Before you fill out any forms for membership to a motorcycle club (MC), try to learn as much about the club as you can before you sign your name on the dotted line. You want to be 100% committed to the MC you join and trying to find the club that suits you just right may take some time.

The size of MCs can range from a few friends to thousands of riders on an international level. Joining a club can be a truly rewarding part of your life if you can locate a club that reflects your interests and perspective. Some MCs may have strict rules and regulations that determine if you are eligible to join, such as what type of bike you ride, the level of your riding, or even details about your background.

Do your best to speak with as many fellow riders as possible. Find out if they’re involved in clubs or if they can suggest some MCs to you to look into. The more information that you can get about clubs that you’re interested in, the more informed you’ll be to choose the club that’s right for you.

Here are a few clubs in the area that may help you in the search for an MC of your own:

The motto on the website for B.A.B.E.S. AKA Boston Area Bike Enthusiast Sisters is “Ride Safe, Ride Free,” which pretty much summarizes the thrill of motorcycling. This club organizes charity rides and sponsors donation drives for a wide variety of causes.

Another MC to check out is the Chrome Sisters, who welcome new members (and all brands of motorcycles) by having monthly meetings. The club emphasizes diversity among its members and sharing a love for the open road.

The KARMA Women Riders also welcome new members into their club and invite potential riders to events and rides before applying for a membership. The club hits the road around New England as well as organizes local trips during the riding season. KARMA welcomes all makes and models of motorcycles or sports bikes.

Leather and Steel Sisters live by the motto “By women and for women.” The club plans rides in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine for members who love the freedom of the road. If riding safe, having fun, and meeting new people are interests of yours, maybe this is the MC for you.

The Moving Violations Motorcycle Club welcomes new members and invites those who are interested to come to their meetings to get a feel for their club. They organize day trips and charity drives for causes that members advocate for.

When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, call the Boston motorcycle lawyer Thomas M. Kiley for a free case evaluation at 1-800-410-2769. Also, order your free copy of Thomas M. Kiley’s Massachusetts motorcycle book today!

Some clubs only have a few close friends as members, while others have thousands of members in the U.S. and around the world. Being in a club can be a rewarding experience if the club shares your interests and goals. There may be rules about joining that specify what type of motorcycle you ride, your riding techniques, and details about you and your background in general.

Try to talk to as many people as you can who are involved in clubs or with your fellow bikers who may already be in clubs themselves. The more information you gather, either by online research or word-of-mouth, means that you’ll be able to make a better decision to join a club.

MCs typically have a set of goals and agreements between the members and the club. Riding clubs, on the other hand, are usually more informal and more appealing to bikers who have a casual approach to riding. Rules vary from MC to MC and can mean the difference between getting accepted into the club or not based on what color or type your bike is, how many miles you are required to log if you join, and related fees.

Here are several Massachusetts motorcycle clubs that may appeal to you.

The Iron Trinity Motorcycle Club started as a bunch of friends who would get together to ride and now that they are an established club, they work to encourage motorcycling and safety in the sport as well. They are non-territorial and are not associated with other motorcycle organizations besides the causes their members are involved in.

For a more exclusive club, The North Shore Riders offer potential members a fun-loving, close group of riders who ride for the pure love of motorcycling. They carefully choose new riders into their fold, so good luck!

If you’re looking for a more fraternal club, check out The Defiant Crew MC, which is described as a non-territorial MC with members from all types of backgrounds who live the biker life.

A relatively new MC started up in 2009 as The Northeast Motorcycle Association and members in this club strive for a welcoming, enjoyable and secure experience while on their bikes.

The welcoming New England Sportbike club may be the MC for you. They accept riders from every level of experience with the focus of going on fun rides and safety while on the road. They cover all of New England, in addition to visiting New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, call the Boston motorcycle lawyer Thomas M. Kiley for a free case evaluation at 1-800-410-2769. Also, order your free copy of Thomas M. Kiley’s Massachusetts motorcycle book today!

GNR will close the Sturgis motorcycle week’s final night, Friday, August 13 at the newly constructed Rock N’ Rev Amphitheater at Monkey Rock USA.

The fest will also include Daughtry, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Godsmack, Creed, 3 Doors Down, Hinder and Hellyeah.

Thousands of bikers have already arrived at the Boone County Fairgrounds, where the event will be held.

 About 50,000 motorcycle lovers are expected to attend this year’s round up despite the heat wave. The motorcycle event will last till August 8, 2010 (Sunday).

Get this promo PDF flyer here.

Massachusetts bikers know that the MMA has been fighting noise ordinances in Massachusetts cities and towns for years. However, the noise issue has escalated with the increase in the number of motorcycles on the road every year, so it is no wonder legal efforts have been made to deal with it.  

However, MMA’s take on this issue is “Education, not Legislation.” 

The goal of MMA’s new campaign is to share knowledge on why people are complaining about motorcycle noise, and what the actual Massachusetts Law which went into effect on July 12 is. Another goal of the campaign is to raise awareness among riders to respect residential areas by keeping their throttles down.   

Remember, “”When in Town, Throttle Down.”

Find the MMA pamphlet and the information listed under ““What’s all the Noise about Noise?” here. Also, to read more about Massachusetts Motorcycle Laws, please click here.

Sources: SeaCoastOnline, Boston Biker.

Valerie Beaton was riding her 2008 Harley Davidson as part of a motorcycle group when the accident occurred. She died almost immediately after the crash, and was pronounced dead at the Milford Medical Center.

Police said that speed and alcohol are not considered as potential factors for the accident. The road can also be ruled out as a possible factor, since it’s relatively straight where the accident occurred. Also, the police could not find any apparent mechanical problems with her motorcycle.

