Around The Bend: Why bikers become bikers

Bikers become bikers frequently due to experiences that are set in motion at a young age. We embark on our motorcycle fascination by appreciatively admiring those hunks of metal with the shiny paint as we watch it streak down the road. The way a small child dances to music on the radio, the motorcycle will take hold of an admirer in the dance of a completely different tune.

Some of us may have had a parent or a relative who encouraged our yearning to ride motorcycles. By taking us on trips around the block, to the market or the park they fed the hunger. Or perhaps you were one of those fans who, from the back seat of a car, watched with gleaming eyes as the biker pulled up next to your parent’s car. We bikers have seen the little boys and girls who shyly peer from the back seat or the side window of a car to catch a glimpse of the shimmering bike. The bravest have the daring to risk offering a timid little wave from a chubby hand, usually followed by a nervous giggle and smile and, should you take the time to smile and wave back, that chubby little hand will cover the smiling mouth and the eyes will become huge and sparkle. I often think, “There goes a future rider”.

There is something about that biker, so self-assured, astride their growling steel pony. People notice, they watch and they wonder what it is like to be the rider. Non-riders believe, rightly or not, that bikers represent a wild life, full of adventure and little responsibility. Most of us know this isn’t true (well not totally!); we have our families and jobs in the “real” world too. But we also know that we can get on our bike and suddenly be free of the stress of the workday as we ride away into the sunset. And I believe many of those non-riders secretly admire the freedom symbolized by the motorcycle.

The yearning for that lack of restrictions tugs at them to join us in the adventure. In some, for reasons they don’t quite recognize nor even acknowledge, the craving to be straddling a bike continues until it can no longer be ignored. I see the desire to be a part of the journey in their stares as we ride by. And I wave and think, “It won’t be long now.”

Unfortunately, not every time we are noticed is it with pleasure and appreciation for with the air of mystery that surrounds us also comes some tribulations. Motorcycle intolerance is typical everywhere. To the outsider we are that tough motion picture biker, who is trouble with a capital “T”. Travel in packs or travel alone, either way, we are watched as we ride by, sometimes slyly from the corner of their eye, sometimes with a whip of the neck but many times expecting the worse. Some stares contain alarm and even fear.

When the parent yanks that smiling child away from the window and directs them not to make eye contact with one of “those people”, one can only imagine the words used to describe the rider who, seconds ago, was being admired by the stare of those innocent eyes. The assumption is that the biker will cause harm. We deal with being depicted in the media as thieves, criminals, and the loser but hardly ever is the biker the champion.

Talking to one 20-something-year-old young lady at a biker frequented watering hole; she relayed her initial apprehension when her employer had first informed her that she...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "Why bikers become bikers". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of Sep / Oct 2004 where this article was originally published.

availabilty: sold out