Good image or scumbag
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 0
From: The dream that woke you up in tears.
RE: Good image or scumbag
Can I be military and still a scumbag?..............or does that make me more of a scumbag...he he???
The wife and I ride for ourselves.....and no one else.
We are the same two people off the bike as we are on the bike....that comes with age and a knowledge and an understanding of what we truly are.
We work hard, we love eachother, our friends and our family and we love this country.....and yep, well "F" up your world if you try to mess with any of these.
Boots, jeans, leather, sunglasses, ballcaps, ink..........hell, thats how we look every day.
IMO if you are only a biker when you are on your bike then you ain't one.......and at that being one takes more than buying some crap and a bike.........it is an attitude and a way of life....not some recently accquired trait you bought at Wally World.
Scumbags of the world unite!!!
The wife and I ride for ourselves.....and no one else.
We are the same two people off the bike as we are on the bike....that comes with age and a knowledge and an understanding of what we truly are.
We work hard, we love eachother, our friends and our family and we love this country.....and yep, well "F" up your world if you try to mess with any of these.
Boots, jeans, leather, sunglasses, ballcaps, ink..........hell, thats how we look every day.
IMO if you are only a biker when you are on your bike then you ain't one.......and at that being one takes more than buying some crap and a bike.........it is an attitude and a way of life....not some recently accquired trait you bought at Wally World.
Scumbags of the world unite!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Capistrano Beach, CA
RE: Good image or scumbag
I grew up in Southern California and spent some time in Northern California in the 1970s. Then, you could see hard core outlaw bikers riding all the time. I remember when I was a kid in the family car about a hundred Hells Angels went smoking by and that was one the coolest sights I had ever seen. Bikers had a Reputation then, but it was way overblown. The cops should have devoted their attention to the gang problem in L.A. Now, all I see in Southern California are a bunch of Rich guys trying to look Hardcore and Tough. I actually wish there were less poseurs and more true outlaw bikers, as I think that was an important part of California Culture. I'm not proud of being a RUB, but I am living out my biker fantasy!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 0
From: Desmoines, Iowa
RE: Good image or scumbag
yes i'am a biker i have wore the boots , the jeans ,the t shirts ,the leather since i was 4 or 5 years old no body was looking down on me then .and thats been well over 40 years i'am me yes i love motorcycles always have and always will i dont do it to be cool i do it because that is all i know and i belive in comfort yes i wear other things when i have to but being a biker is not something you can make up it is something you are born with. all the harleys and all the leather is not going to make you a biker you may look like one but there is more to it . its what is in your heart not your head and if no body likes the way i look or dress tough i did'nt ask there opinion to begin with and trust me wearing a three piece suite or driving a 60.000 dollar car dont make anybody better they just think they are .
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Good image or scumbag
Lets face facts! A lot of the Johnny come lately HD owners joined for one reason. The "bad boy image" Well, newsflash folks, that image did not come without its price. The riders in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s created that image that you now ride the coattails of. That image though was not created on purpose; it was just a side benefit. Those "scumbags" simply did what they wanted to do and F--- the rest. Now we all have to be nice, we all have to conform. "Wave at the nice man on the rice rocket", "Don’t make a ruckus!” oh and never ever go on a ride unless it is to benefit a charity. What you fail to realize is that the very reason you bought a Harley instead of a Honda is not just the bike, but also everything else that comes with it. Good and mostly "bad" That "bad boy" image that you so wanted to be a part of is now diluted and polluted. Just pick up a copy of "Thunder press" (I cant, it makes me sick!) and see how a once noble group of HD owners has been turned into a Mamby Pamby bunch of Starbucks drinking, Holy roller, "please don’t smoke" wanna be bikers. NO! I am not living in the past, I do not do drugs or even drink, but...Remember, the freedom loving, non conformist, refuse to be PC, bikers of the past are the ones that created the image you so want your girlfriend to think that you area part of. Harley owners used to believe in everyone’s right to live as they choose. Now, if a "biker" does not want to cow tow to the Harley factory god, and push the PC agenda, his own peers ostracize him! The majority has now become the minority. Soon (and it is already happening) that intangible reason for owning a Hog will be gone, and the masses will move on to the next "cool" thing.
