Motorcyclist or Biker
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Oak Park, IL
Once upon a time I considered myself a biker. I truly did live to ride. Most of the furnature in my house was made up of motorcycle parts or crates from motorcycle parts, all of my friends rode motorcycles, all the artwork in my house was motorcycle oriented ( Including the kick-azz 6 foot wide drawing of a panhead~! ). I only wore black, my bike was my sole transportation, and I bled HD orange.
Now almost 40 years later there are other things in my life, including my family, friends who have never been on a bike, and a j.o.b. which occasionally requires me to wear a suit and tie and to travel to international locations. Disneyworld is now a vacation destination instead of the puchline to a joke, and I own other vehicals besides the bike. I am just as likely to wear a Hawaiian shirt as black tee and if it is raining in the morning I take the truck to work not the bike. However I do still bleed HD orange!
So am I less of a biker today? Don't know and don't really care. Ride free~!
Now almost 40 years later there are other things in my life, including my family, friends who have never been on a bike, and a j.o.b. which occasionally requires me to wear a suit and tie and to travel to international locations. Disneyworld is now a vacation destination instead of the puchline to a joke, and I own other vehicals besides the bike. I am just as likely to wear a Hawaiian shirt as black tee and if it is raining in the morning I take the truck to work not the bike. However I do still bleed HD orange!
So am I less of a biker today? Don't know and don't really care. Ride free~!
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island, NY
You can't seriously be looking to further label those who have a love for the wind in their face, can you? If so, I might as well indulge you. I believe they may be considered "vacationers, who also happen to enjoy riding motorcycles."
My question to you is: Need they be labeled anything further?
---------------------------------
No, Just was curious.The list can continue with trikers.Anyway, bottom line.Totally not important.Seems like quite a few of us have cabin fever.
I went out this morning quick 50 mile ride, it was 29 degrees outside.I saw one other motorcycle on the road.It was a Ducati.
Am I a Motorcycle enthusiast, biker, rider?
Really....Who gives a SH_ _ !
My question to you is: Need they be labeled anything further?
---------------------------------
No, Just was curious.The list can continue with trikers.Anyway, bottom line.Totally not important.Seems like quite a few of us have cabin fever.
I went out this morning quick 50 mile ride, it was 29 degrees outside.I saw one other motorcycle on the road.It was a Ducati.
Am I a Motorcycle enthusiast, biker, rider?
Really....Who gives a SH_ _ !
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 290
From: FL
What is interesting is the terms pulled from dictionary ... go figure. My personal opinion is I don't care what anyone calls me but I know for a fact my entire family calls me, my bro and my wife bikers. You can label yourself anything but that won't change what others think of you. Am a member of a gang, only if you think of HOG or PGR as a gang!!
bikˇer (bī'kər)
noun.
noun.
a traveler who rides a motorcycle
bikˇer (bī'kər)
noun.
- One who rides a bicycle or a motorbike.
- A motorcyclist, especially a member of a motorcycle gang.
noun.
a traveler who rides a motorcycle
Last edited by CSMHOG; Feb 16, 2009 at 06:50 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
It means he's an elitist, egotistical, arrogant, condescending, narcissistic PITA, and he thinks he's in a league way above you. Don't worry about him. He's just making up for his shortcomings. Ride safe out there, and enjoy it. Life's too short not to feel the wind in your face, and the sun in your eyes..... Motorcyclist VS Biker Really now, what does it really matter?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 7
From: Michigan
There are still those out there that assume the term "biker" refers to the outlaw biker gang type. Like anything in this world, things are open to interpretation, individual experience, etc. The meaning of being a biker will vary from person to person. I think just about everyone will agree that owning a bike doesn't exactly make you a biker.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 9
From: Colorado Springs CO
As everyone has so eloquently stated his label tells you enough about him that I would have said "have a nice day" and walked away... he is more worried about others perceptions than riding.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,989
Likes: 11
From: Right Coast
Man this is a topic that gets under my skin. IMO there are really only two main categories that most "people who ride motorcycles" fit in. Those who ride for themselves, and those who ride for everyone else. There are many sub-categories that branch off from these two, but the main difference are the reasons why someone chooses to ride.
