ABATE is largely made up of cruiser riders
You would think that if you're running a bikers' rights organization you would draw support and participation from motorcyclists of all sorts: cruisers, sportbikers, off-road riders, what have you.
Yet ABATE (American Bikers Active Toward Education) organizations across the country seldom find any support from sportbikers, which many find frustrating. It's a particularly difficult challenge when you consider two of the primary apparent reasons:
- A large percentage of sportbikers are young and have no interest in political activism.
- A great many sportbikers despise ABATE.
Before continuing I need to make two points. First, the information I will be presenting is not scientific research, it is strictly anecdotal. Second, although I will often refer to "sportbikers" as a group, they are not a monolithic group, and differences of opinion do exist. When I discuss prevailing attitudes within the group, do be aware that these attitudes are not universally held.
In lengthy discussions I've had recently with sportbikers on a couple internet forums, several issues have come very clear.
- Sportbikers see ABATE as an organization focused primarily on opposing helmet laws and supporting loud pipes.
ABATE is wetawded. -- g34343greg (SBN)
- Sportbikers strongly support the use of helmets and the majority favor helmet laws mandating their use.
I'm not for choice. I'm for keeping riders alive whether they like it or not. Socialist? I think it's common sense to do whatever it takes to protect your brain in a high risk activity...for those that don’t find that to be common sense, that's for whom these laws are enacted. -- GreenZED (SBN)
- Many sportbikers question the claims of the ABATEs that they are anti-helmet law, believing instead that they are in fact anti-helmet.
Although ABATE is a useful group sometimes, their stance on helmet laws is far too ignorant for me to take them seriously. They are really an anti-helmet organization, not a pro-choice one. -- TwoColorShoe (SBN)
- Sportbikers do not believe that "loud pipes save lives" but do believe that loud pipes create a bad image of all bikers in the public mind.
Some pipes are so damn loud it's ridiculous, especially when they're rocketing down the road at 9 grand and 120 mph, or down my street goin 50mph in 1st gear at 5am. Thanks a lot, idiot. That brings a bad image to our sport. Sportbikes and cruisers alike should keep it down some, before the government forces it on us. -- lasermax (SBN)
- The ABATE crowd is seen as mostly grey-haired cruiser/Harley types who the largely young sportbikers feel look down on them and with whom they feel little fellowship.
I joined ABATE years ago because a friend was a member. I went to one meeting and wasn't really welcomed around all the hardley crowd so I left. You might want to ask one of them what makes them so much better than the sportbike crowd. Besides I'm not about supporting drinking and riding without a helmet. -- heathun (SBN)
Many sport bike riders don't feel they have anything in
common with ABATE members
The conversation I initiated was an outgrowth of an article I wrote awhile back about ABATE of Colorado's racing sponsorship of Jon Kuo as an attempt at outreach to the sportbike crowd. State Coordinator Terry Howard explained to me at that time that the organization is trying to overcome the very sorts of stereotypes I've described above. She told me that other ABATEs have tried at times to bridge the gap but none had been particularly successful. (Full disclosure: I recently joined ABATE of Colorado, ride two Japanese bikes, frequently wear a helmet, and have never felt unwelcome at any ABATE event.)
Seeking to understand the reasons for this, I joined two internet forums, the Colorado Sport Bike Club (CSBC) and The Sportbike Network (SBN) whose members are scattered all over the country. I posted the same initial question on each forum and invited the members to tell me what they thought. I will include "SBN" or "CSBC" after each comment to indicate which forum it came from.
