Originally Posted by drive2live2ride

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.