The New Hampshire Motorcyclist Rights Organization (NHMRO) was founded in 1975 to fight the freedoms that were being systematically taken away. NHMRO was incorporated as a non-profit organization, under the laws of the state of New Hampshire, and the internal revenue tax codes. Our sole purpose is to protect the rights of ALL motorcyclists to choose how they ride and to maintain and preserve their freedoms as riders.
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Welcome to hopefully a good riding season! If we can all just do the rain god dance to have it not rain as much, that would be great.
We held our May is Motorcycle Awareness month Event on Friday May 2nd at the Governors Executive Council Chambers, due to the bad weather. A few of us rode from HK Powersports to the Capitol escorted by the State Police and yes, we did get soaked. The Governor was great and what she said about how important the motorcycling community is in our state was awesome.
I stress every year to all of you to be better, be a better rider, be a better person while on your bike and be better at what you do while on your bike. As you all know speed and impairment are the two biggest issues for us and account for half of the fatalities of our own doing. I truly hope that we get the numbers down and we do not continue to lose any more of our community. I was invited to speak to the Merrimack Valley Trail Riders up at Freedom Cycle on May 7th, thank you Shawn Jones for setting this up. Hopefully we will get them on board both with NHMRO and MRF. All motorcyclists regardless of what they ride or where they ride, should be part of both organizations.
We have a new sponsor, Manchester Harley Davidson, thanks to the efforts of our very own Santa, Nathan “Grizz” Kelley. He is out bearing the streets trying to get the dealerships involved. I truly want to thank him for offering to do this.
We may have a table at High Octane for bike week, if you see any of us please say hi. Thank you to the Mountain Men for giving us a spot at the Stateline Swap meet. We have many people and some clubs that have not renewed their membership. Please reach out to me if you don’t want to do it online.
My new role on the MRF Board is going well and I enjoy dealing with other leaders around the country. I also am the one coordinating the calls to action for the states in Policy Engage for the MRF. This has been interesting, and I have learned quite a bit about the other legislative issues that states are dealing with.
Our Toy Run is September 14th, starting at the DMV in Concord and ending at the Comcast Center on East Industrial Park DR Manchester. Please mark your calendars to be there! Hope to see ya’ll out and about this summer,
Live Free RideSMART,
Traci Beaurivage
President
Congressional Review Act
HJ Res 87 & HJ Res 88
The House of Representatives passed two bills crafted to overturn regulations approved by the Biden Administration, allowing California to mandate more electric trucks and cars be sold in the state. The bills, H.J. Res 87 and H.J. Res 88, will help to protect the internal combustion engine, a top legislative priority for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. They received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives.
Now that the House has started the ball rolling, it is time for the U.S. Senate to act. This process is called the Congressional Review Act, which only requires a simple majority to pass the bill. The usual 60-vote filibuster threshold does not apply to these bills in the Senate.
Contact your U.S. Senator, tell them to protect the internal combustion engine, you can do this by taking the call to action on the MRF Facebook site.
Leadership of the House Motorcycle Caucus introduced H. Res 367, expressing support for the designation of May 2025 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Rep. Tim Walberg (MI), the longtime chairman of the House Motorcycle Caucus was the lead sponsor for this bill.
Across the nation, cities and states are also introducing motorcycle awareness resolutions and decrees. H. Res 367 lists several reasons why May is important for motorcycling awareness. Perhaps the best section of the resolution is the line, “Motorcyclists have a right to the road and that all motorists should safely share the roadways.”
Those in the motorcyclists’ rights movement understand that the future of motorcycling is threatened. We thank the lawmakers who took the time to clearly point out that bikers have a right to use our nation's roadways!
In April, two (2) members of the U.S. Senate introduced a new Right-to-Repair bill. This bill is similar to the House version, H.R. 1566 and has the same name, the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act’’ or simply the ‘‘REPAIR Act.’’ The Senate version of the REPAIR Act, S. 1379, was introduced by Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.
Senate bill S. 1379 represents the first time a Right-to-Repair bill of this nature is being introduced in the U.S. Senate. Previous versions of the REPAIR Act have passed the House of Representatives, but this action in the Senate clearly demonstrates the growing interest in Right-to-Repair legislation.
All of these bills will help our community and save our lifestyle. Please help us anytime we put out call to action on the Facebook site. Your voice matters and the more we show them that we care, the more we can accomplish.
Traci Beaurivage
SSMRO Rep to the MRF Board
" Hello everyone. This is Grizz, aka Nathan Kelley. I would like to share with you a monthly bit of wisdom, what I refer to as "Grizzdom". Hope you all enjoy and may God bless!" Grizz
Motorcycle accidents are dangerous, scary, and confusing. However, every rider should know how to handle an accident's aftermath.
