M.R.F. State Representative ~ Tom "Jinx" Rahn

As Michigan’s 2026 riding season winds down, activity across the state has slowed, but advocacy efforts remain strong. Riders are wrapping up the season while election year campaigning enters its final month, and motorcyclist organizations continue pushing to protect the future of motorcycle culture.

Michigan was well represented at the 2026 Meeting of the Minds, where several members and motorcycle clubs attended to show support for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). Participants focused on staying informed about national motorcycle issues and learning strategies for recruiting the next generation of riders. Many acknowledge that the traditions long associated with motorcycling are evolving—and that without adapting, the community risks fading over time.

This year, Michigan’s State Representative “Jinx” received an award at Meeting of the Minds for signing up the most new MRF members and clubs statewide.

The MRF and MiCOC (Michigan Confederation of Clubs) continue to work together to educate and inform motorcyclists and motorcycle clubs across the state. MiCOC President Lil’ John emphasized the importance of involvement, encouraging riders to join organizations such as the MRF and ABATE. “If we’re going to do this,” he said, “we need to do it right.”

During the Milwaukee Meeting of the Minds held September 24–26, 2026, club participation was notably high. Many clubs nationwide are increasingly aligning with Motorcycle Rights Organizations (MRO’s) to defend biker rights. One emerging concern discussed was the rapid rise of high powered e bikes, some capable of reaching speeds up to 75 mph. Because many of these riders are underage and frequently involved in crashes, the incidents are often included in motorcycle statistics, complicating safety data.

Fuel quality was another topic of discussion, with Jinx warning riders to avoid gasoline containing E 15, which can cause engine damage in motorcycles.

Progress is being made in bridging the gap between motorcycle clubs and MRO’s such as ABATE and the MRF, with repeated reminders that unity is essential when confronting unfair or restrictive legislation. Voting, attendees emphasized, remains one of the strongest tools riders have. Concerns were expressed about losing supportive lawmakers particularly longtime ally Senator Tim Walberg under potential term limit changes. Clubs were urged to stay informed, research candidates, and ask direct questions about where they stand on motorcycle related issues.

Thanks were extended to the clubs that attended recent C.O.C. conferences, along with a reminder that donations help offset travel and advocacy expenses. MRF membership renewals remain a priority, and organizers stressed the need for more clubs to renew and strengthen the statewide effort.

Support the Ride in Freedom Act (H.R. 10067 / S. 5274)

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) applauds lawmakers for defending rider choice with the newly introduced Ride in Freedom Act H.R. 10067 in the House and S. 5274 in the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R WI) and Sen. Tim Sheehy (R MT), would prevent Washington, D.C., from requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. It does not discourage helmet use or ban helmets; it simply restores the decision to the rider, just as many states already allow.

The MRF emphasizes that adults should have the freedom to choose whether to wear a helmet, and riders in the nation’s capital deserve the same rights enjoyed elsewhere.

The organization urges motorcyclists to contact their members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the Ride in Freedom Act, reinforcing that lawmakers need to hear directly from the riding community.

Upcoming Events:

2027 NCOM Convention – Denver, Colorado

Dates: April 16–18, 2027

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Denver Tech Center

Address: 7801 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Room reservations are available for $129 per night and must be booked by March 25, 2027. Pre registration must be received by April 9, 2027, otherwise attendees may register with cash on site at the convention.

Next COC meeting: The next meeting is at 8p.m. on Friday, December 4th, 2026, Outlaws MC Westside Detroit Club House

Jinx -MRF State Rep / Brandy Linn - Assistant

Mid - Event Colors Ban At Las Vegas BikeFest 2026

Before Las Vegas BikeFest 2026 in North Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs was assured there would not be a "no colors" policy. Midway through the event, colors and cuts were banned. Multiple entities gave shifting explanations, and no one took responsibility for the policy change. Among those banned was the International Vice President of the Soldiers for Jesus Motorcycle Club, an MRF Board Member who had a booth at the event.

"Clubs did what was asked of them. They got assurances and showed up in good faith," said Kirk "Hardtail" Willard, MRF President. "Changing the rules midway through, then refusing to say who made the call, is the kind of treatment riders across this country are tired of."

This is what many in the motorcycling community deal with every day. The MRF has fought motorcyclist profiling in Washington for years, winning passage of anti-profiling resolutions in the Senate (S.Res. 154, 2018) and House (H.Res. 366, 2022) and backing 2026 language in the House BUILD America 250 Act that bars federal funds for programs that profile motorcyclists.

Riders can help. Take the Motorcycle Profiling Project's National Motorcycle Profiling Survey every year. Each year the questions shift to gather new data for future state and federal legislative efforts. What stays the same each year is that the survey includes only five (5) anonymous questions and takes about a minute. Take the survey using the button below.

Data from thousands of past survey participants has been central to the MRF's case on Capitol Hill, and every new response makes that case stronger.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NMPS2026

The E15 Push: Industry Data, Misfueling Hazards, and the Threat to Michigan Riders

Whether you are cruising down M-81 through the Thumb, navigating West Michigan, or taking a weekend trip across state lines, the gas pump you pull up to is changing.

While most riders know that ethanol and motorcycle engines don’t mix well, a major nationwide push by the biofuel lobby is accelerating the expansion of E15 (fuel containing 15% ethanol). To protect our bikes, our fuel systems, and our freedom of choice at the pump, ABATE members need to understand the numbers, the policy pushes, and the real-world hazards heading toward Michigan forecourts.

