I started riding in 59. Back then the open road was pretty much everywhere. Bikers rode together regardless of where the machine came from. We were a group of individuals that rode for the love of riding. We looked out for one another. I cannot remember a time when I was sitting along side the road when someone passed by without offering help. If I saw a bike in a hamburger joint or bar I always went in to say hi. The women were different too. Maybe just younger, I don't know.If a rider needed a set of plugs and I had some they were his. The Brotherhood really meant something. Not saying it isn't there today but I will say it sure does feel different. Could be just me getting older. I'll ride till I die and if there is a heaven I'll ride there too. I still like a few brews and a little smoke, for some us old timers it's just part of the deal. If ya don't like that please keep it to yourself. I didn't care then and I really don't give a phuch now. Back then you weren't judged by anything physical, It was what was inside that made you special.

 

Really sure if I qualify (got my first scooter in 76, Triumph Bonneville) but from what I see is technology has made a more reliable scooter. On the other hand it also made it more difficult to do work on the same vehicle. Gotta say I had 8 shovels and loved every one. I feel that the trend towards bigger motors and bigger back tires (in my opinion mainly driven by the Discovery channel influence on America) hasn't added to the lifestyle.

As far as the "bikers" I must agree with numerous comments by previous posters. Not as many put on more than 1,000 miles a month. It has defineatley become a status thing. I put on 650 miles a week just commuting back & forth to work, and wouldn't have it any other way. Snow, wind & rain shouldn't keep you from riding. I miss the days when women would hide their offspring behind their back from us at 7-11's and not comment about our visible ink (then share theirs) and talk about their old man's scoot or their own. I reckon I miss the good old days.

 

There really is nothing different. The "Good old days" were never really as good as people remember them. Today is "The good old days" of tomorrow... and today will be a lot sweeter, the bikers will have been friendlier and they'll have been "real bikers" when we look back at it 20 or 30 years from now. The people who complain about "motorcyclists these days" or "Bikers these days" are just in that age group where everything before was better and everything now is worse. They're the same guys who say "The problem with kids these days..." (then repeat pretty much the same thing Aristotle said a few generations ago). ... and they yell at those damn kids to get the hell off the lawn!

Pffft.

 

Frickin buzz killer!!!!!!!!! There's one in every group!! Who wants to ride with him?
Today is "The good old days" for the newby's. Everybody gotta start somewhere!!

 

So many good posts here already it's hard to say what hasn't been said above already.I've got 42 years in and the one thing I'd say that sticks out is back then we weren't always welcomed.Today's riders are pretty much accepted everywhere,it hasn't always been like that.G.

 

careful, all the old guys on here are ganna yell at you to "git off my thread ya no good whippersnapper!"

 

Easy for some one to say things the they have no idea of what they where,,,
its true the today will be tomorrow ole days,, buttttt U younger guys today have not Idea of what yesterday way like.... only dreams in Ur mind and then U still would be guessing.....
U young wipper snappers can't or don't really have any idea what it was like 45-50 yrs ago ridding and don't even try to understand it cause Ur only guessing or think U know of what some one told Ya....

 

44 years in the saddle here. Choppers were BUILT, not BOUGHT. A weathered and worn jacket was just that, weathered and worn, not bought off the rack "distressed" just to make it look like the wear was earned. People who rode were friendlier, and a lot more helpful when you broke. We rode side by side not staggered because we knew and trusted who we rode with. Bikes did not have their lights on all the time. And on and on. It was a life style not "recreation". It was a lot harder to find a "new used" Harley. Now you see them all the time with less than 10k on the clock.

 

Hey all...I just got back to this thread after posting it and happy to see so many responses...loved reading them.

IronAss you said you probably shouldn't respond but I'm glad you did.

I always like to hear about the ruffing part early in someones experience and where they are today...to me it seems like what is going on now with that person would mean more.

I didn't start off as far back as most of you, as I said it was 25 years ago but I appreciate my humble beginnings into motorcycling. I had just totaled a car and picked up a 500cc honda from a salvage place and just started to learn how to ride it to take the place of my car. (it was all I could afford) Several weeks later my work had me take over a location that was 60 miles away one way. So there I was 5 days a week, barely knowing how to ride, gym bag bungied onto the back seat, and me crouched down low heading down the highway regardless of the weather. I did this for about 8 months until I saved up enough money to buy a beat up mustang for the commute. You know what...I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything. After that I had to ride often even though I now had a car.

Thanks for taking the time to respond all

 

I started riding on the streets in Houston back in 1962 and remember droolin' over the BSAs, Triumphs and Nortons at the local MC shop. The bikes were IMO easier to work on with fewer electrics...no EFI, no elec. start, no turn signals, etc. Yea, we had to use hand signals...imagine that. lol

We wore leather for protection from the cold, rain and road debris.... not to look cool. We rode in all kinds of weather and used our bikes for daily transportation.

I think my first bike with an electric start (if I can remember) was a new '71 Yamaha 750 Twin...but it still had a kick starter and I used that most of the time out of habit.

Fewer freeways, alot less traffic, no cell phones, no text messaging, no GPS...yea, we actually used a road map if needed to find our way home.