HSTA Is Now MSTA

Why would the oldest sport touring enthusiast’s organization in the nation, the Honda Sport Touring Association (HSTA), change its name?

According to current president David Bricker, “It’s simple, really. We ride all brands of motorcycles and having ‘Honda’ in our name was a stranglehold on attracting new members into the nation’s best and oldest sport touring organization. For many years now, our not for profit 501(c)7 association hasn’t been affiliated with the Motorcycle Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and it’s just time to make a change. We now have a new name that better serves our unique branding and heritage of riding the nation’s tightest, most technical roads – and touring to get there. Our members really define the spirit of sport touring as a recreation for motorcyclists. Thus our new name, Motorcycle Sport Touring Association”. Brickner added, “For 27-years we’ve been organizing sport touring events which emphasize safe, yet technically challenging sport riding. This year we’ll hold fourteen AMA sanctioned motorcycling events in the best riding areas of the United States, anchored by our annual sport touring rendezvous called STAR (Sport Touring Association Rendezvous). If you like well organized events, with published routes (and associated GPS files) to follow, then you’ll like riding with us.”

Safety and responsibility are of paramount importance to the MSTA. Their Dan Clark Safety Foundation trust fund reimburses members for rider education and training programs. Another cool perk is the annual, membership-only raffle bike. As in years past, this year’s Grand Prize, which happens to be a 2009 Triumph Sprint ST, comes with extremely favorable odds of winning. In fact the odds are so good that one lucky member has actually won the coveted raffle bike twice. The MSTA is also devoted to its charity of choice, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and its fund raising arm Ride for Kids®. In fact Ride for Kids® originator, Mike Traynor was an early officer and State Director of the Association and is still an active member.

To find out more or register on line, visit www.ridemsta.com. Other membership benefits include the club’s magazine, STAReview, attendance at one of MSTA’s fourteen AMA sanctioned events, and many other exclusive member benefits.