For several years, the AMCA has seemingly allowed riders of a certain age to ride ANY bike they like on a national road run. I noticed this creep in starting with the 2020 Badger run. It was about 5% of the riders, then.
Over the years, it has creeped up with about 10% of riders on national meets I have attended being on new bikes. And I mean new bikes, often less than 10 years old.
The Black Hills Run hit a new high. At lunch on the second day, one in five bikes in the parking lot that I counted were built in the last ten years. One was a 1997, but that was the “old” new bike. Many new bikes were painted to look older, but were not amca eligible.
There was a waiting list for the black hills run. This means folks on modern bikes took spots from those who may have run actual amca eligible bikes. We keep selling out national runs very fast, showing there is more demand than spots.
I STRONGLY disagree with modern bikes being on our AMCA National Runs. I believe we must enforce the 35 year rule and that a rider’s age doesn’t have a thing to do with the organizing principle of using 35 years or older bikes as intended by their makers.
As the avg age of club members goes up, there is an actual risk of our national runs being dominated by new bikes.
I just don’t see why someone riding a 900 pound modern Harley Big Twin can’t ride a 1980s model. Electric start, dead reliable, and disc brakes, whether 1985 or 2015 models. I can’t really see the reason for allowing modern bikes.
So, am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that folks are allowed to ride modern bikes on an antique club run?
While it’s true you don’t have to own or ride an antique bike to be in the AMCA, we don’t allow older folks to enter a 2015 bike in judging just because they are older, so why do we allow a 2015 bike on a road run based on the rider’s age? Either you have a bike that qualifies for the activity offered by AMCA, or you don’t.
btw, I support CHAPTERS setting whatever rules they like. I’m only talking about National Road Runs.
And, does anyone know what the actual rule is about modern bikes and whether the national board ever voted on it?
Over the years, it has creeped up with about 10% of riders on national meets I have attended being on new bikes. And I mean new bikes, often less than 10 years old.
The Black Hills Run hit a new high. At lunch on the second day, one in five bikes in the parking lot that I counted were built in the last ten years. One was a 1997, but that was the “old” new bike. Many new bikes were painted to look older, but were not amca eligible.
There was a waiting list for the black hills run. This means folks on modern bikes took spots from those who may have run actual amca eligible bikes. We keep selling out national runs very fast, showing there is more demand than spots.
I STRONGLY disagree with modern bikes being on our AMCA National Runs. I believe we must enforce the 35 year rule and that a rider’s age doesn’t have a thing to do with the organizing principle of using 35 years or older bikes as intended by their makers.
As the avg age of club members goes up, there is an actual risk of our national runs being dominated by new bikes.
I just don’t see why someone riding a 900 pound modern Harley Big Twin can’t ride a 1980s model. Electric start, dead reliable, and disc brakes, whether 1985 or 2015 models. I can’t really see the reason for allowing modern bikes.
So, am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that folks are allowed to ride modern bikes on an antique club run?
While it’s true you don’t have to own or ride an antique bike to be in the AMCA, we don’t allow older folks to enter a 2015 bike in judging just because they are older, so why do we allow a 2015 bike on a road run based on the rider’s age? Either you have a bike that qualifies for the activity offered by AMCA, or you don’t.
btw, I support CHAPTERS setting whatever rules they like. I’m only talking about National Road Runs.
And, does anyone know what the actual rule is about modern bikes and whether the national board ever voted on it?