While police are still investigating the reasons behind the accident, we can take a moment and consider the dangers of group riding and the safety tips that can help motorcyclists have a safe and enjoyable group ride.

Check out these safety tips by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

Group rides can provide hours of enjoyment to bikers, and since SAFETY COMES FIRST, we should keep these tips in mind before we go out on a ride.

Social networks have also been great for bikers. Never has it been easier for bikers to find other riders, biker clubs, events, motorcycles for sale, special events, pictures, and even biker romance. It’s hard to imagine the motorcycle world without them.

Facebook has been the most robust of the social networks for both individuals and companies. Although each Facebook page looks essentially the same, the difference is in the friends or fans. Harley Davidson has over 600,000 fans. This represents massive communication and connection between current Harley owners, potential future buyers, lovers of the Harley brand, and contacts within the Motor Company.

Small organizations are able to leverage the power of social networks to gain a level of fame. One group in South Florida promotes local bike nights in the tri-county area. This makes it easy for bikers to find things to do at one easy to find source. When you become a fan of this site, updates about new biker events will be emailed to you.

Even individuals are able to use Facebook to launch, maintain, or even grow their fan base. Paul Teutel Jr. from Orange County Choppers and American Chopper fame uses this social network to promote his newest project; Paul Jr. Designs.

The best thing about social networks for bikers is the connection between people. Bikers can share with up to 5000 Facebook friends pictures from their latest motorcycle upgrades, comments about their friends’ motorcycle adventures, or have a conversation on how to repair a leaky oil cooler on a Harley Fat Boy.

If you are not using Facebook to connect with other bikers, you are really missing out on a great source of camaraderie and fun. Give it a try. It’s free, easy, and you have nothing to lose.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

Bikers are a diverse breed and come from every walk of life. Motorcycling is one of those rare lifestyles that appeals to a very wide audience. This is one of the main reasons why bikers get along regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what they ride.

Motorcycle magazines tend to reflect the homogeneous nature of bikers and most magazines focus mainly on motorcycles. Magazines like Hot Bike, American Iron, the Motorcyclist, and Cycle World focus their content on motorcycles and motorcycle related topics. By focusing on bikes, their circulation appeals to the widest group of bikers possible.

Over the years however, there has been a need for more niche-oriented content.

With the recent growth of women in the motorcycle world, there has been a boom in web based content for female bikers. Many of these websites not only feature motorcycle-related content but also focus on the stories of the women who ride.

African Americans bikers have been a large part of the American motorcycling community but there has been a surprising lack of content dedicated to the stories of Black bikers.

Until now.

The Black Biker Magazine is the brainchild of Los Angeles based creative talent, Constant Walker. Walker, an avid biker and music and TV industry insider, decided to mobilize his talent and contacts to create a comprehensive magazine website. The magazine will provide African American bikers with a valuable source of information.

Due to economic considerations, the launch of The Black Biker Magazine has been postponed but will launch on April 2010.  Pre-launch information about the magazine can be found on both Twitter and Facebook.

Luckily, women have not been intimidated or overwhelmed. They have been flocking to motorcycles in record numbers. Without the large influx of women bikers, the motorcycle industry would be in serious trouble.

Harley Davidson has been making it easier for women to get into the world of motorcycles.

Selected Harley Davidson dealerships are sponsoring women only Garage Party events. These after hour events are filled with tips and seminars to help women riders learn key aspects of motorcycling and meet other experience and rookie bikers. These events make it very easy for new riders to build the knowledge and confidence required to handle the open road with riders of all types.

Along with learning about key elements of motorcycling, these events are also geared to introduce women to new and used Harley Davidson motorcycles. Never has Harley offered a larger range of motorcycles that fit a wider array of riders. Bikes like the Fat Boy Lo, the Sportster line, and some Softail models make excellent first bike choices for bikers looking for low seat high and lighter weight.

March 2010 will be Harley’s Garage Party month and they have stepped up the events to the next level. Attendees of Garage Party events can register to win a weekend getaway with fitness guru and Harley Davidson enthusiast, Jillian Michaels, from TV’s The Biggest Loser.

This weekend getaway will feature participating in Harley’s Edge Rider Program, motivation presentations, and a spa day for the winner and several friends.

There’s nothing to lose in attending one of these events. Why not check it out with some friends and find out if motorcycling is the life for you.

Women are flocking to motorcycles in record numbers and other motorcyclists are just going to have to get used to it. If women were not embracing motorcycling as a lifestyle and hobby, the industry as a whole would have a hard time surviving.

Essentially, women are saving the motorcycle industry.

Women make up somewhere between 15-18% of motorcycle buyers according to Genevieve Schmitt, founder of WomenRidersNow.com, in her column in American Iron Magazine’s March 2010 edition. Not only does she contribute to American Iron Magazine as their Woman’s Point of View (POV) Writer, she manages one of the most robust woman’s motorcycling websites on the Internet.

American Iron Magazine is not the only organization that understands the importance of a woman’s point of view in the motorcycle community. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has been conducting their International Women & Motorcycling Conference since 1999. In 2009, the event spanned 4 days in Keystone, CO and featured vendors, banquets, keynote speakers, seminars, scenic rides, demo rides, and educational workshops.

Nearly 1000 people showed up for the 2009 event including about 100 men coming to show support to their spouses, friends, and significant others.

Men weren’t the only ones showing up for this event. Harley Davidson and Buell stepped up to be presenting sponsors for this event for the second year. Yamaha, BMW, KYMCO, and Ducati came out with demo fleets for patrons of the event so they can try out their latest machines.

With major events like Daytona Bike Week on the horizon, it’s fair to say that women will be making their presence felt in increasing numbers at these and other major motorcycle events.