example of how the MRF is fighting to protect your rights and freedoms in a variety of different ways. No matter where the fight is, the MRF will be there. Stay vigilant.

CLICK HERE TO READ MRF LETTER TO DOT

As part of the Bikers Inside the Beltway event, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) presents Legislative Champion awards during the visit to Capitol Hill. While we present the awards at Bikers Inside the Beltway in May, the award honors legislators for their work in previous years. This year, the MRF honored Senator Todd Young of Indiana and Representative Jay Obernolte of California.

Senator Young is a longtime friend of the bikers in Indiana and was the keynote speaker at the 2020 Meeting of the Minds in Indianapolis. He serves on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and played a key role in the appointment of MRF Vice President Jay Jackson as a member of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council.

Representative Obernolte is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee where he is a leading voice in defense of the internal combustion engine. Despite being a lawmaker from California, Rep. Obernolte is a vocal critic of the excessive power the California Air Resources Board (CARB) yields on emissions policy. He recently joined the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus and we are grateful for this demonstration of his ongoing support of motorcyclists nationwide.

These two lawmakers are now the 13th and 14th to be so honored. All MRF Legislative Champions are presented with a leather vest by MRF leadership and constituents during the annual May visit. Thank you to Senator Young and Congressman Obernolte for their continued support of biker rights and their friendship with so many in the motorcycling community!

Past Legislative Champions:

Senator Joni Ernst (IA)
Senator Ron Johnson (WI)
Senator Gary Peters (MI)
Senator John Thune (SD)
Representative Troy Balderson (OH)
Representative Mike Bost (IL)
Representative Mike Burgess (TX)
Representative Mike Gallagher (WI)
Representative Darin LaHood (IL)
Representative Susie Lee (NV)
Representative Collin Peterson (MN)
Representative Tim Walberg (MI)