Am I a Biker??

[Mr. Guy]

While stopped for gas, I've been asked this several times, usually by grandmotherly types. I imagine I'm not to threatening riding a little blue bike and wearing a bright blue riding suit. My typical response is "No, not really." But I wonder. I have no desire to go to a rally, but I think this is because I don't like crowds to begin with. I don't like riding with groups either.
I don't ride to bars, or go to bike nights either. These just aren't my "things". I ride a dual-sport, but I don't even like dual-sport group rides, although I read about them and ride the areas they write about. I would never even consider going to Sturgis, at least not during bike week. If more than 2 of my riding buddys want to take a trip together, sometimes I'll find a reason not to go. Maybe I'm just a loner, maybe I'm confused what it means to be a biker. More than once while getting gas, another rider there will look at my DR650 and ask when I'm going to buy a "real" bike. I say it gets me were I want to go. Then I look at their big inch V-twin that 4-5 years old with around 3000 miles and I smile because I'll be riding further today than they will in the next 10 months to a year. But I don't understand were this concept of "real bike" comes from. I always felt ride what you like, but not everyone seems to feel this way. But then again, I like to tour on a thumper, so obviously I'm not quite right. Like the Harley ad says "It's a lifestyle". But just because I ride a different lifestyle, does that mean I'm not a "biker". What do you Guy's think, are you a biker or a motorcyclist, or a dual-sporter, or something else entirely. I'm not sure about myself, But I do think we are all brothers on 2 wheels.

Food for thought, Guy

[Trailace]

I think the question is what is a Biker? If someone can answer that then I can tell you and myself if we are or not. You never know you might not want to be one. :D

[Ironheadziggy76]

I guess I am just a plain old "Rider".:) I ride a Harley, but let me say I don't care much for today's average Harley rider. Most are like the ones Guy talks about at the gas station, real bad asses that put on a whopping 50 miles a month.:rolleyes: The ads say it's a lifestyle, but if I hear or read the word "Mystique" one more time I think I will puke. I guess I'm just not cool anymore, I can never keep up with the newest wave, (What the hell is everyone pointing at on the ground?:p ) or how much I'm supposed to rev my bike's engine as I'm backing it into the curb.:confused:

I think motorcycles are to be ridden to and not carried in a "Toy Hauler" to your destination. I am somewhat of a loner when it comes to riding also. On the other hand I also enjoy a bit of socializing at a few rallies, but in the end it's all about the riding. Most people think I'm weird because I enjoy riding the 1600 miles to and from Daytona in October as much as I do the rally.:D

I look at it like this, it doesn't matter what name is on the gas tank or how big the engine is, if you enjoy it, thats the main thing. One of my riding buddies is probably in her mid 60's and rides a Honda 250 Rebel. I have the utmost respect for her, because she can out ride a lot of guys I know.

[motomac]

We had a similar thread going on the ST board earlier this week. I went to a Harley dealer to trade my ST in on another Gold Wing and when I walked in with my gear on, several folks that were employed there and customers as well referred to me as " hard core". Not rider, not motorcyclist, not biker, just "hard core". The temps were in the low 30's and a snow storm was bearing down from the north that day. But I got the Wing home with just a few flakes falling before the garage door went up. So I'm "hard core" according to the folks at the Harley dealer.

[Trekker]

I had a coworker ask me recently how my riding "costume" was any different from the typical cruiser outfit....(I wear fully armored jacket & pants & a FF hat).

I responded that even though I may look a lot like other LD riders (not that I consider myself a LD rider), my intent is to protect myself.... not impress anyone. The only person I need to impress is my wife because she expects me home in relatively one piece instead of scarred and shredded from a fall.

And besides... Form follows function! I choose to ride in all kinds of weather for longer distances. Others choose to cruise to bike night, or to stunt. Use the right tool for the job.

"What the hell is everyone pointing at on the ground?:p" - funny!

And Mac.... you are hard core. A hard core motorcyclist, rider, biker, and Mototcamper Member Of The Year!

Everyone brings their own perceptions and judgments to the dance... I try very hard (and often fail) to worry about me and not how others perceive me.

