When did skulls on motorcycles become popular?
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: .....
Skulls and motorcycles? My first recollection is from the movie, "The Wild Ones" and the BRMC, The Black Rebels MC. Their jackets had a logo similar to the Outlaws MC, a skull with crossed pistons.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Maui, Hawaii
Ride Safe - Ride Smart
"He Who Lives In Joy Does His Creator's Will".
The Baal Shem Tov, Founder of Chasidic Judaism... ca. 1750's
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 460
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From: Manitoba, Canada
I have been riding off and on for 50 years and don't remember skulls anywhere except associated with 'the 1%ers' and back in the day most of us were trying to maintain a separation from the outlaw image, at least in the public eye.
Skulls don't appeal to me at all and I will pass up items I like just because they have skulls on them. I would NEVER have skulls on my bike!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Tennessee
No......You haven't!
The "Willie G's" as you call them have only been around for a relatively short time, certainly not for anywhere near 48 years.
I personally think that the whole skull thing has become the symbol of the "American Douchebag Wannabe" type of biker that thinks having skulls plastered all over his bike makes him look like less of a douche than he knows he is.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Midwest
The symbolism came about in the middle ages and a skull by itself is synonymous with death, not badassery. It's called the deathshead. The skull and crossbones was a metaphor for the bringer of death. It meant you were in grave danger of being killed or generally getting fd up somehow. After a while, various military units and outlaws like pirates ripped off the iconography. I don't know why skulls are popular on bikes as a skull by itself just symbolizes death in general.
Last edited by MiniWolf; Feb 18, 2015 at 08:01 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Norman Ok.
I recall seeing skulls on bikes every now and again growing up, but it seems pretty common now.
I don't have them on my bike, but I've got them on my Golf cart, I have swim trunks with skulls, rings with skulls, even a pair of skull house shoes. I've always had skulls on my stuff.
I don't have them on my bike, but I've got them on my Golf cart, I have swim trunks with skulls, rings with skulls, even a pair of skull house shoes. I've always had skulls on my stuff.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 11
From: PA
Many many moons ago the hard core types would occasionally run a skull or two on a bike just to shock Joe public then about 30 years ago ***** G turned them into a theme and it's become a running joke to make money off all the Walter Mitty's buying a harley wanting to get their secret bad boy on.
It's so overdone it's painful anymore..........
It's so overdone it's painful anymore..........
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