The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) is not only the largest motorcycle club in the United States, but also the largest in the world. With millions of members, the AMA is the country's most vocal and outspoken advocate for biker rights. The club was founded in St. Louis in 1909 by riders who wanted an organization to stand up for their interests before legislative bodies. They are known for their big-block Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but they also have a growing number of new riders buying small bikes designed for city use. Of the 10 million motorcycles sold each year in the United States, about 8% are owned by members of the AMA. That's 80,000 motorcycles! There are currently around 1,200 motorcyclists' clubs in the US. Although most states have one dominant club, others have multiple clubs sharing territory with other states' clubs. For example, California has three major clubs: Hells Angels, Nomads, and Black Pistons. The Texas Motor Club consists of four different clubs: Lone Star Angels, South Padre Island Surfers, Rio Grande Vagabonds, and Santa Cruz Choppers. The largest club in the world is the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), which owns over 19,000 motorcycles. However, the majority of these motorcycles are old models used by the army for patrol duties.