Responses were many and varied, with the two forums going in surprisingly different directions. The local group seemed fairly amenable to ABATE's overtures:
Glad to see they are adapting. It would be interesting to get more detail about the specific changes that they made for the sportbikes and how the exercises differ from the regular class. When I took the initial class it was still not set up for sportbikes. Taking another non-Abate class that was sportbike specific made a huge difference. -- InlineSIX24 (CSBC)
I am glad that ABATE is trying to promote classes geared towards sportbike folks and would say we all need continuing ed from time to time and if we can get it from a class that is geared for us, than that's just bonus. -- chad23 (CSBC)
I didn't see ABATE as being geared towards a certain type of motorcycle. The info that they present in their courses seems to be geared towards bikes in general and not one specific bike. Like previously mentioned, I think that more advocacy on ABATE's part for issues related primarily to sport bikes might be a good idea, but honestly I think ABATE is good for all riders, regardless of what kind of bike they choose to ride. -- chanke4252 (CSBC)
Hostility toward ABATE was very high on the national forum, however:
I would hardly call an ABATE member a "Motorcyclist," I just call them a rider. They ride to look cool, they ride to belong. Whereas I believe a "Motorcyclist" is someone that would be happy on anything, they love riding because they are riding...they could care less if they are on a moped, a HD, a ZX10r, or a 30-year-old antique. -- modette (SBN)
It's by the grace of god that ABATE hasn’t invaded the sportbike crowd. -- SamIAm 1021 (SBN)
lol I like that ABATE offers rider training. I would laugh in someone’s face if someone who thinks wearing a helmet is dangerous offered to teach me something. -- g34343greg (SBN)
I can only speculate on the reasons for this difference in attitudes. It may be that in states where helmets are mandatory the ABATEs are more focused on helmet laws, reinforcing the perceptions held by the sportbikers. Meanwhile, in states such as Colorado where helmets are not required, the organizational focus is on other, broader issues and the groups may be more commonly seen as they see themselves, as bikers' rights organizations.
Second, the Coloradoans may know Jon Kuo personally, and in sponsoring him ABATE of Colorado may at least be succeeding in getting some people to reconsider their perceptions of the organization.
More to come:
Helmet issue is primary dividing point
Is there common ground?
ABATE actions that might sway sportbikers
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Comments
ABATE
We are active not aimed...
Good article so far! I'm looking forward to the next couple of installments.
Interesting article Ken.
I teach for ABATE of CO, and last summer I taught an Experienced Rider Course (ERC) that was comprised entirely of members of a sport bike club. The instructors who taught are "old" Harley riders, but there was no animosity there. I remember having fun and checking out each others' motorcycles. I'm sure the experienced sport bike riders will now choose ABATE's Sport Bike class over the ERC. Thankfully it's now an option.
In the Basic Rider Courses I've taught this season, there are more new riders saying they want sport bikes than Harleys. While there might be some teasing that goes on, the atmosphere is generally one of mutual respect for all riders.
Thanks for getting the word out. We have to stay on top of laws being formulated that will hurt the sport of motorcycling. Regardless of anyone's stance on helmet laws, we all need to come together to make sure two-wheeled travel does not become extinct.
as an ABATE ridercoach, i started out to cheat the grim reaper, not take sides as to what a person chooses to ride, or can afford to ride. just ride! the helmet law issue is but a grain of sand on the beach so to speak. ther are alot of other issues to worry about legislativly, seat belts on bikes? air bags? roll cages, all have been presented at one time or another for legislation. the helmet issue, from my perspective is one of choice. ABATE encourages helmet usage, but it should be a choice. a concieous choice. there are other politically active groups that share similar views, none of which are mentioned in your article, some of the things monitored by these groups(ABATE included)are laws that are in place in other countrys, seem to be soon after,presented here, such as limited engine size based on time youve had your license,(maybe youve ridden for 30 yrs on the dirt, )speed imitations based on exp/bike size. i dont know of a single ABATE instructor that is aint-sport bike.
PART 2
come to think of it, i know of quite a few ABATE ridercoaches that DO have sport bikes, as well as other bikes. i think what most bikers dont apporve of is doing wheelies down the highway . im wondering if the rift or misconception with sportbikers and ABATE isnt due to the youthful age overall of sportbikers,who cant appreciate the good that groups like ABATE do for BIKERS as a whole. the issue of a curriculm aimed twards more SB specific has been addressed. will they take advantage of it? only time will tell, hopefully pride isnt too much for them to overcome! top pro's in every sport have trainers, the same philosophy should be applied to motorcycling too, here there is much more at stake(like your life!) a trained eye can be very beneficial,
Good arcticle so far.