[Mr. Guy]

Every time some gave me grief they were on a perfectly polished, no windshield, no bags bike. Never anything but respect from a road grimed Road King rider.

Just sayin, Guy

[braindead0]

I grew up around what most would consider bikers, hung out at lot of biker bars, did a lot of rides.... all that on at first a 1967 suzuki t-20, later a '67 Triumph T100, later still a KZ-750 LTD. These people didn't care what you rode, as long as you rode. I suspect they liked to have me around cause I'm good at fixing things.

These were not by any stretch R.U.B.'s. Hells Angels, Monks and a few other 'less than savory' motorcycle club members were quite common at the Dog House. Club 'affiliation' was never a problem, what I rode was never a problem. Real bikers don't care what you ride.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Guy, it's almost all you can do to keep from laughing out loud at these clowns isn't it? :D The way I see it, if someone is traveling on a Thumper he must be one tough individual to start with and he definitely has my respect.

Road grimed Road King rider? Did you see me somewhere?:D I fit that description perfectly. My wife needs to do a better job keeping my bike detailed.:p

[Trailace]

Guy, it's almost all you can do to keep from laughing out loud at these clowns isn't it? :D The way I see it, if someone is traveling on a Thumper he must be one tough individual to start with and he definitely has my respect.

Road grimed Road King rider? Did you see me somewhere?:D I fit that description perfectly. My wife needs to do a better job keeping my bike detailed.:p
My wife has the same issue.

[Mr. Guy]

Hi All,

I have to agree with Braindead0, 99.9% of the riders I meet, on all makes and styles, are the friendliest people you'll find. But like they say, one bad apple, or the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So unfortunately these people you remember. And although I remain polite with them, your right, I'm laughing my ass off inside. Do they really think I care what they think. I have no problem with what they ride, why should they with mine. It shows a certain narrow mindedness I believe. So I pay them no mind. I wish them a safe ride and go on my way. Besides I know somewhere down the road I'll meet a "real" rider anyway.

Thanks, Guy


p.s. I know I'll find none of "those" riders on this forum.

[Jetfixer]

This is so funny! I just bought a klr last week so I haven't had it long enough to ride much. I normally ride a road grimed 1600cc vulcan with large bags, windshield, trunk, often camping gear, and I wear firstgear mesh. I put over 27k on it last year while working full time. I don't know if that makes me a real biker, but I get all the low waves, nods and what not when riding it. Riding around on that klr in the last few days is another story. It's like the 'real biker wannabees' are embarassed to wave at me. If only they knew how much fun it is!

[Mr. Guy]

To true, Jetfixer, to true.

Until you ride a thumper for a while, you have no idea how fun they are. I don't get the wave thing either, but I've read somewhere that the better biker waves first. One of my favorite waves, if I'm not going to fast (50 MPH or less) is to stand up on the pegs and wave my hand back and forth over my helmet as vigorously as is safely possible. You should see the expressions on the other riders. They obviously don't know what to do when they see this. I still haven't figured out the point at the ground thing.

Thanks, Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

Normally when I point at the ground I'm telling the rider behind me there is something in the road. Unless of course it's a dead skunk, I like for them to find those themselves.:p

[braindead0]

p.s. I know I'll find none of "those" riders on this forum.Your signature tells a different story ;-)...


just couldn't help it....

[Jetfixer]

Hey Guy, I looked at a map and I'm just up the road from you at MW City (Tinker) this week. Had to come up here for a meeting. Gotta go back home tomorrow tho (thurs). Had I known you were so close I would have brought the bike and hooked up for an afternoon ride. I'll bring it next time for sure if you'll lead me to where the trails are!

[Mr. Guy]

LOL,

It's all in good fun, besides if one of your cylinders quits, you've got more to run on, I don't.

Then again, if it quits altogether, mines still easier to push.

