WHAT IS A BIKER?

WHAT IS A BIKER?

I’ve been asked this question many times: What is a biker? This is a tough question because it is obvious that everyone seems to have their own definition of what a biker is. I can only give what I believe a biker is and what makes a biker a biker. This is my opinion.

Most non-bikers think a biker is someone who rides a motorcycle. I disagree vehemently. Someone who rides a motorcycle is a motorcyclist. While all bikers are motorcyclists, not all motorcyclists are bikers. Being a biker is more than just riding a motorcycle. I see people on motorcycles everyday as I ride. You can tell many people are not bikers by the way they dress. Is the person wearing shorts and flip-flops, sandals or sneakers? This is most likely NOT a biker. Any biker knows to dress this way on a motorcycle is just plain stupid. These people obviously have not spent much time riding. They are probably new to motorcycling and are probably riding their first bike. I see men in their 60’s and 70’s riding down the road dressed this way. Call it a second childhood or mid-life crisis or whatever, they bought a motorcycle because they think it’s a blast or a good way to use less gasoline. They’re right! It is a blast and economical. But anyone who has spent years riding know that eventually you will have a mishap.

Sooner or later you will go down. It’s not a question of ‘IF’ but ‘WHEN’. It will happen. I’ve had one serious accident back in 1978 that I wasn’t expected to survive. I was in the ICU for 2 weeks and hospitalized for a total of three months! In the beginning they gave be a 50/50 chance of survival at best. I’ve also had a few minor incidents. I’ve had a couple of “lay-downs” to avoid an accident and I had one fender bender. Neither time was I seriously hurt. But if I had been wearing shorts and sandals, I could have been more seriously injured.

I’ve commented on riding apparel many times so I won’t get into it again here. A biker will wear appropriate gear like gloves, jeans and boots. A motorcyclist will either be under dressed like in the example above, or they go in the opposite direction by wearing day-glo clothing, huge expensive helmets, shock resistant this and that, etc. A biker won’t go that far.

Many bikers wear a leather, or sometimes a denim, vest. There is no real reason to wear a vest except to express their individuality. They wear patches and pins stating how they feel on certain subjects, places and events they’ve been to or even a memorial to brothers/sisters fallen. My colleague Catnip Cougar did a whole article on a biker’s vest. That article can be viewed on www.KrazyBikerKatz.com as well. Not all bikers wear vests but many who do not aren’t bikers. I know some motorcyclists who wear vests so people think they’re bikers. They aren’t. They’re posers. So how else can you tell a biker from a motorcyclist?

As I said, I know people who ride and want others to believe they’re bikers. But I can tell they’re not, and so can other ‘real’ bikers. Do these people avoid riding in foul weather at all costs? Do they avoid riding at night? If so, chances are they aren’t bikers. They’re wannabes. Real bikers love to ride. Hot or cold, wet or dry. It doesn’t matter. They love to ride and will jump on any and every opportunity to ride.

If you see a group of 1%’ers riding down the road, you know these are bikers. Riding is their life. You’ve probably heard the phrase. Ride To Live, Live To Ride. For those of you who don’t know, a 1%’er is a someone who has no use for society’s laws and will pretty much do whatever they want. The term 1% dates back to 1947. In Hollister, California, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) sponsored a series of motorcycle competitions. Many motorcycle clubs were in attendance. Among them were two clubs called The Pissed-Off Bastards and The Boozefighters. These two clubs were fueled by alcohol and adventure. As a result there were some fights and a couple altercations with the law. After the event the media blew this all out of proportion. They were saying how there were riots and clubs were trying to ”take over” the town. As a result, many towns were fearful of hosting anymore AMA events. The AMA issued a press release stating that 99% of motorcyclists were law abiding people. Therefore, the remaining 1% were labeled “outlaws”. Ever since, clubs like Hells Angels, Outlaws, Pagans, Bandidos, Mongols, Vagos, Sons of Silence, Renegades, etc. wear the 1% tag to heart. Many, literally, by sewing a diamond shape patch that says “1%” onto their colors (vests with the club patches).

So any 1% club members are definitely bikers. But, of course, you don’t have to belong to a club to be a biker. I consider myself a biker. I got my first bike in 1974. I’ve lived the lifestyle. I’ve known and associated with 1%’ers. I broken laws while associating with a 1% club when I was younger. I wasn’t a member but I probably could’ve become one.

So for those of you who think all it takes to be a biker is to own a motorcycle, then you probably think if you stop riding, you’re no longer a biker. This is so untrue. I believe once a biker, always a biker. Prisons throughout this country have many 1% members doing time. Some will never ride a motorcycle again as they are doing Life sentences. Are you going to say these guys aren’t bikers anymore?

Being a biker is a lifestyle. It’s all about respect. Real bikers are basically fearless, honest and down to earth people. The have been called the Last Free Americans. They come from a lineage that dates back to the cowboys of the Old West. Their bikes are their steeds. The modern bikers were born out of World War 2. After the war, surplus motorcycles were dirt cheap. They missed the camaraderie they had in the service. So they bought motorcycles and hung out together.

Bikers believe in Freedom. Most believe that many laws that are on the books are unnecessary and will ignore a law that they feel is stupid. Most bikers just want to be left alone to live life as they feel they want to live it. They aren’t out to hurt people, but people fear them because bikers won’t tolerate being disrespected. But if you’re honest to a biker, he/she will appreciate that and return the same. One of the most famous bikers, former Hells Angels President Sonny Barger, said it best, “Treat us good and we’ll treat you better! Treat us bad, and we’ll treat you worse!” Another Hells Angel once said, “Respect us and we’ll respect you. Disrespect us and we’re going to disrespect you…and we’re very good at disrespect!” You get the picture.

So this is what I believe a biker to be. Maybe you have another opinion, that’s fine! Opinions are like butt-holes, everyone has one. I love being a biker. I despise posers. Either you have it in you or you don’t. Just be honest with yourself. If you’re not a biker, please don’t pretend to be one. You’re just making a fool out of yourself. A REAL biker can see through your façade. We can tell. You might be able to fool a non-biker, but you can’t fool us. We’re Circle Flies. What’s a Circle Fly?

A cop pulls over a biker. As he’s writing the biker a ticket, a fly keeps buzzing around the cop’s face.
“Damn flies,” says the cop.
“That’s not an ordinary fly,” states the biker. “That’s a Circle Fly.”
“A Circle Fly?” asks the cop. “What’s a Circle Fly?”
“A Circle Fly hangs around a horse’s ass.” replies the biker.
“ARE YOU CALLING ME A HORSE’S ASS?” bellows the cop.
“Oh, no sir. I would never do that… but you can’t fool a Circle Fly.”

This has been my two cents worth. So until next time…Let’s be safe out there!

Johnny