The California Motorcycle Dealers Association Celebrates its 40th Anniversary in 2011

To some oldtimers, it seems like only yesterday that the California Motorcycle Dealers Association, or CMDA, was born. Retail motorcycle sales and use in 1971 were at the halfway point to the previous high of the early 1980s, and the need for the industry to organize itself was apparent.

Originally underwritten by the manufacturers as a legitimate solution to promoting motorcyclist safety and as a response to early state legislative attempts to regulate an exploding new recreational industry, the CMDA was launched 40 years ago, originally named the CMIC.

Hundreds of dealers joined the CMDA and motorcycle sales, retailing and registrations soared to all-time highs, with dealers selling brands such as AJS, BMW, Bridgestone, BSA, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, Laverda, Norton, Matchless, Moto Guzzi, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha. Most are still with us, but many fine motorcycles are long since gone.

By 1975, the final legal structure of the present CMDA was finalized and we’ve been aggressively representing and promoting the interests of California motorcycle and motorsports dealers, ever since. Whether you sell street bikes, off-road motorcycles, ATVs, scooters or personal watercraft, you need to join the CMDA, today, if you are not already a member!