Biker?

[Gary]

Ok, I have owned and ridden almost continuously motorcycles for nearly 50 years now (nearly all brands, models and sizes), but I never once considered myself a "biker". The term has lots of implications and negative connotations that just don't fit me, and I don't approve of most of those implactions and connotations.

I am not a member of of any club, gang, brotherhood or similar group of bikers and have never vowed to any mutual protection alliance.

I bathe everyday at a minimum.

I do not have long hair, nor a beard or long sideburns or even a mustache; I shave everyday and get my hair cut every 3 weeks.

I change all of my clothes everyday for clean clothes.

I have a black leather jacket, but I also have several other riding jackets that range in colors and fabrics. I have no black leather hat, or black leather vest, or filthy blue jean vest, or leather pants, and no black leather boots. I do have some black leather chaps that I sometimes wear when riding on the interstate.

I don't frequent bars and you will never see my bike parked outside one.

I don't ride with packs. I tried it and found that it is riskier than speeding and lane splitting in rush hour traffice; the pack is no safer than the least experienced and worst rider.

I don't have a single T shirt with a brand name of anything on it; zero.

I don't own and never have owned a doo rag, nor a German helmet.

I have never commited a felony, a misdemeanor or even been arrested.

I don't want to look like a "biker" or someone posing as a "biker".

Call me a motorcyclist, a motorcycle enthusiast or simply a "rider", but don't call me a "biker".

 

[devo]

Oh dear
I have a beard and black leather boots.
Sorry Garry, I'm not about to shave or wear sneakers. :happy:
:y18:

 

[Rocky]

Gee Gary, you're no fun at all
Some of those things apply to me, but I don't call myself a biker either, I'm a motorcyclist.
T-shirts, black leather jacket and boots, belong to a vintage bike club and sometimes ride in packs on Sunday - that's about it.
Of course I also do all the good things mentioned too.

 

[Gary]

I usually wear "roper"-type, brown, pull-on boots with steel toes - very lightweight though. But often ride wearing loafers or "sneakers" (with black smudges on the top of the left toe from the gear shift). Gloves, a helmet, a long sleeved shirt, long pants (no shorts) and (non-sandal or flip flop) shoes are my only "must haves" for a ride.

Two days of beard growth is all I can stand; by the third day I am ready to shave by any means.

The main point I want to make is that I enjoy motorcycles, working on motorcycles and riding motorcyles; I am not into motorcycles it for the biker culture.

I have some friends that do the whole dress up thing, own new Screaming Eagle Harleys (about $40,000 worth each) and twice a year (Daytona and Sturgis) let their hair and beards grow out and the trailer their bikes to these "events". They couldn't care less about riding motorcycles at any other place or time and certainly don't work on their own bikes. They tell everyone they are "Bikers".

 

[The Seeker]

You bathe every single day????

...and change clothes just as often???

OMG!

 

[The Seeker]

"I usually wear "roper"-type, brown, pull-on boots with steel toes"


Ropers RULE!

I don't wear them to ride (I actually do wear a pair of black leather H-D boots that I got really cheap on a closeout sale), but I do wear them around the barn and such. GREAT shoes!

 

[devo]

[quote author=The Seeker link=topic=3695.msg23792#msg23792 date=1234211814]
You bathe every single day????

...and change clothes just as often???

OMG!
[/quote]


Sorry Garry,
My response was tongue in cheek, its just that its far to easy to categorize these days.
I'm a firm believer in doing your own thing, and if that is different from the accepted norm then so be it.
:y18:

 

[Geoff587]

Me , I am a Biker and proud of it, wear Textile / leather jacket, leather pants with armour not jeans, Have my Moustache since i was 20, don,t ride in packs because I can, t keep up but love sitting at Biker cafes with like minded people talking bikes. :y18:

Don,t have a shirt without some logo or other on it, plain ones are so boring . :ya2:

 

[devo]

[quote author=Geoff587 link=topic=3695.msg23798#msg23798 date=1234217866]
Me , I am a Biker and proud of it, wear Textile / leather jacket, leather pants with armour not jeans, Have my Moustache since i was 20, don,t ride in packs because I can, t keep up but love sitting at Biker cafes with like minded people talking bikes. :y18:

Don,t have a shirt without some logo or other on it, plain ones are so boring . :ya2:
[/quote]

oooh geof,I never realised,you big bad biker you. :ya2:
:y18:

 

[CarlS]

Gary, I understand what you are saying.

I have never belonged to any MC or RC. I do belong to three informal riding groups: Patriot Guard Riders, Brit Iron Rebels and Rider of the Lost Empire. I do group rides frequently for funerals and welcome homes with PGR and once or twice a year I meet with some of both BIR and ROTLE. We do some group rides; mostly groups of three to five guys get together and ride where we chose. Most of my riding, other than PGR, is by myself or with a couple of close friends. I do enjoy getting together with BIR, NTBF and ROTLE members and socializing. After a day of riding we will have dinner and just shoot the breeze. Great fellowship. None of these groups require any commitment or allegiance.

I do wear logo shirts from Triumph, BIR, NTBF to Ruger, Remington, Winchester and Mossberg. As Geoff says, plain tee shirts are boring. I do not do poker runs and big pack rides.

I do not own a denim or a leather vest and I always wear armored, textile jacket and pants riding gear along with gloves, full face helmet and leather boots. My summer boots are Justin work boots. My winter boots are Triumph riding boots. I try to avoid black.

I don't have beard; but I have had a mustache off on. Since I spent most of my life with a military haircut, I still keep it short out of long habit.

I absolutely do not drink and ride; you won't find my bike parked at a bar either.

