This week, President Donald Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum aimed at expanding Americans’ freedom to repair their own vehicles.
The memorandum directs the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clarify what actions individuals may take when repairing emissions systems under the Clean Air Act, while also encouraging faster and more affordable certification pathways for aftermarket parts.
For motorcyclists, this could be an important step forward. For decades, riders have faced growing barriers to repairing and modifying their own machines, whether due to emissions regulations, restricted access to parts, or manufacturers’ control over diagnostics and repair information. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has long supported policies that protect a rider’s right to work on their own motorcycle.
However, there remains uncertainty over whether this memorandum will explicitly apply to motorcycles. The language released by the White House focuses broadly on “vehicles,” but it is not yet clear if the EPA’s forthcoming guidance will include motorcycles in the same way it may cover passenger cars and trucks. That distinction matters. Motorcycles are often treated differently under federal law and emissions regulations, and riders need clarity.
The MRF has been actively engaged on the broader right-to-repair issue in Congress, supporting the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act (REPAIR Act), H.R. 1566 and S. 1379, as well as recent provisions advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act.
The MRF will continue to review the Administration’s guidance as it develops and will advocate to ensure motorcycles are not left behind. For the MRF, the principle remains simple, if you own it, you should be able to fix it.
