AMA doesn’t cover towing if you lowside?

[NCGiant]

Yeah. I get that.

Your paying AAA to oppose lane splitting.

Nice

Don’t get me wrong. I have AAA.

So, you're cancelling your AMA monetary contributions out?

Now back on the actual topic of this whole thread, they specifically give ambiguous benefit coverage details because they know that they would't get half as much money if they were up front about the towing coverage limitations. That facet of the service has absolutely nothing to do with them being an advocacy group and their advocacy efforts have absolutely nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

 

[Surj]

Man, you really don't get it.

But by all means, go ahead and lecture Budman, because keeping "your" thread what you believe is "on topic" is the most critical thing ever.

 

[NCGiant]

Man, you really don't get it.

But by all means, go ahead and lecture Budman, because keeping "your" thread what you believe is "on topic" is the most critical thing ever.

Well if I wanted to read constant condescension in the form of not so late breaking reviews and old time thinking I'd find a copy of your publication, Sport.

 

[Surj]

Well if I wanted to read constant condescension in the form of not so late breaking reviews and old time thinking I'd find a copy of your publication, Sport.

Ooh, sick burn, bro.

 

[gixxerjeff]

C'mon man...no, it's about really getting something for your money/membership, rather than the illusion of getting something for your money.

This is precisely why this thread is getting derailed.
Anyone signing up for AMA purely for the tow benefits misinterprets their mission. It's bigger picture stuff.
Besides, it's not like we're talking about a shit ton of money to annually renew. The way I see it, they're (AMA) are fighting some fights on my behalf I may not even know about. If throwing them a few bucks once a year advances any cause that's close to me I don't care what they call it or do with it.
Like I said...bigger picture stuff.

 

[budman]

This is precisely why this thread is getting derailed.
Anyone signing up for AMA purely for the tow benefits misinterprets their mission. It's bigger picture stuff.
Besides, it's not like we're talking about a shit ton of money to annually renew. The way I see it, they're (AMA) are fighting some fights on my behalf I may not even know about. If throwing them a few bucks once a year advances any cause that's close to me I don't care what they call it or do with it.
Like I said...bigger picture stuff.

I think the OP asked for it himself actually with the statement at the end of his first post "How do you justify membership when you get different service depending on who you talk to?"

I justified it by the things they do that affect me and tens of thousands of other motorcyclists. Yes bigger picture stuff.

I am still frustrated that you (NCGiant) got stiffed in what appears to be a legit tow, although in their service statement they don't specifically include crashes.

 

[T100]

This is precisely why this thread is getting derailed.
Anyone signing up for AMA purely for the tow benefits misinterprets their mission. It's bigger picture stuff.
Besides, it's not like we're talking about a shit ton of money to annually renew. The way I see it, they're (AMA) are fighting some fights on my behalf I may not even know about. If throwing them a few bucks once a year advances any cause that's close to me I don't care what they call it or do with it.
Like I said...bigger picture stuff.

Getting derailed by whom? Certainly not by me. The OP is a complaint about expecting service that is supposedly covered, and he pays for, and getting none.

Up to now, all of my comments have been directly related to that.

Here's derailed; do you really think that you would have been granted lane sharing as a law by the powers that be, if the state law enforcers lobbied against it?

So you guys keep on giving your money to organizations like the AMA and the NRA to represent you, if you think that they have any real influence when push comes to shove, and political deals are made.

 

[budman]

Getting derailed by whom? Certainly not by me. The OP is a complaint about expecting service that is supposedly covered, and he pays for, and getting none.

Up to now, all of my comments have been directly related to that.

Here's derailed; do you really think that you would have been granted lane sharing as a law by the powers that be, if the state law enforcers lobbied against it?

So you guys keep on giving your money to organizations like the AMA and the NRA to represent you, if you think that they have any real influence when push comes to shove, and political deals are made.

According the the news I found "Pew’s estimate that the NRA has 14 million members" The AMA has over 200,000 according to the Wiki page Not exactly the numbers that would make the AMA a lobbying machine. I don't find anything that makes the two organizations similar except they AMA (2) and NRA has who knows? NRA spends millions on their lobbying and dole money out to politicians. The AMA does not. I think the comparison is weak at best... and yes they will still get my money.

We will see on the LEO's ability to block lane splitting. Oregon HWY Patrol is opposed to the new bill as of now. If it passes or fails we will have an answer to that hypothetical to some degree. BTW... the Bill was supported by the CHP in ways, but the original Bill had things in it that I feel were not good and the AMA, BARF, Lanesplittingislegal, and ABATE led the way in curtailing those pieces. The CHP did nothing in that regard nor would I expect them too.

 

[T100]

My analogy of the AMA and the NRA is specific only in that IMO, they are two organizations who give the illusion to people of really making a difference, when again, IMO, they really do not, because IMO, they are so easily rendered impotent by the real power.

Other than that, there is no similarity.

 

[budman]

Gotcha... I will start a different thread to show their impact on things that I believe are making a difference.

 

[redtail]

Gotcha... I will start a different thread to show their impact on things that I believe are making a difference.

Please do. I, for one, could have my my mind changed since my impressions of AMA are years old at this point and perhaps should be revisited.

I was an AMA member for many years, since I was 15 1/2 and got my racing license. After I stopped racing I kept my membership for the same reasons you describe but became disillusioned by what I considered at the time, misplaced priorities.

Please, change my mind and I would happily resign.

 

[berth]

I'm an AMA life member, I earned it the hard way -- they make you one automatically after 25 years.

Whenever I signed up, I always got the packet full of stickers and coupons and what not, but I've never used them. Never looked in to their road side package.

AMA peaked around 300,000 in the 90's.

I've been to the museum, indirectly donated to it by buying DoD swag.

It's always been a legislative organization for me.

I don't know if they're listened to or not in the High Halls of government. But I do know that there aren't many other folks speaking at those levels either, not in any organized manner.

So, if nothing else, at least they're out there talking.

There aren't a lot of crushing issues afflicting motorcyclists (especially street riders) today. Land use is a big one for off road folks. But there's always pressure about traffic planning, road use, road design, insurance coverage, employee/employer relations, etc.

It's honestly non-stop, but no single one is a Big Ticket item per se. Especially on the national scene. We seem to be have managed to not get "super bikes(tm)" banned.

Of course, now with the potential of autonomous vehicles, traffic control, toll roads, HOV lane access, etc. etc. there's always plenty for a lobby organization to do. And the AMA is the largest one we have.

So, even though I technically don't have to being "life member", they get my $30 or $40 a year for my crummy magazine with more stories about kids and moms riding around, while they use their hidden puppet strings on the legislatures around the country.

 

[budman]

Please do. I, for one, could have my my mind changed since my impressions of AMA are years old at this point and perhaps should be revisited.

I was an AMA member for many years, since I was 15 1/2 and got my racing license. After I stopped racing I kept my membership for the same reasons you describe but became disillusioned by what I considered at the time, misplaced priorities.

Please, change my mind and I would happily resign.

Here you go!!! http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529533