1. The Numbers Behind the Push: What’s Happening Nationally

To understand why E15 is appearing at more travel plazas and interstate hubs, you only have to look at recent numbers out of the Midwest agricultural corridor.

 * Record Iowa Volumes: According to data from the Iowa Department of Revenue highlighted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), Iowa terminals distributed over 46 million gallons of E15 in August 2026 alone. IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw publicly stated that E15 is officially on track to eclipse standard E10 as Iowa’s top-selling fuel for 2026.

 * The Federal Legislative Push: The biofuel lobby is using these record Midwestern volume numbers to pressure Capitol Hill into passing the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (H.R. 1346). Their goal is to mandate year-round sales of E15 nationwide, removing seasonal restrictions.

 * Ag Media & Strategic Targets: Reporting by Brownfield Ag News anchor Nicole Heslip following the Farm Progress Show highlighted how regional biofuel advocates are aggressively expanding retail pump infrastructure. At the same time, industry keynotes reveal a long-term commercial strategy targeting heavy shipping—an 80-billion-gallon global marine market—to absorb excess ethanol capacity.

The disconnect is stark: while commercial cargo ships utilize multi-million-dollar dual-fuel systems, zero factory retrofits exist for legacy motorcycles, outboards, or small engines. Everyday riders absorb 100% of the cost when high-ethanol blends damage non-compliant engines.

2. The Technical Reality: Why E15 Harms Motorcycles

Modern automobiles built after 2001 are engineered to tolerate higher ethanol blends, but motorcycles—especially air-cooled models, carb-fed engines, and vintage builds—operate under vastly different thermal and chemical conditions.

A. Lean Running & Excessive Heat Spikes

Ethanol contains roughly 33% less energy by volume than pure gasoline. When an air-cooled motorcycle engine runs on higher ethanol blends without extensive re-jetting or ECU remapping, the air-fuel mixture becomes excessively lean. Lean combustion causes internal cylinder head temperatures to spike dramatically, leading to:

 * Thermal stress on valves and pistons.

 * Increased susceptibility to vapor lock in hot weather.

 * Severe pre-ignition (pinging/detonation) under load.

B. Chemical Degradation & Solvent Action

Ethanol acts as an aggressive solvent. It dries out and strips plasticizers from non-ethanol-rated rubber fuel lines, petcock diaphragms, carburetor float bowl seals, and internal tank coatings. Over time, this leads to dry-rotting, fuel leaks, clogged jetting, and gummed-up needle valves.

C. The Single-Hose Blender Pump Trap

Perhaps the most immediate danger for motorcyclists at modern gas stations is the shared-hose blender pump.

When a multi-fuel dispenser dispenses E15, E30, or E85 through a single hose, up to half a gallon of that high-blend fuel remains trapped in the internal plumbing and hose from the previous customer.

The Math: If a motorist fills a truck with E15, and a rider pulls up next to fill a small 3-gallon motorcycle tank with Rec 90 (E0) or standard E10, that trapped half-gallon of residual E15 flows straight into the bike first. In a 3-gallon tank, a half-gallon of residual E15 instantly pollutes your entire tank into an unauthorized, high-blend ratio.

3. The Michigan Landscape: Where We Stand Today

While states like Iowa have hundreds of E15 stations, Michigan’s penetration remains relatively low—for now.

Currently, public E15 pumps in Michigan are mostly concentrated along agricultural corridors in West and Mid-Michigan (around Ionia, Greenville, Zeeland, and parts of Grand Rapids) at select independent blender pump stations and large travel plazas. Across regions like the Thumb and northern Michigan, local brand-flagged stations (Sunoco, Marathon, Mobil, Shell) still primarily dispense standard E10 or dedicated Rec 90 (E0).

However, as federal infrastructure grants fund station retrofits and state bills surface to encourage blender pumps, the "E15 creep" is moving closer to local neighborhood pumps.

4. What Riders Can Do: Protecting Your Ride & Your Rights

 * Watch the Label: Federal EPA regulations require a bright orange "E15 / Up to 15% Ethanol" warning sticker on dispensers selling E15/Unleaded 88. Always inspect the pump before squeezing the handle—especially at large interstate travel centers or unfamiliar stations.

 * Seek Out Dedicated Hoses: Whenever possible, fuel up at stations that offer dedicated, single-product hoses for Rec 90 (E0) or standard premium fuel to avoid shared-hose cross-contamination.

 * Support Legislative Protections: The State ABATE of Michigan Legislative Team and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) are actively pushing lawmakers for three key safeguards:

  * Guaranteed Access to E0: Statutory protections to ensure ethanol-free fuel remains legally available nationwide.

  * Mandatory Dedicated Hoses: Requiring separate hoses on blender pumps dispensing blends above E10.

  * Retailer & Blender Liability: Holding fuel blenders accountable when improper labeling or hose sharing results in engine damage.

The Bottom Line....Information is our best tool on the road. By staying aware of pump labels, understanding shared-hose risks, and backing riders' rights advocacy at both the state and national levels, we can keep our bikes running clean and protect our freedom to ride.

Keep your eyes on the pump, check your hoses, and ride safe!

Jeremy "Ice Man" Bouvrette