Just a Biker

[Gromit]

Farside just sent this to me. I think it's been here before, but it's hits a nerve. For the biking community everywhere..

JUST A BIKER

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But you didn't see me put an extra £10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.
I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local Mall.
I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my bike parked out front. But you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.
I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by. But you didn't see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.
I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.
I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.
I saw you roll your eyes at our Leather jackets and gloves. But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.
I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my children where born or have their name written over and in my heart.
I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't see me going home to be with my family.
I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.
I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my child's hands knowing she was safe behind me.
I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.
I saw you race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.
I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you didn't see me trying to turn right.
I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But you didn't see me leave the road.
I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn't see me. I wasn't there.
I saw you go home to your family. But you didn't see me. Because I died that day you cut me off.
I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family. But you didn't see me.

 

[CarlS]

It is well worth posting again. It reminds us all not to judge by appearances and stereotypes.

 

[DaveM]

I don’t know how many time I must of read this and I still enjoy reading it again each time I see it, thanks

 

[fuzzy]

Good one. Lots of truth there.

 

[littleloon]

Don't we all know that story only too well :y72:

 

[dazco]

I think most people with that kind of fear wouldn't feel the same in the presence of a person on a triumph or sportbike etc. They only fear like that when it's the typical harley type with the leather and tattos and all. The problem is this.....there are a ton of them out there now and a percentage are indeed family types who are as considerate good people. there are however some who are not, and those ARE to be feared. I know because i've seen them up close and watched what they are, and they SHOULD be feared.
That said, i not only don't blame those who look at bikers like that, but they probably have good reason to be like that. It isn't us and it isn't them to blame. It's the ones who created that stereotype in the first place. Heck, we just had a post about a shootout among those bikers types. It's still here and it's still strong. The people who fear it are correct to do so, but if they have a fault it's not understanding the difference between the bad guys and the good guys. But then how can you expect them to if they know nothing about bikes and the personalities that tend to ride each type. they probably SHOULD know by the look to a degree, but much more than that may be asking too much of them.

 

[CarlS]

Dale, I respectfully disagree. I have seen and heard family members during PGR missions express fear and horror upon arriving and seeing us standing there holding American flags in a flag line - and we only attend at the invitation of the family. They were scared to death of "motorcycle gangs". And there were only five of us. In one case, the window of the soldier and his mother invited us. The mom and dad were long divorced. The father objected to us being there and there were about 40 of us there. He was terrified that a fight was going to break out between rival biker gangs. As four of our flag bikes escorted the hearse to the church and we all stood at attention and saluted as the flag draped casket was removed from the hearse and carried into the church, he melted and understood. He has since joined the PGR in his home state.

The stereotypes are very real and some people are as afraid on one biker on a Bonneville as they are of a whole chapter of Hell's Angels.

 

[dazco]

You may have misunderstood me Carl. i agree the fear is there no matter what you and your bike look like. I just meant that it's the HD stereotype that started it and some people will recognize for example a sportbike rider not being one of "those" types. Some will not as you found out. But the point is some will relize the difference, some will not. But i was mainly saying i understand their feeling, at least to those who can't recognise the difference. Like i said, i've seen the angels and others up close because they used to hang out where i'd vacation as a kid. I can see what those who don't know the difference between a HD and a triumph would fear bikes in general. It's not really their fault, they're just naive. Around here i see a lot of trouble making biker types in general. They are the ones to blame, as they have made people act the way they do towards us. that said, i don't blame you for feeling irritated

 

[CarlS]

Oh, I wasn't irritated. I agree with you and I even think it goes further - as I found out. There is a new resentment of bikers building among the public that comes from two sources - squids on sport bikes in traffic and V-twin riders with straight pipes. These are creating a growing backlash against all bikers, at least here on the East Coast.

 

[dazco]

I can believe that. Probably more of a irritation thing than fear. Actually thinking about it theres another reason i believe probably causes that. Not fear, but irritation with bikers....splitting lanes. I do it all the time at stoplights and i'm sure it irritates people. But i do it for my health ! When i'm at a light in a pack of cars, if i stop behind a car just like everyone else, 1)-i may get rear ended, and 2)-when the light turns i'm the most dangerous place a rider can be....surrounded by cars on all sides. so i split and get to the front. no getting rear ended and i can jump out and get away from the pack thereby being in a much safer place. I feel doing this is probably the #1 thing i can do to stay rubber down. But i know it pi$$es people off. I try not to bother anyone, but only to the point where i become less safe on the road.

but when you think about it there are a lot of things that probably irritate cagers. Even the fact we can often park in the most convenient places probably irritates them. Those kinds of thing i don't agree with and i DO blame them for that. But fear....that comes from one place only....the stereotypical "biker", and you know what i mean. I could tell you stories about them where i used to vacation as a kid. I remember once being lakeside with probably 50-75 people, most all families. i hear the loud roar of a lot of harleys and in a minute there are a couple dozen shirtless one percenters flooding down onto the beach with whisky bottles in hand yelling obscenities and generally acting like sub moronic trash. (or in thier opinions, "really cool" i'm sure) the people on the beach, almost all of them up and left within a couple minutes. It's no wonder many people fear bikers. the angels hung out there all the time too.

 

[CarlS]

Oh yes and Hollywood has added to that fear.

 

[dazco]

True, which begs the question what came first? the bike gangs or the bike gang movies?! Did the movies spawn the gangs or did the gangs spawn the movies?

 

[CarlS]

The MC's came first - and they started out riding mostly Brit Iron. Sonny Barger, as I understand, rode Triumphs early on. I'm not nearly as familiar with the HA's as I am the Outlaws.

 

[Bear]

Well I guess maybe I'm the one that scares everybody, I ride a Harley, wear a full beard, sort of long hair and I wear a cut-off demin jacket with a patch on the back with other patches on it..I'm not a drunk, don't drink, never did drugs, always polite to people, even the ones I don't like, but I do get the stare, the look, I see fear in somes faces, but I try my best to put them at ease.. I can't help who I am or what I am, I like me the way I am..have I been in a club, yes, do I know how they work, yes..but I was never a Bad A$$, although there may be some say that I was/am..but trust me if you knew me you would see me as a big ol teddy bear, whats really funny is most little kids aren't afraid of me, but sometimes the parents are..do I look scary to you?

 

[DaveM]

[quote author=Bear link=topic=1083.msg7389#msg7389 date=1218856806]
do I look scary to you?

[/quote]

The scariest thing I see in the photo are the chickens in the background. However I know how you feel I have also been told I can look scary when in my full riding gear :y18:

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=Kevin link=topic=1083.msg7397#msg7397 date=1218862611]
One look at that photo, I'm getting off this Triumph Talk thing
[/quote]



Naw, Bear; you look perfectly normal to me. I don't have a beard and don't wear a vest or jacket with patches and I still scare some folks. Interesting that mentioned the kids. Now that you called it to my attention, very few kids are scared; but their parents are sometimes a bit concerned. Sometimes I will invite a kid to seat on my bike.

 

[bigandaft]

[quote author=Bear link=topic=1083.msg7389#msg7389 date=1218856806]
I like me the way I am.

[/quote]

Now if only there were more people like this then the world would be a lot more pleasant.