Biker
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,078
Likes: 19,236
From: The Wasteland
Where I (unfortunately) live, if I say something like "man, I hope the weather holds up so I can ride this weekend" to someone I don't know. the ensuing conversation will go like this:
Stranger: "Really, you a biker?"
Me: "Yeah" (In the world I grew up in, "Biker" just means someone who rides a motorcycle.)
Stranger: "Me too. What kind of cleats do you use?"
Me: "Oh no, not THAT kind of biker"
Stranger: walks away
In the Murderapolis area of Minnesoviet that conversation happens often. I am surrounded by grown men that wearneon tights pirate costumes to ride $8k kid's $45000 toys in traffic on weekends. Just another reason I want to get the fvck out of here.
Stranger: "Really, you a biker?"
Me: "Yeah" (In the world I grew up in, "Biker" just means someone who rides a motorcycle.)
Stranger: "Me too. What kind of cleats do you use?"
Me: "Oh no, not THAT kind of biker"
Stranger: walks away
In the Murderapolis area of Minnesoviet that conversation happens often. I am surrounded by grown men that wear
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 1,917
From: Unreconstructed
Cruiser
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 124
Likes: 168
From: Florida & Michigan
I never thought that Easy Rider was a biker movie. More of a hippys on choppers movie.
In the middle 1960's a photographer named Danny Lyon rode with the Outlaws MC in Chicago. He published a photo book about that in 1968. In the preface he says that in Chicago they were called Bikeriders, and Bikers was more of a California term. The book, titled The Bikeriders, was the basis for the recent movie.
In the middle 1960's a photographer named Danny Lyon rode with the Outlaws MC in Chicago. He published a photo book about that in 1968. In the preface he says that in Chicago they were called Bikeriders, and Bikers was more of a California term. The book, titled The Bikeriders, was the basis for the recent movie.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 298
Likes: 103
From: King Island, Tasmania
In the media over here the term bikie is usually used in reference to a 1% club member, I've always taken a biker to be someone to whom motorcycles are almost a religion, I like the term motorcyclist now I've thought about it, I'll use that term for fun next time some idiot says " who do you think you are a bikie or something", because apparently riding a Harley makes you a wannabe tough guy in the eyes of many and I'm way more live an let live man 😁
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,556
Likes: 1,846
From: Albuquerque, NM
Thanks for the A.I. rundown. What it failed to mention was that Lyons was basically copying what famous photographer Irvin Penn was doing with the San Francisco Hells Angels, The Grateful Dead, and the alot of other subject matter from the California counter culture of the 60s. Penn's body of work is iconic and well known.
As far as someone copying someone else, after the publication of Hunter Thompson's magazine article "The Motorcycle Gangs: Losers and Outsiders" in 1965, interest in the outlaw biker world was high, and the media in general went nuts on bikers, giving us the previously mentioned "Biker Movie Boom"
Thanks for reminding me of Penn's biker pictures. It's been years since I looked at them.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 522
Likes: 405
From: So Western Ohio
In the Beginning, any group of motorcyclists could form clubs, attend and compete in races and were regarded like hobbyists. After the formation of the AMA and their racing events they decided to ban certain clubs from their sanctioned races and activities.
These are the original 'outlaw bikers.' They're not like the Dillinger gang outlaws, they were just banned from A.M.A. sanctioned events. They amounted to about 1% of all the motorcyclists and thus was born the '1%ers.' The outlaws took the ball and ran with it and some clubs were deep into illegal activities. They began to take over their home territories, wear patches with city or state bottom rockers, and they would do battle with any other club wearing colors claiming those same territories.
These guys are who normies think of when you say 'bikers'.
I think of myself as an electronic tech, mechanic, bike rider or motorcyclist and never became a member of any club except the USAF. I wouldn't join a club that would have a boring dude like me as a member. I was friends with and did some casual rides with local Bandidos (neighbors in my 'hood) in the 1970s but never joined the club (prospected.) I had seen what the prospects were in for and that sort of thing wasn't for me. They liked me because I could keep up, played guitar and was fun at parties. The legal sh** hit the fan for them one summer but I had joined the service and never saw them again.
I am a rider. A respectable citizen and damned proud of it. I pay taxes and believe in obeying the laws (well, most of them.) I've run into outlaws out on the road and they were always friendly and never a problem for me. Bikers know who they are and who they aren't.
These are the original 'outlaw bikers.' They're not like the Dillinger gang outlaws, they were just banned from A.M.A. sanctioned events. They amounted to about 1% of all the motorcyclists and thus was born the '1%ers.' The outlaws took the ball and ran with it and some clubs were deep into illegal activities. They began to take over their home territories, wear patches with city or state bottom rockers, and they would do battle with any other club wearing colors claiming those same territories.
These guys are who normies think of when you say 'bikers'.
I think of myself as an electronic tech, mechanic, bike rider or motorcyclist and never became a member of any club except the USAF. I wouldn't join a club that would have a boring dude like me as a member. I was friends with and did some casual rides with local Bandidos (neighbors in my 'hood) in the 1970s but never joined the club (prospected.) I had seen what the prospects were in for and that sort of thing wasn't for me. They liked me because I could keep up, played guitar and was fun at parties. The legal sh** hit the fan for them one summer but I had joined the service and never saw them again.
I am a rider. A respectable citizen and damned proud of it. I pay taxes and believe in obeying the laws (well, most of them.) I've run into outlaws out on the road and they were always friendly and never a problem for me. Bikers know who they are and who they aren't.
Last edited by Rufus13; Mar 19, 2026 at 03:49 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,256
Likes: 522
From: USA
Interesting thread.
So, the term biker became mainstream in the early 1970s?
Any comment or knowledge on the term used in the 1920s?
The work biker was not said in the movies "wild one" or "easy rider".
Currently, 2026, the term biker has evolved to include bicycle riders.
Biker, rider, or motorcyclist, I have no problems being defined by either word.
However, a better word is needed to define bicycle riders LOL
So, the term biker became mainstream in the early 1970s?
Any comment or knowledge on the term used in the 1920s?
The work biker was not said in the movies "wild one" or "easy rider".
Currently, 2026, the term biker has evolved to include bicycle riders.
Biker, rider, or motorcyclist, I have no problems being defined by either word.
However, a better word is needed to define bicycle riders LOL
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 409
Likes: 585
From: New Durham NH
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 1,016
From: Knoxville
Me too, just an enthusiast. 47 years of it, never had a snag with anyone of any nomination on a petrol powered bike.
The entitled, pedaling 10 speeders I do have massive problem with spandex or not.
I don’t take my bench press and weights out into the middle of the road blocking traffic to exercise. Lots and lots of them think the full lane is theirs as they tandem and block the lanes, cars stacking behind. Entitled asshats, no exceptions.
We’re almost to the park, the dad says to the crying child in the back, then he hits the asshats pedaling 4mph up the hill.
Selfish and childlike behavior is a prerequisite for the pedal crowd.
The entitled, pedaling 10 speeders I do have massive problem with spandex or not.
I don’t take my bench press and weights out into the middle of the road blocking traffic to exercise. Lots and lots of them think the full lane is theirs as they tandem and block the lanes, cars stacking behind. Entitled asshats, no exceptions.
We’re almost to the park, the dad says to the crying child in the back, then he hits the asshats pedaling 4mph up the hill.
Selfish and childlike behavior is a prerequisite for the pedal crowd.
