All motorcyclist should be AMA members. The AMA protects your rights to ride everyday! Without the AMA our rights to ride would have been reduced long ago. In the last 5 years alone the AMA has fought the Lead Law and Euro Beef Tariff. The Lead Law was a law being passed to keep minors from riding motorcycles because lead was used in some of the materials used to build a motorcycle. Had this been passed the motorcycle industry would have collapsed. Without children riding, there will be far less future riders and racers. A Beef Tariff was placed on US imported beef into Europe. So in retaliation the US was going to pass a 200% tariff on European motorcycles. This would have greatly effected a lot of American Motorcycle businesses. This would have increased the retail price of European motorcycles dramatically. Many Euro motorcycles dealerships would have been forced out of business. The AMA fought hard to make sure the Tariff was not passed. After 2 years of fighting they succeeded.

For me, being an AMA member was part of being a motorcyclist. Many organizations required it but I renewed my membership every year on my birthday regardless. I get that it feels like its being forced on you and if its forced, you hate it. However, this is your way of giving back to the motorcycle community. Without our membership dues, they can't fight for our rights to ride and race. This is not an easy fight! Most of the world hates motorcyclist and think we are crazy idiots. They don't want us on their streets or dirt for a long list of ridiculous reasons. If Sportbikes get outlawed for street use, guess what. The manufactures will not be importing Sportbikes any longer. This will spiral down and eventually you will not have a roadracing bike any longer. I see on a daily basis how close some of these laws are to being passed. If the AMA isn't there fighting against these laws, they will get passed. Shortly after we will all be racing bicycles not motorcycles.

You ask what are the benefits? The only benefit that should matter is that the AMA fights everyday for the motorcycle industry and your rights to get to ride and race.