Knowing how to deal with insurance companies will help you protect your rights and financial security. It will also save you from additional stress in the process. Here are answers to common motorcycle insurance questions after an accident: I’ve been in a motorcycle accident. What should I know about insurance companies?
Be aware that insurance companies will likely try to offer you a settlement that is lower than you deserve. The Consumer Federation of America, a non-profit organization advocating for consumer rights, has found that insurance companies regularly use computer programs and shady tactics to produce “low-ball” payouts. Without the advice of a qualified injury attorney, you will have no way of evaluating whether the offer from the insurance company is fair or unreasonable. If you left out an important claim or didn’t know the full extent of your injuries, you won’t be able to recover for those items. It may be smart to get in touch with an attorney postmotorcycle accident.
Always be cautious of what you say and sign. Never give a recorded statement to another person’s insurance company or your own unless you’ve consulted with an attorney.
Who pays for my motorcycle repairs?
Insurance laws vary from state to state, so be sure to ask your insurance agent before you’re ever in an accident. Typically, you can fix your bike by going through your own insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance carrier.
Dealing with your own insurance company will likely be faster and easier if you’ve purchased coverage that enables you to do so. You should still be able to recover your deductible from the at-fault party later.
You may also be able to go through the other person’s insurance company, if they’re at fault for the accident. Be aware, though, that you may face delays. I am missing work because of my injuries. What should I do?
Refer to your motorcycle insurance policy to see if you have income loss coverage. Check if disability benefits are available at work. Your insurance policy may also have clauses that cover your car loan, mortgage, or other credit arrangements. It’s crucial that you know exactly what your insurance covers before you get into an accident.
How can I pay my medical bills? Again, refer to your insurance policy. Your state law may require medical benefits coverage to be available to you under your motorcycle insurance. If so, you can use that coverage up to the maximum amount you selected to pay your medical bills. Otherwise, you’ll have to use other health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. While the at-fault party may, in theory, be liable for your medical expenses, they rarely pay them unless you file a legal claim.
Rick Daynard ..Editor
April showers bring…more May showers!! May started out wet for a lot of us, and between ride cancellations, postponements, and dodging raindrops it didn’t look like we’d ever get a nice weekend in. Sure enough, it came just as I was leaving town for Myrtle Beach. Traci and a few brave riders got an escort up to the Capital to receive the “Governors Motorcycle Awareness” proclamation at the beginning of the month, those of us who had to work missed getting soaked on the ride. Look for the pics in this issue!
The usual “Bikers in the Beltway” write up will be in the July issue. With all Traci has going on, and our publisher going on a well deserved vacation, we won’t make the deadline for that piece.
I’m sure most of you saw that Traci lost her mother early in the month. Thank you all for keeping her and the family in your thoughts and prayers. Again, during the summer break we’ll still be meeting as a board, and will keep you all updated through the summer both here at the newsletter and social media. Make sure we have your correct email!!! Please take the 2025 Motorcycle Profiling Project Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MPP2025
New Hampshire is contributing to this survey much more this year than in the past. Let’s keep it going!!!No personal information is collected, and the survey answers are used to help protect bikers rights all over the country. It takes just 5 minutes of your time.
Remember to send any submissions you have to:
nhmrogranitestatement@gmail.com
NHMRO 2024 SPONSORS
Mazlow & McCullough Attorneys
CHOP SHOP Pub
High Octane Saloon
Lowell Street Automotive
The Hawk 104.9
NHHVAC Systems Inc.
Twisted Cycles
Ted Bantis Excavating
New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association
Lafayette Press
HK Powersports
R&R Cycles
Laconia Motorcycle Week Association
Stark Brewery
IHeart Media
DES-FAM Heating and Cooling
Heritage Riders
Auburn Pitts
Arties Electric
Motorcycles of Manchester
Superior Interiors
Joseph A. Ritzo Law
FINN’s Motorsports
Sponsor’s Offering MEMBER DISCOUNTS
(You must present your card to get the discount)
KT Cycles
The Bar Food and Spirits
Lowell Street Automotive
RJ’s/RPM Motorsports
Please support our sponsors!!!!
Where in the WORLD is the purple haired motorcycle lady??????
Our President doesn’t just preside over our meetings, she attends events and meetings all over our state and country representing NHMRO.
On May 2nd, Traci received from Governor Kelly Ayotte the “May is Motorcycle Awareness” Proclamation. With Traci is Speaker of the NH House Sherm Packard, along with members of New Hampshire Motorcyclists Rights Organization (NHMRO) and members of the NH Motorcycle Safety Task Force. And of course, Traci is also pictured with members of the NH State Police!!
Who Inspects Your Ride?
As winter ends in New Hampshire and thoughts turn to riding during mud season, motorcyclists statewide are faced with a laundry list of items in preparation for the riding season ahead.