Guy

[Mr. Guy]

Hi Jetfixer,

I just drove by Tinker about 30 min. ago, I work in Okc, so I drive by there twice a day. As far as trails go there's not much near Okc exept lots of gravel county roads. But I'd be more than happy to ride around anytime. Just give me a PM a day or two ahead of time. Or is it OK to put a phone number in my profile. I don't get on a computer more than once a day usually. Same goes for anyone else in the Okc area. By the way do we have a tent space thread here like at ADVRider. Free tent space for guys riding through kind of thing.

Thanks, Guy

p.s. Just so you know, as far as my boss knows, anyone that comes by is my "cousin" who just came into town and needs a (fill in the blank), so I have to leave work early today.

[Mr. Guy]

Hi again Jetfixer,

It just dawned on me that I was down in Sweetwater working last month, so I drove by Abilene 4 times in that time. I'm assuming you came up though Wichita Falls.
If you did on the north side of Lawton-Ft. Sill, Ok you'll see a turn off for SH49, this will take you to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. A nice place to camp, it's an open range buffalo and long horn refuge. The campground, Camp Doris, is also part of that open range. A couple times when I was there the buffalo came though camp, and I usually see deer on camp.

Guy

[mongo]

I consider myself to be a rider instead of a biker, pretty much like the population of this forum I am guessing. There are a lot of bikers in this area that only get their bikes out on Wendsday evening ride to the drive in restaurant, eat a hotdog drink 2 or 3 beers, bs and ride back home to wash their bikes before putting them up for the next ride to the drive in. I have had a few look at both my ST1300 and KLR and ask when I was going to get a regular bike. I've told a few I don't think I am experienced enough to handle a regular bike that is why I ride different than other people, and go my own way. Everybody to their own I guess.

[Jetfixer]

Thanks Guy, I'll check out Doris on my way home. Looks pretty nice on google!

[Mr. Guy]

Hi Jetfixer,

Did you check out the refuge. It's my favorite place to camp in Ok. What did you think of it. Might be a good spot for an unofficial get together.

Just thinking, Guy

[Jetfixer]

Sure did, it was beautiful! Drive around camp doris too, looks like a good place to camp. Wasn't sure if we could swim in the lake there at doris. I saw alot of buffalo.

[Mr. Guy]

Your not supposed to swim in the lakes, but I've been known to wade across some of them to get to the trail on the other side ;-). I've done a bit of splashing in the creeks, that's not swimming is it.

Guy

[Jetfixer]

I'm going to go back there and camp a weekend this spring. It's really a nice area. Ft Sill also has a camping area with swimming and boat rentals etc, but I hate being on the post where there's so many rules. After retiring from active duty, I have a low tolerance for that.

[Mr. Guy]

Ft. Sill also has a very nice post museum, be sure and visit Geronemo's grave too. You can get directions at the museum. Enter post at the Key gate, there are signs from there. I'll be down there on Apr.11-13, with the family no bike, we're going to the rattlesnake festival in Apache, just north of the refuge.

Guy

[Mr. Guy]

Yea I know I'm beating a dead horse but I had to tell you this. While doing a job up in Ponca City ( far north Oklahoma ) this week, a man opened his garage a walked over to ask what we were doing. After explaining to about our work, I said "That's a nice bike you've got there, you ride much around here." Also beside the garage was a fairly big toy hauler with the biggest Harley sticker I've ever seen on the back ramp. He said " I go to Sturgis every year." I ask " You ride to Stugis." He looks at me like I just grew a second head. "I take the trailer." I say "Thats nice, but do you ever ride to Co or Ar. Arkansas has some of the best riding around here." Now he looks at me like my third head is sprouting and says "I go to Sturgis. IT'S the best place to go." I reply "Glad you like it, I need to get back to work." and walk off shaking my head again.

People like this don't know what there missing.

Guy

[Trekker]

Perhaps.... and perhaps his trailering to Sturgis is what he needs.
His money, his time... his choice.

[Mr. Guy]

True, I guess I just don't understand it. To each their own. I'm sure he wouldn't understand what I like either.

Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

Guy, I guess it takes all kinds.:) I think a lot of people who have a much larger disposable income than I do, started watching the the bike shows on Discovery channel and went out and spent a big pile of money on a bike. Now they realize that they really don't like to ride motorcycles but their friends have them and it's the "COOL" thing to do. So they buy a "Toy Hauler" so they can say that they "Rough It" when they go to the rallies.:p These are the folks who shave their head, grow a goatee, and go to the tanning bed for about a month before Sturgis.:rolleyes: You have to look good when you go the strip club.;)

I hope I haven't offended anyone, but I just described one of my riding buddy's brother-in-law.

I'll tell ya something else that kind of gets on my nerves about these people. Trekker's signature line says "Think small baby" at the end. I wish these trailer people would think that way. I really enjoy going the drag races at our local track when they host the AMRA Harley drags. I used to like to camp but anymore there just isn't room, that and I don't like the idea of getting run over by some lazy SOB in his Golf Cart. The Trailer people seem to like to pull in with truck, trailer, and golf cart, and take up all the room they possibly can. Sometimes they even bring a motorcycle.:rolleyes: They tape it off like a crime scene with their bright yellow tape and run their generators all night for good measure. This wouldn't be too bad if they would just park where they are supposed to instead of in the tent camping area. Of course they figure not enough people will see them if they camp in the RV section. Anymore I just buy the wristband and drive back and forth everyday.

For someone that rides a Harley, I'm kinda hard on my fellow Harley riders ain't I?:mad:

[Mr. Guy]

I understand what your saying too, I guess what bothers me is that the people that haul their bikes all over the country in a trailer are the bikers, and there telling me, who has never owned a bike that has ever been in a trailer, that I need to get a real bike. Kind of pisses me off thats all. But I know I just need to get over it. Thats their thing, this is mine. So I guess this will be my last post in this thread, time for me to move on.

Thanks just the same for letting me vent, Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

Guy I know what you mean, I have actually been called stupid for riding my bike to Florida when I could have hauled it.:mad: I truly can't figure out what is lacking in these peoples lives where they have to talk down to someone who is supposed to be a fellow motorcyclist. My guess is Guy, once they find out that you actually ride your bike they start to feel a little inadequate about themselves and feel the need to lash out.

There are certain cases I guess where people aren't physically able to ride a bike very far and have to haul them. I often wonder why people would spend that kind of money on something they can't or won't use. That's why I don't buy golf clubs.:p I guess they are enjoying it all they can though.:confused:

What else that is sad is that a lot of these riders (I use the term loosely) don't have a lot of skills when it comes to actually riding a bike. I have seen them drop $85,000 custom motorcycles trying to turn them around or simply trying to back them into a parking space. These aren't the type of "Bikers" I want riding behind me. I have actually seen people ran into by one of these idiots trying to do a burnout at a stoplight. I really shouldn't laugh, but one of the funniest "crashes" I have seen were no one got hurt was a guy who though he needed to get a run to get up into his trailer. You can imagine how that turned out.:D

Guy, I'll try to lay off the Posers too, but I can't help but laugh or get a little pissed when they say or do something really stupid.:p :mad: :confused:

[bvail]

I can't say whether you are a biker or not, Mr. Guy. I think it's what's in your heart. The word can have many connotations, some good and some not so...

I bought my first bike (not ride - bike) on Guam in 1965. Wasn't much, but I loved it. Got to know every inch of asphalt and some jungle before I left. Had many bikes since. Rode many miles, many years. All kinds of weather and adversity did not stop me. Even blizzards I kept going.

Last summer I had 3 bikes in my garage. A GL1800 (tows a camper nicely). An FJR1300 (extremely fast and tows well). And a newly aquired DL1000 for an upcoming trip this June to Prudhoe Bay, I hope. Last year the GL1800 completed a USA4Corners Tour (hey, I was just along for the ride - the Wing did all the work...)

I only have two bikes in the man-cave now. The FJR is busy making another 'biker' happy.

Am I a biker? I believe I am in my heart.

p.s. Many years ago I was a 1%er. Rode a 1950 H-D Panhead. Now there was a crappy bike, but I loved it.

p.p.s. In all my years of riding many types of bikes, I have never had anyone ask me when I was going to get a real motorcycle. I don't believe that would be a good way to 'Make Freinds and Influence People'.