I personally could care less what someone does or why they do it, but what gets me is how judgmental and critical some people can be. I see it all the time and even hear it on this forum at times. Everything from "So many bikes and so few bikers" to criticism of "motorcycle enthusiasts" for not being "biker" enough and referring them to a Honda forum.
Isn't the purpose of the "biker lifestyle" (referring to those that live the lifestyle in addition to riding) to enjoy the freedom and and individuality that comes with it? Yet many who choose this "lifestyle" are the most critical of others who don't live up to their own standards. What's funny is how many tiers there are in the hierarchy.
I recently had an interesting conversation with someone who considered her own self to be at the pinnacle of the biker mountain. She was a dating interest of mine (at first) and eventually explained that her ex-old man was a HA recently sent up for life. She explained how "real bikers" ride in a pack "outlaw style" fender to fender and peg to peg. In her angry rant against wanna be's she criticized everyone that wasn't of her "breed". She was especially critical of H.O.G. members.
The point is this. If you are critical of another person who rides and doesn't meet your standards, just know that unless you are a member of an outlaw biker club, then there is someone out there who thinks you aren't a "real biker" either. I'll just bet that 99% of us on this forum aren't considered to be real bikers by someone, somewhere.
As far as I'm concerned, if you ride a bike you are a biker. The thing is, there are as many different kinds of bikers as there are different types of bikes. I like to go on runs, because I really like to rub elbows with other bikers. Say what you want, but bikers are some of the most interesting people you will ever meet and I feel comfortable around most of them. That being said, I spend more time riding by myself. It would not matter if it was the most unpopular past time there was, I love to ride more than anything and always have. Oh, and I don't care what anyone calls me or thinks about me. Just hate to see others put down by someone that should be lifting them up. A "real biker" will see what we all have in common with each other instead focusing on the differences.
I personally could care less what someone does or why they do it, but what gets me is how judgmental and critical some people can be. I see it all the time and even hear it on this forum at times. Everything from "So many bikes and so few bikers" to criticism of "motorcycle enthusiasts" for not being "biker" enough and referring them to a Honda forum.
Isn't the purpose of the "biker lifestyle" (referring to those that live the lifestyle in addition to riding) to enjoy the freedom and and individuality that comes with it? Yet many who choose this "lifestyle" are the most critical of others who don't live up to their own standards. What's funny is how many tiers there are in the hierarchy.
I recently had an interesting conversation with someone who considered her own self to be at the pinnacle of the biker mountain. She was a dating interest of mine (at first) and eventually explained that her ex-old man was a HA recently sent up for life. She explained how "real bikers" ride in a pack "outlaw style" fender to fender and peg to peg. In her angry rant against wanna be's she criticized everyone that wasn't of her "breed". She was especially critical of H.O.G. members.
The point is this. If you are critical of another person who rides and doesn't meet your standards, just know that unless you are a member of an outlaw biker club, then there is someone out there who thinks you aren't a "real biker" either. I'll just bet that 99% of us on this forum aren't considered to be real bikers by someone, somewhere.
As far as I'm concerned, if you ride a bike you are a biker. The thing is, there are as many different kinds of bikers as there are different types of bikes. I like to go on runs, because I really like to rub elbows with other bikers. Say what you want, but bikers are some of the most interesting people you will ever meet and I feel comfortable around most of them. That being said, I spend more time riding by myself. It would not matter if it was the most unpopular past time there was, I love to ride more than anything and always have. Oh, and I don't care what anyone calls me or thinks about me. Just hate to see others put down by someone that should be lifting them up. A "real biker" will see what we all have in common with each other instead focusing on the differences.
Damned intelligent response.
