Today’s modern motorcycles are very complex machines. Computers and electronics control nearly every function from emissions to ignition to braking. Although these computers provide many benefits to riders through customizable riding modes and improved fuel efficiency, comfort and safety, they also provide increasing opportunities for motorcycle manufacturers to lock out the ability for you or an independent repair shop to work on your bike. That’s where Right to Repair legislation comes into play.
The need for Right-to-Repair legislation has become a necessity in order to protect your rights as a motorcycle owner to decide where and how you have your machine serviced, whether at a dealer, with an independent service facility or in your own garage. Right to Repair ensures that the person who bought the motorcycle and not the manufacturer gets to decide where that vehicle is repaired and maintained.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), a grass-roots national motorcycling rights organization, has been working diligently with members of Congress to support the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act in order to safeguard individual vehicle ownership rights today and in the future. “We have formally committed our support to the Right to Repair Act because we believe that consumers are entitled to the right to choose how their motorcycle, car or other type of vehicle is maintained or upgraded,” says Jeff Hennie, vice president of government relations for the MRF. “The point of Right to Repair is to protect the freedom of American consumers to choose how they take care of their vehicles, be it in their driveway or at a trusted repair facility, and to ensure that they have access to all the information required to complete service and repairs.”
The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act was introduced into the 111th Congress by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) to offer protections for vehicle owners by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles.
“Vehicles, including motorcycles, are becoming increasingly complex with the addition of more and more computer technology, and that is only going to increase in the future. Ready access to accurate service and repair information from the manufacturers is essential to the safety and well being of the entire American motoring public,” continued Hennie.
We at CycleSoup.com encourage all riders to visit www.righttorepair.org and to contact the MRF about the current status of the bill and to learn more ways to defend your motorcycling freedoms.