New members to be inducted this December at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the final member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009: motorcycle accessory innovator and apparel pioneer Robert Bates. Bates is among nine motorcycling heroes who will be honored at the 2009 induction ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Dec. 5. “In many ways, motorcycling attracts individuals, and that individualism often manifests itself in how we customize our motorcycles,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “This social phenomenon was not lost on Robert Bates, who developed a broad range of products that connected with motorcyclists, from aftermarket pillion seats to leather jackets. As one of the first businessmen to leverage this affinity for personalization, Bates helped establish an aftermarket industry that is thriving today.” Added Don Rosene, chairman of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Committee: “After I bought my first real motorcycle, a Triumph Bonneville, the next thing I needed was a Bates leather jacket. I thought as much of that jacket as I did my new motorcycle. I know Robert Bates made many other motorcycle accessories, but I’ll never forget my Bates leather jacket.” Bates started Bates Manufacturing Inc., in Los Angeles in 1939 to service and overhaul motor scooters and sell accessories. Almost immediately, he began designing and building scooter windshields. When the metal for his windshield rims was no longer available during WWII, he developed a plastic rim that he later patented. In the late 1940s, the company began publishing a popular catalog that featured motorcycle accessories and leather apparel. According to Bob Rudolph, who purchased Bates Manufacturing from Bates in the late 1950s and renamed the company Bates Industries, Bates’ early innovation and business relationships established the foundation that helped the firm thrive when it began manufacturing the popular Bates colored-racing leathers that most people remember it for today. “Robert Bates founded the company in a 600 square-foot garage, and from there it grew into a business that had a reputation for quality jackets, pants, aftermarket seats, a popular headlight, windshield, fairings and saddlebags,” Rudolph remembered. “He also had a strong rapport with the dealers, and he stayed with the firm to help manage our dealer network after I purchased the company. Bates was a true pioneer in the motorcycle accessory industry.” Bates is the ninth and final member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009. He joins off-road racer Randy Hawkins, suspension pioneer Gilles Vaillancourt, off-highway rights activist Mona Ehnes, industry entrepreneurs and technological trailblazers Geoff and Bob Fox, longtime motorcycle safety proponent David Hough, noted race team manager Gary Mathers, and successful dirt-track racer and tuner Chuck Palmgren. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2009 will officially be inducted this Dec. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. Impressive even by Las Vegas standards, with an 84-foot guitar marking the entrance and all the glitz and memorabilia that fans have come to expect at Hard Rock Café locations around the world, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has been recently renovated with new rooms, a new convention space and a new concert venue. Ticket information will be announced shortly on the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum website at MotorcycleMuseum.org. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located on the bucolic campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to protecting and promoting the motorcycle lifestyle. Its members include those who have excelled in racing, road- and off-road riding; pushed the envelope in motorcycle design, engineering and safety; and championed the rights of riders in both the halls of government and the court of public opinion. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Committee includes 11 members in addition to the chairman. There are 10 committees, each representing a different aspect of motorcycling. Five represent various racing disciplines, and five represent non-racing interests. More information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org. About the American Motorcyclist Association Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.