By Joe Tatulli
In the recent edition of the MOA printed magazine, BMW Owners News (January/February 2026), Club President, Brian Dutcher, lays out his thoughts on The Spirit of the MOA along with some membership stats. Curious about our state (RI) I took a look at our membership numbers in 1987 and now as of 12/5/2025. We had an increase of 48% (52 to 77) over that time.
For the rest of New England here’s how the numbers went. The highest increase was NH at +66%, then Maine at +53%, RI at +48%, Vermont at +30%, Massachusetts at +9.1%, and Connecticut with the only decrease at -9.7% over the thirty-eight year span.
Nationally the top six increases were Colorado at +154%, Tennessee at +156%, North Carolina at +185%, Utah at +191%, Idaho at +193%, and South Carolina (surprising to me at least) at +253%. Twelve states/districts had lower numbers in 2025 then they had in 1987. Those states/districts are CA, NE, KS, OK, IA, LA, OH, WV, NY, NJ, DC, and CT.
Overall, according to Dutcher, the MOA membership has had its ups and downs an currently sits at 22,579 a +31% increase over 1987. To be honest with you, and I don’t say this with any sense of selfishness, self-interest or self-centeredness, and I honestly do wish more people would take up the sport of motorcycling, but as long as I can ride with a few of my friends that’s good enough for me.
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