I am not a 1%er nor a poseur and I don't want to look like one. I am a motorcycle enthusiast and I was riding about 8000 miles a year when I was working. Now it is better than 12,000 miles per year. I don't mind being called a biker - as long as that is not lumping me with the MC's and poseurs.

I go my own way.

 

[Dilligaf]

If I must label myself I'll do it based on priorities.

1.) I am a husband
2.) I am a father
3.) I am a son
4.) I am a Christian
5.) I am a friend.
6.) I am a motorcycle enthusiast.

I have dressed like and sometimes still dress like a "poser" because I enjoy it. So I am guilty of wearing a "biker" outfit but I have ridden 1770 miles before I took it off. If someone enjoys dressing up a few times a year to trailer their bike to an event who am I to critique them? They are doing it for fun and isn't that what motorcycles are all about? Sure the HOG members who act like bad ass 1%'ers irritate me but it is easy to avoid them. I find attachment to any brand that becomes a reason to bash someone's differing choice of brand childish and annoying.
I think people who disrespect another rider for his choice of ride reason for that person to be shunned by the motorcycle community as a whole. HD riders are often the guilty party but the worst group I have ever see happen to ride Triumphs. They even thought it was okay to mess with a HD owners bike because "what should he expect bringing a Harley to a Triumph event", well what he should have expected was respect.

I've been an RC member, a member of a endurance riding club that followed many MC protocols and have been around 1%ers. What I find is in any group be it a bowling team or a motorcycle club there are always those who lust for power or admiration and will screw anyone that dares to disagree. I'd like to say people generally suck but I tend to like people. Therein lies my confusion and frustration :wink:

 

[Dilligaf]

...and dew rags have a purpose, to keep sweat out of your helmet liner and eyes.

 

[DaveM]

Well call me what you want it makes no difference to me. I have always been a lone rider except for the brief time I was a club member in the 70's :silent: I ride because I want too I wear a black leather jacket boots jeans and gloves every time I ride. I never owned a rain suit up until a few years back. I only had a bike up until the age of 25 and would ride no matter what the weather was , rain , snow, hail wind and sunshine. I have a beard but have had one since 1977 :y114:

The sad part id I just don't seem to be able to ride as often as I would like to any more. :y18:

So if this make me a biker then I am a biker :y114: :y114:

 

[The Seeker]

Well, I've got several Triumph jackets....an old-skool 50's style black leather one with the old Triumph script on the back, a bright read Triumph rain jacket with reflective bits, a 'varsity jacket' (cream leather sleeves w/ BRG wool body) Triumph logo, and a black "T series" ballistic nylon jacket with sleeves that can be removed to make a it a vest.

Purpose-made jackets are important to me when riding. Things are made accessible for you (like placement of snaps and zippers) and things like collars and cuffs don't flap in the wind.

I always wear something with good ankle support on my feet.....again a purpose-made biker boot. I also don't skimp on my range of gloves or my helmet.

I don't actually plan my dress for any particular function I'm heading to, so you could see me in a hockey jersey, a Woodstock T-Shirt, a "I'd Rather Push a Triumph Than Ride a BSA" shirt, or even a button-down collar oxford shirt.

Hair is something that I have no choice but to leave out of the equation completely....

I hate big group riding too and usually either ride alone or in a group of 3-4 very experienced guys. I will ride for a good charity though as I feel it's my civic duty. I'm now on all of their mailing lists, so it's hard to pick and choose.

I enjoy going to a couple regular "bike nights" at certain establishments where I might consume a beer with a good dinner, but I limit myself to just that.

I don't much care what anyone feels like calling me...I prefer AJ though ;-)

 

[Lioness]

Eish I'm now having an identity crises - you guys have confused me darn it.

1. I have funny hair styles
2. I have tatoos
3. I like riding in a pack so long as you know the capabilities of those riding around you.
4. I like T-shirts with logos on.
5. I like black leather - hell ANY leather.
6. I don't care whether my bike is parked outside a pub or a MacDonalds
7. I don't always shave my legs on a biking weekend.

BUT
1. I NEVER drink and drive
2. I always wear protective gear from top to feet

Am I a biker or a motorcycle enthusiast?

Who cares.

 

[RAFIKI]

I am the furthest thing from what a biker is supposed to be .Infact if I tell people I ride bikes and will do 2500 kms over a weekend with friends they are shocked .I wear a suit to work and wear all the safety kit on my bike.I don't drink .

I am a RAT member
if that means I am a biker then so be it :y18:

 

[Lioness]

Rafiki why do you wear a suit to work in your garden?

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=Lioness link=topic=3695.msg23827#msg23827 date=1234243966]

Am I a biker or a motorcycle enthusiast?

Who cares.
[/quote]

Hear! Hear!

Riding is about fun and doing something you like - however you define it.

I have no problems with trailering a bike to an event. Many times, I take take two bikes to an event, my Bonnie and my TR6. When Mae Lyne goes with me, I trailer two bikes as she cannot do long distances. I'd rather have fun riding at our destination that be so worn out we cannot enjoy the event. If it is just me going and I am only going to use one bike, I ride.

I don't do tattoos; but I have nothing against them at all. For many years I could not have a tattoo due to possible assignments; so I just have never got one.

 

[Rocky]

I already have a beautiful body so why would I want a tattoo :y24:

 

[Geoff587]

I have had several Tattoos since I was 16, part of the military package in the 60,s ( they help to keep you warm when only wearing a t-shirt) . I would not have them done to -day and to confirm part of Carls Post , they excluded me from some assingments where distinguising marks are not always desirable. They were also considered very working class by the Officer Class.

P.S Deborah has a tatoo on her arse, but you didn,t hear it from me .