Sitting here writing on an early Sunday morning just before deadline thinking to myself that we are truly living in interesting times for sure. As of right now, we are into fall and the riding season is getting tighter and tighter with every passing minute. The days are getting so short, and the overnight temperatures are getting damned cold. It does not leave a lot of time available for long rides at all, but some can still be had. Best be getting out and enjoying what you can when you can if it is even possible yet for some. I know that some people ride all year around if given the opportunity, but for most the riding season is over. Hope you got enough in this year to hold you over until spring.

Another thing that makes this time of year interesting is the state of our country and the upcoming election. We have many things that motorcyclists are dealing with politically that make each election even more important that the last. Make sure you keep apprised of situations going on that affect us such as riders such as potential bans on internal combustion engines, fuel mandates, end of life of old vehicle rulings, autonomous vehicles, and safety issues on our roadways, and right to repair and modify our machines. These things and more are on the top of the list with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. I encourage every one of you to spend a few dollars a year and become a member or renew your membership with this national level organization. You can find info at mrf.org, and it only costs $35 for a year for an individual membership. They fight for our ability to ride the machines that we choose, where we want to ride them, and power them with the fuels that we choose. When doing that, another organization that you can join to stay informed on biker rights in the National Council of Informed Riders. This organization began to protect motorcyclists’ rights and freedoms as riders. It costs nothing to join, comes with some worthwhile benefits, and is another way to inform, network, and unite all riders nationwide to keep riding free. To check into and sign up for this, go to nationalcoir.org. Best bet would be to sign up for both organizations, and even if you cannot be active with both organizations, adding to the strength in numbers at this point is crucial to our riding futures. Please at least lake a look at these and take it into consideration.

I have one last note for this November 2024 Letter from the Editor, thank you! In the month that we celebrate our thanks with a holiday, I would like to thank each one of you reading this as you help keep this thing going every month. I thank the supporters of the magazine through advertising and subscriptions as you keep this thing going month to month and we could not do it without you. Thanks to my family that has always had my back, and because I am a biker, I have way more scope of family than anyone really deserves. Thanks to the freedom fighters that are members of organizations that help us keep riding free like MRF, NCOIR, and ABATE. Thanks to the people that are holding runs, bike nights, shows, and all the other biker events to keep riders engaged in the lifestyle and giving us all something to do on two and three wheels. Last but certainly not least, thank you to the Veterans of our armed forces. We would not be able to do any of this if these brave men and women would not have signed up to be the highest-level freedom fighters of all time. If you have signed your name on the line to serve our country, we thank you sincerely. We appreciate the sacrifices that people made to protect our freedoms and our way of life.

Much Love and Respect,

Vernon Schwarte

Proud Editor/Owner Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa

Owner Thunder Guns and Thunder Guns West

IMDA Board Member

MRF Iowa Assistant State Rep

COC Liaison

NCOIR State of Iowa Representative

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Quote of the Month: “Throughout the course of American history, courageous men and women have taken up arms to secure, defend, and maintain these core principles upon which our nation’s freedoms depend.” George W. Bush