One of the largest groups of bikers in the world is the American Motorcycle Association, a nonprofit organization made up of over 300,000 bikers. The association organizes and runs a number of different activities throughout the year, plus they campaign for bikers' rights. The organization has been in operation since 1924, and more than 1,200 chartered motorcycle clubs are part of the AMA. The goal of the association is to 'protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists while serving the needs of its members'.
As the governing body of motorcycle sports in the United States, the AMA hosts more than 80 professional events and over 4,000 amateur events every year. The association also maintains and funds the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, a museum featuring many different exhibits and records. The Hall of Fame is located in Ohio, as is the Association's headquarters (located in Pickerington, Ohio). A monthly magazine, American Motorcyclist, is published by the Association monthly and has more than 250,000 copies in circulation.
In addition to the main association, the AMA Pro Racing group was formed in 1994 as a branch of the AMA for motorcycle racing. The AMA Pro Racing series of events, however, was later sold to the Daytona Motorsports Group, which is now responsible for many of the AMA championship race series.
Most motorcycle clubs are chartered under the AMA, but it's not a requirement. Outlaw biker clubs and very small local clubs often do not join the Association for various reasons. However, there are many reasons to join the Association and very few reasons not to.
