In keeping with the thread “Does the general public really dislike Touring Bike riders” by ScooterJammer, I’ll share the following…

Over the weekend I was sitting at an outdoor restaurant table when I noticed seven “Harley Riders” pulling in. All were dressed in the traditional black leather and wore their Chapter vests. I recognized the organization immediately by their back patches.

It was very interesting to watch the other restaurant patrons gawk at the “gang” and seem to become uncomfortable with their presence.

As the riders dismounted and made their way to the entrance, the stares became even more intense. “Surely these “thugs” were up to no good”…some of restaurant goers must have thought.

They took up two tables on the patio, ordered their drinks, said a short prayer, and engaged in casual conversation. They were members of the CMA.

Even in this day and age, many riders are still stereotyped and face a considerable amount of prejudice.

 

Heathens!!

 

Many place post "No Colors" even if it is CMA.

What the hell happened years ago that the stereo type still exist.

What's really funny is that most of the no colors bars are the one bikers frequent most.

 

LOL

 

Can't,can't we all just get along

 

The stereotype is much less than years ago. Actually, a few years back I made the comment I liked it better in the old days, people just left me alone. Now I'm lucky if I can pull in somewhere, some guy is bending my ear about this and that. Now, I'm not antisocial, but I get tired of it happening all the time. Of course, it's better than just having them call the cops before I get in the building. As far as what happened years ogo, too much to type to explain that, but check out the Discovery and History channel. They have a lot of the history, althoguh very embellished sometime for entertainment purposes, but it will give some insight. The sterotype has changed dramatically in the last thirty years.

 

Be carefull of those CMA types, they are just 98 steps from being 1%er! I think we have all see or experienced that in one form or another. Oh well, I just have fun.

 

I enjoy it when someone talks to me when I stop to eat or to get gas. I was in Virginia once at a state rally and my friends and I stopped to eat at this BBQ joint. The only place to sit was right next to 4 State Troopers. You could tell one of the guys was a newbie because the older cops were tyring to convince him that we are all not POS. One cop finally leaned over and asked what we did for a profession. We told em, the three of us are professors, and they about sheit a brick. The young cop didn't believe us until we showed him our ID's. We had a good chat, laughed, and everyone went on their way.

 

Google "Hells Angels" and "Rolling Stones".

Just one of many instances that helped define and forever etch the stereotype into American history.

As frog13 suggested, Discovery, History, and several other channels have segments on the history of motorcycles and their riders from time to time.

I'm a computer geek. I write C# code all day long and play computer games by night. I don't look like your typical computer geek (bald head, goatee, height/weight proportionate, tan, etc), and people tend to look at me funny sometimes when I roll up on my scoot. I don't wear any colors or sport any overt tattoo's either. It's that stereotype hard at work, forcing people to pre-judge someone based on their outward appearance and transportational preferences.

Yes, people "judge books by their cover" all the time, but it's the pages inside that count.

 

My buddy and I have been stereotyped many times on our bike trips. We weren't wearing any colors, just the usual black Harley t-shirt, jeans, boots, you get the idea. We have been seated in the back corner of restaurants and forgotten about, stared at, people even locked their car doors when we pulled up. Some of it is funny, but some of it just pisses me off.