Where to go, with whom, and for how long? Solo ride to a previously unexplored part of the state? Perhaps exploring online or at your favorite shop the possibility of a new ride? So many questions, so much potentially wasted time – just get out and ride!
But before putting that battery back into your motorcycle and heading out, stop and ponder a ‘new riding season’ question – is your bike safe to ride?
The “S” in S.M.A.R.T. stands for “Safely”, as in “Sober & Unimpaired; Check Your Tires, Brakes, and Lights.” So a second ‘new riding season’ question might be – who ensures your ride is safe to ride?
Unless you just took delivery of a brand-new motorcycle (and completely trust that the shop mechanic properly completed the pre-delivery preparation service), it’s a bad bet that your motorcycle (likely stored for several months in a garage, basement, or storage facility) is in “hit the starter button and ride away” condition.
Motorcycles registered in New Hampshire are required to display a current state inspection sticker in order to legally operate on our roadways. But the sticker itself doesn’t guarantee that your bike is in top working order; it only indicates that it passed your last inspection, as mandated by the state.
Those of you following HB-649-FN, An Act removing the requirement for physical inspections and on-board diagnostic tests for passenger vehicles and eliminating funding for the motor vehicle air pollution abatement fund, already know the pros and cons of the state-mandated inspection program for motorcycles. As of this writing, the bill passed a House vote by 212-143, and had two hearings (Apr. 1 & 8) in the Senate Commerce Committee. A number of actions (amend, table, etc.) can still take place on the bill this year. If passed by the Senate in its current form and signed by Governor Ayotte, state-mandated annual motorcycle inspections would become history. You can view the bill’s text, status, and vote history at https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx? id=205&inflect=2.
Your first option is to trust that an authorized motorcycle inspection station finds all issues with your motorcycle. Under current law, a motorcycle is required to be inspected annually by a stateregistered dealer. The inspection criteria for passage are detailed in Chapter Saf-C 3200 OFFICIAL MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS at https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/safc3200.html.
Finding all issues during an inspection that need to be addressed is the first step in a two-step process. The second step is to correct all deficiencies discovered, as your motorcycle will not receive a valid inspection sticker until all issues are corrected.
Your second option is to take your motorcycle to a trusted mechanic for a voluntary inspection, buying you time to address any issues prior to the state-mandated inspection. Is this redundant? Not really, because finding and correcting issues BEFORE your required state inspection can be done anytime your mechanic’s schedule permits. Also, if replacement parts are needed or your mechanic’s schedule is overbooked, you’ll still have time to make things right before your current sticker expires.
Another option is to ask a family member or friend with motorcycle maintenance experience to inspect your ride. Of course, you have to trust they know what they’re doing and not just out to take your bike (and you) for a ride.
Finally, there is the “do it yourself” option, but only if you’re reasonably certain you know what you’re looking for and confident you can implement needed repairs. Old time mechanics love to tell stories of riders bringing “basket cases” to their garage, because they thought they knew what they were doing when in reality they didn’t. Old motorcycle newsletters and online sources are filled with “parts” bikes, which at one time were “complete” bikes; many of them ran before the amateur mechanic (current owner) bought a loaded toolchest and thought they could fix their own two-wheeler.
Sadly, there is a “No Inspection” option that’s not really an option for anyone concerned about their own safety, that of their passengers, and others around them. Again sadly, there are many riders who subscribe to the “No Inspection” option. Ask a trusted motorcycle mechanic about their experiences with riders who practice the NINM (No Inspection, No Maintenance) method of motorcycle ownership. As with any complex mechanical device, routine maintenance can prevent more costly repairs in the future, and can save the rider (and passenger) from potentially dangerous failures of components (think tires and brakes) at the worst possible moments (like at speed).
So, in a nutshell, you have several inspection options – state-required annual inspection program; trusted motorcycle mechanic; qualified family member or friend; or yourself. No inspection isn’t an option, just an invitation to disaster. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the obvious – nothing fixes itself once broken.
Regardless of the outcome of HB-649-FN, a SMART motorcyclist knows their limits and the limits of their machine. If you aren’t a self-maintenance kind of owner, find a trusted source and follow their advice with regard to inspections and routine maintenance.
The best place for a bald tire is in a recycling bin, not on your motorcycle.
1)… To initiate , endorse and sponsor educational programs such as rider safety, public awareness, legislative and affirmative action and, individual freedoms and rights.
2)… To create and promote a positive public image of motorcyclists and motorcycle groups and to dispel and disprove media hype and unfounded propaganda
3)… To encourage goodwill and mutual understanding among motorcyclists, law enforcement personnel and the general public.
4)… To serve as an information source on matters pertaining to current laws, pending legislation, personal rights, political inclinations of elected officials and their constituents, and voter awareness.
5)… To act as a central responsive agency to devise and coordinate recreational, legislative, educational, and charitable activities.
