American Motorcyclist Association announces free AMA Roadside Assistance

Feb. 13, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete terHorst
Phone: (877) 877-8969
E-mail: peter.terhorst@sympoint.com

American Motorcyclist Association announces free AMA Roadside Assistance

Groundbreaking benefit is free to members who renew their memberships automatically
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The AMA rocked the motorcycling community Friday, Feb. 13, with the announcement of a remarkable new membership benefit: free AMA Roadside Assistance for the same $39 annual cost that AMA members currently pay to belong to the world's largest member-based motorcyclists' rights organization.

Every member who enrolls in the AMA's new auto-renewal program is rewarded with free AMA Roadside Assistance. It's an incredible value that covers all of a member's motorcycles, plus all of his or her other vehicles, including motorhomes and trailers. And it's available for every kind of rider: cruiser, tourer, sportbike, commuter, dual-sport, off-road and racer.

"AMA members have long supported our efforts to protect and promote motorcycling," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman at a press conference preceding the opening of the annual Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis. "With our new auto-renewal program and free AMA Roadside Assistance, we are finally able to provide a much sought-after benefit that every member needs, every time they ride. And it's completely free."

Dingman added that the first 25,000 members who enroll in the new AMA autorenewal program will receive a $10 shopping coupon from AMA partner BikeBandit.com. BikeBandit.com is just one of more than two dozen AMA partners who provide members with useful and valuable discounts on products and services.

The AMA has been on a roll since last fall, adding at l east nine new member benefit partners. They include: Garmin, RoadLok, SPOT, LifeLock, MAD Maps, EZY-Lift, XENA Locks and more.

When asked how the AMA could afford to provide AMA Roadside Assistance for free, Dingman said, "It's simple really. In the past, we've sent out more than 1 million pieces of renewal mail a year. With auto-renewal, we save a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on paper, postage and staff time. Savings from this 'green' initiative will allow the Association to dedicate more resources to member benefits."

AMA membership: A Revolution

At the press conference, Dingman revealed the new AMA membership structure.

• AMA Champion ($39) is the new, best-value membership. It costs the same as the previous "Full" membership and includes all existing member benefits. AMA Champions also receive free AMA Roadside Assistance on all of their vehicles when they opt-in for auto-renewal of their memberships.
• AMA Competition Plus ($39) is the new best-value membership for those who enjoy racing with the AMA. It costs the same as the previous "Competition" membership and includes all existing member benefits. Like AMA Champions, AMA Competition Plus members get free AMA Roadside Assistance on all of their vehicles when they opt-in for auto-renewal of their memberships.
• AMA Standard ($39) is the same as the previous "Full" membership. It does not require auto-renew and does not20include free AMA Roadside Assistance. Dingman also unveiled two enhanced AMA membership levels.
• AMA Defender ($49) includes all of the benefits of an AMA Champion membership, plus it designates a $10 annual contribution to the advocacy efforts of the AMA Government Relations Department. AMA Defenders receive free AMA Roadside Assistance on all of their vehicles when they opt-in for autorenewal of their memberships.
• AMA Hall of Fame ($49) includes all of the benefits of an AMA Champion membership, plus it designates a $10 annual contribution to the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. AMA Hall of Fame members receive free AMA Roadside Assistance on all of their vehicles when they opt-in for autorenewal of their memberships.
Details of the AMA's auto-renewal program and free AMA Roadside Assistance are available in a comprehensive four-page spread highlighting all of the AMA member benefits in the March issue of American Motorcyclist, and on the AMA website at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Non-AMA members can easily join and redeem this tremendous offer, as well as take advantage of numerous other savings, by simply selecting Join/Renew in the Membership menu of the AMA website.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate many different roads on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycle organization with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.