FTW
FTW
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Good image or scumbag
Some of these replys are interesting to say the least. Funny how some are so passionate about what others are or what they represent. Everyone rides for their own reason and it is nobody elses business what that reason is. Face it, everyone here who is typing or reading is on the internet on a forum. Makes you wonder don't it. I ride for myself and no one else. Why would anyone care why I ride? Why would I care why anyone else rides? If you like to ride then ride. Just ride safe. OK, now I got to get back to work because unfortunatley I have to work to pay for my ride!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 14,849
Likes: 7
From: Fortville, IN
RE: Good image or scumbag
I wouldn’t consider myself to be either. I am just me…take it or leave it! I’m a loving wife and a good mom and I ride a Harley. It’s a way of life not a hobby. I don’t feel I need to justify myself or my actions to anyone but myself. My husband has long hair & is unshaven and works a blue collar job. We both have ink. I wouldn’t consider us to be scumbags. And I would consider all of our “scumbag” biker friends to be probably the best friends a person could ever have. And yes…some of them are ex-cons. I guess if you want to call us scumbags then so be it….I’ve dealt with it from the other moms at my kids schools….I don’t care. They don’t talk to me and look at me like I’m a bad influence. Who cares what they think! In fact…the day I get the soccer mom haircut and buy the soccer mom clothes and attend the PTA meetings I hope someone shoots me and puts me out of my damn misery! 
Tourer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Good image or scumbag
Right on Heather!!!
I have to say, being in the military myself, I have always been looked at different from my friends. Now, owning a HD adds to that. But, they still treat me the same. I have been riding M/C's since I was 17...but until I got my WG almost 6 months ago, I never felt complete while riding. I seem to be looked at differently. Maybe a little more respect, especially from fellow HD riders, I like that. Alot of guys and gals at work ride HD's, go to Sturgis, hang out together, ride together, and that is what turned me towards getting one. They just seemed to be complete. Like some of the guys who are married and have wonderful wives and kids, they looked happy. Now I am happy and continue on. Just dealing with having the bike in the living room and waiting till spring is the hard part! The one thing I like is when I wear one of my many HD shirts to work everyday, the boss leaves me alone!!![8D]
I have to say, being in the military myself, I have always been looked at different from my friends. Now, owning a HD adds to that. But, they still treat me the same. I have been riding M/C's since I was 17...but until I got my WG almost 6 months ago, I never felt complete while riding. I seem to be looked at differently. Maybe a little more respect, especially from fellow HD riders, I like that. Alot of guys and gals at work ride HD's, go to Sturgis, hang out together, ride together, and that is what turned me towards getting one. They just seemed to be complete. Like some of the guys who are married and have wonderful wives and kids, they looked happy. Now I am happy and continue on. Just dealing with having the bike in the living room and waiting till spring is the hard part! The one thing I like is when I wear one of my many HD shirts to work everyday, the boss leaves me alone!!![8D]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 3
From: Southeast Wisconsin
RE: Good image or scumbag
I just read through this thread and then re-read the original post from "hammertime". I could be wrong but I don't think he was trying to tell us as a group how we should act, look, or ride; I think he more or less was making a very clumsy appeal for some of us to remember to be nice to other riders and people in general. Maybe he has had a few bad experiences or maybe he has witnessed some bad behavior from Harley riders...it's hard to say for sure.
If he is suggesting that Harley wants us to be better ambassadors for their product, then all I can say is: I'll start doing what Harley wants as soon as they start doing what I want. A toll-free customer service line and email access to their customer service department would be a good start.
If he is suggesting that Harley wants us to be better ambassadors for their product, then all I can say is: I'll start doing what Harley wants as soon as they start doing what I want.