And not to start a debate here, but Tim you should know that all of the legislation you mentioned besides tiered lecensing is silly and would never see the light of day. And as a rider trainer I would hope you agree thta dirt experience amounts for little on the street.
Get to the lane splitting.
If ABATE would drop the helmet law focus and put that time, energy, and monetary expense into useful issues like expanding lane-splitting outside of California and major campaigns to increase driver awareness of motorcyclists my opinion of ABATE as an organization would improve drastically. Unfortunately, what I associate ABATE with at this point is ABATE-sponsored helmet roasts. Not exactly an activity or a message I have any interest in being associated with. That's just not the kind of organization that speaks for me as a motorcyclist. That said, I do look forward to reading the rest of the installments of this article. It will be interesting to see what conclusions you come up with.
As a rider coach for ABATE, I have taught many, many classes. I can tell you that a large percentage of the classes now are or going to be sportbike riders. There is never discussion between coaches (nor at ABATE) as to what kind of bike to ride. In fact, many of us have several different kinds in our garages: cruisers, sport, dirt.... Our discussions are about having the wind in our faces and enjoying the ride in a safer manner. We always talk about the safety of wearing the correct gear, including helmets. We talk about the differences in each of the motorcycles and why they are fun in their own right. ABATE is a great place to work for and has some great people in membership. Please look beyond the rumors...it's not what you think it is. If you have been treated poorly,then that should not have happened. However, we know that can happen anywhere and is unfortunate.
Great article. But we like to call ourselves CSC not CSBC since in sport bike, bike is silent.
And not all sportbike riders think that helmets should be mandatory as in a law requiring it. I sure don't think so. But I do wear it every time just because.
I am a 34 yr old harley rider and ABATE dist. rep. The views of the younger riders is not the same. Some of the people making assumtions about ABATE have either never had to fight for something they believe in or have not cared enough to realize that what they do for "fun" can be stripped away from them. All to often laws are passed without the general publics knowledge. Its only after a person looses their rights is when they wish they would have fought for them. I am proud of the work MRO's such as ABATE of Colorado, is doing to preserve the rights of ALL riders.
In a world where it only takes one uneducated and uninformed idiot to make the rest of us as motorcyclists seem like the bad guys, its good to know that somebody out there is looking out for our freedoms, the freedoms we are loosing more and more of everyday.
First of all I would like to correct something that Ken said, in Colorado ABATE stands for A Brotherhood Active Toward Education, in other states it does stand for American Bikers Active Toward Education. Each states ABATE is an autonomous organization, there is no national ABATE, therefore each states organization is run differently.
As far as helmet roasting parties there has not been one sponsored By ABATE of Colorado in years. It is my understanding that ABATE is not against helmets, but against the government mandating their use. I for one don't think the government has any business telling me I have to wear a helmet or a seat belt, as an adult that should be my choice.
I am a rider coach for ABATE and we encourage the use of protective gear but I personally feel that it should be an individuals choice, just like the bike they choose to ride. I also believe that the best "safety device" that you can have on a bike or in a car is a well trained operator.
This hatred toward an organization devoted to a free persons rights is totally stupid. As an ABATE member for 3 years I have never seen a helmet roasting and strongly doubt ABATE would ever sanction such an event. We are anti helmet law, not anti helmet.Many of my fellow members in West Palm "choose" to wear helmets. To state of sport bike riders hatred to us is totally wrong. Many things here are just the socialist views of the "press" who only report what they want to push down our throats. ABATE is working on ways to bring the sport bikers together with the "old harley riders" If an old harley guy went to a sport bike show, he is going to out of place likewise, an none of the sport bike riders would run to him to welcome him. Many of you don't know anything about ABATE yet pass your opinion off as fact,typical liberal press. Get your facts straight and present them "at" an ABATE meeting. Your welcome at ours. Tomcat, ABATE West Palm Beach 50 years old and I ride a sport bike.
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