NHMRO - New Hampshire Motorcycle Rights Organization

The New Hampshire Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization (NHMRO) was founded in February of 1975 by a group of men and women who felt that their way of life and freedoms were being systematically taken away.

NHMRO was incorporated as a non-profit organization, under the laws of the State of New Hampshire and the Internal Revenue tax codes, for the sole purpose of restoring certain freedoms lost and retaining freedoms that had not yet been tampered with.

In support of NHMRO’s purpose we welcome any and all motorcyclists as part of the organization so that they may help us in protecting the rights of ALL motorcyclists regardless of their preference in motorcycles, life styles, or where, when and how they enjoy riding.

We also encourage ALL motorcyclists to register and actively participate in helping to elect candidates who are supportive of our beliefs.

NHMRO supports the VOLUNTARY use of helmets, not mandatory laws.

What Have We Accomplished?

NHMRO’s first victory was to defeat the proposed 1975 mandatory motorcycle headlight bill in New Hampshire.

Our second victory was our part in legislation preventing the DOT from withholding highway funding to the states without mandatory helmet laws. (This was in May of 1976. Not much has changed in the way Washington tries to blackmail the states.)

When the NH Legislature reconvened in January of 1977, NHMRO had an amendment filed to our mandatory helmet law exempting any rider over the age of 18. This was signed into law and took effect on August 7, 1977. (This made NHMRO the 1st rights group in the nation to do so.)

Since then NHMRO has been instrumental in defeating many attempts to pass a new helmet law or create a new lights-on law in NH.

NHMRO was “very” instrumental in the creation of a state sponsored MSF course in NH and even financed the training of the first group of instructors. Get more information on the NH Motorcycle Rider Training Program

NHMRO has also worked closely with the state of New Hampshire on other issues of concern to the motorcyclists of the state such as: the motorcycle noise bill revisions of 1993; the law exempting motorcycles manufactured prior to 1973 from the law requiring directional signals; and the introduction of a bill to exempt motorcycles from the child restraint law.

NHMRO has also produced the 1991 MSF national award winning public service spots for television promoting motorcycle awareness. We have produced and distributed anti drinking and riding posters throughout the state. We have convinced our previous and current Governors to officially proclaim May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month” and we distribute posters and bumpers stickers to local businesses and schools to raise public awareness.

Our newsletter The Granite Statement provides updates to our membership on current issues and events of interest and much more!.

More info: NHMRO Tri-Fold

What do we do for fun?

Since 1975 NHMRO has run what some call the largest outdoor motorcycle flea market in the North East every spring. If you’ve lived in New England and been a motorcyclist, you’ve at least heard of it. Our fantastic new location is just outside Concord (Exit 7 off of I-89) at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds and has proven to be far superior to our old location in the Keene area.

Every September we hold our annual Toy Run which collects thousands of toys which are distributed by the Salvation Army to needy children throughout the state of New Hampshire.