A toll-free customer service line and email access to their customer service department would be a good start.
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Joe Kucinski
"Moderator & Connoisseur of Ice Cream"
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,008
Likes: 5
From: Montgomery Al
RE: Good image or scumbag
Hmmmmmmmmm
Interesting that I did some time because of stupid decisions on my part, and now years later I am a man of the cloth. Quite the contrast. I ride with boots, cause they are protection. I ride with a vest cause it also affords some protection, as does my helmet. I dont have ink, because I never liked ink.
If you want ink, thats cool.
If you want chains, thats cool.
If you want patches, thats cool.
If you just wanna ride cause you like being on your bike, like I do, thats cool too.
People get passionate about RUBS. I dont consider myself a RUB, but my next door neighbor says I am. He calls me an "enthusiast". LOL Now, he IS a biker. But he is a great neighbor also. We get along great. I go to church, he doesnt. He wears biker garb all the time, I dont. I guess some people like him and others would see me riding to church on Sunday morning with my suit on and think "there goes a RUB". I dont care.
I ride cause I like bikes. ALways have. The wife rides cause she likes doing anything I like doing.
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Interesting that I did some time because of stupid decisions on my part, and now years later I am a man of the cloth. Quite the contrast. I ride with boots, cause they are protection. I ride with a vest cause it also affords some protection, as does my helmet. I dont have ink, because I never liked ink.
If you want ink, thats cool.
If you want chains, thats cool.
If you want patches, thats cool.
If you just wanna ride cause you like being on your bike, like I do, thats cool too.
People get passionate about RUBS. I dont consider myself a RUB, but my next door neighbor says I am. He calls me an "enthusiast". LOL Now, he IS a biker. But he is a great neighbor also. We get along great. I go to church, he doesnt. He wears biker garb all the time, I dont. I guess some people like him and others would see me riding to church on Sunday morning with my suit on and think "there goes a RUB". I dont care.
I ride cause I like bikes. ALways have. The wife rides cause she likes doing anything I like doing.
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Good image or scumbag
ORIGINAL: no1likhim
Hmmmmmmmmm
Interesting that I did some time because of stupid decisions on my part, and now years later I am a man of the cloth. Quite the contrast. I ride with boots, cause they are protection. I ride with a vest cause it also affords some protection, as does my helmet. I dont have ink, because I never liked ink.
If you want ink, thats cool.
If you want chains, thats cool.
If you want patches, thats cool.
If you just wanna ride cause you like being on your bike, like I do, thats cool too.
People get passionate about RUBS. I dont consider myself a RUB, but my next door neighbor says I am. He calls me an "enthusiast". LOL Now, he IS a biker. But he is a great neighbor also. We get along great. I go to church, he doesnt. He wears biker garb all the time, I dont. I guess some people like him and others would see me riding to church on Sunday morning with my suit on and think "there goes a RUB". I dont care.
I ride cause I like bikes. ALways have. The wife rides cause she likes doing anything I like doing.
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Hmmmmmmmmm
Interesting that I did some time because of stupid decisions on my part, and now years later I am a man of the cloth. Quite the contrast. I ride with boots, cause they are protection. I ride with a vest cause it also affords some protection, as does my helmet. I dont have ink, because I never liked ink.
If you want ink, thats cool.
If you want chains, thats cool.
If you want patches, thats cool.
If you just wanna ride cause you like being on your bike, like I do, thats cool too.
People get passionate about RUBS. I dont consider myself a RUB, but my next door neighbor says I am. He calls me an "enthusiast". LOL Now, he IS a biker. But he is a great neighbor also. We get along great. I go to church, he doesnt. He wears biker garb all the time, I dont. I guess some people like him and others would see me riding to church on Sunday morning with my suit on and think "there goes a RUB". I dont care.
I ride cause I like bikes. ALways have. The wife rides cause she likes doing anything I like doing.
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee