Motorcycle Industry News Roundup: Summer 2024 Edition
To keep our readers up to date on what’s happening in the cycling world, we took a look at some of the latest trends, topics, and headlines in the industry. Here is Cycle Trader’s news roundup– summer 2024 edition.
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Land Management Blueprint
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management is conducting a series of “summits” as part of their national strategy to develop a “Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation.” This blueprint is intended to guide investments, partnerships, outreach, and program development to “respond to current demand and chart a course to meet future needs.” The blueprints vision will include four strategic pillars, including:
- Grow and Diversify Resources for Bureau of Land Management Recreation
- Prioritize and Embrace Partnerships
- Expand Outreach and Establish a Culture of Inclusion
- Meet the Demand, Protect Resources, and Improve Access.
The first meeting was held in Nevada (Reno/Sparks) on July 11. Other upcoming meetings include Utah (Bryce Canyon) on August 29; New Mexico/Texas (Albuquerque) on September 5; Alaska (Fairbanks) on October 9; and Colorado (Denver/Lakewood) sometime in late October (date to be determined). Input from these meetings will go into determining, in part, off-road vehicle trail management and the development of new riding areas.
A Century Of Advocacy
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) was recently honored by the United States Congress at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. for reaching their 100-year milestone of protecting the rights of motorcyclists and promoting the motorcycle lifestyle. Over their 100-year history, the AMA has worked closely with members of Congress to identify and resolve various issues specifically relating to motorcycle enthusiasts.
Industry Leadership Changes
Jim Dowell, who has been the manager of channel sales for Bridgestone Motorcycle Products for the past six years, has been promoted to a newly created position. As the national sales and racing program manager in the U.S. and Canada, Dowell will develop and execute strategic sales plans, grow market share, and optimize profits.
After 27 years at Polaris, Steve Manneto, president of Polaris’s Off-Road division, has left the company for a new opportunity with Malibu Boats where he will act as chief executive officer. In Manneto’s absence, Polaris CEO Mike Speetzen said that he will be taking on more direct management of the Off-Road division, to work more closely with leaders and employees of the division, as well as with their dealer network.
Safety First
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), the internationally recognized nonprofit organization that developed the comprehensive, research-based rider education and training system (RETS), recently held a special election to appoint a new vice chair and secretary/treasurer. The board of trustees unanimously appointed Chase Rastegar of Suzuki Motor USA to serve as vice chair and Ken Durr of KTM North America to serve as secretary/treasurer. The board also welcomed trustee Guido Zucconi of Harley-Davidson, replacing outgoing vice chair Jason Tolleson of Harley-Davidson.
RIP Ed Lojak
AMA Hall of Famer Ed Lojack passed away at his home in Pennsylvania on July 8 after a short illness. He was 63. Lojak is best known for winning the Grand National Cross Country Racing Series nine times between 1980 and 1989, in addition to winning three AMA Hare Scramble Championships. Lojak represented the United States in five International Six Days Enduros, earning two gold and two silver medals along the way. He also won the Blackwater 100 cross-country race twice. Lojak was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2017.
MAC Re-established
The Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) was recently re-established to provide information and recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The MAC will advise the Secretary of Transportation (Pete Buttigieg) and administrators of National Highway Traffic Safety and the Federal Highway Administration on a broad range of issues affecting motorcycle and motorcyclist safety, including road and barrier design, construction, maintenance practices, and the architecture of intelligent transportation system technologies.
Scott Schloegel, acting president and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, was appointed to the MAC by Buttigieg based on Schloegel’s previous efforts to prevent injuries and fatalities involving motorcyclists on U.S. highways.
As you may have noticed, several of the news clips in this post were related to motorcycle safety. Whether you’re an experienced rider or just starting out, we hope you will use the resources available to you in order to keep yourself from harm when out riding.
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Barrett Baker
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