What Is A Biker: Harry Smith

The largest percentage of people who own motorcycles – especially Harley’s – have come into the sport later in life. And there are some good reasons for this, maybe they rode when they were younger but then had the responsibilities of raising a family, or were getting a career started, or maybe they just didn’t have the time or the money.

Now that the kids are raised, the career is on track and they have more disposable income they have come into, or back into, motorcycle riding. That group represents a lot of us who call ourselves “bikers”.

Then there are those among us who have been hard-core, died-in-the-wool bikers since the first time they got on some friends 50cc scoot and rode around the yard. Our featured biker this month is exactly that.

To paraphrase a popular C&W song;

He took a lot of hassle, ‘Cause He never did fit in. Now look at everybody tryin’ to be what he was then.

He was a biker when bikers were not cool Yeah, He was a biker, from his hat down to his boots. He still acts and looks the same: What you see ain’t nothin’ new. He was a biker when bikers were not cool.

The accent is a mix of South and North and almost unidentifiable if not for a few of the tell-tale signature words, the loss of an “r” here and there.

For a Yankee, Harry ain’t too bad. For a biker, Harry A. Smith is at the top of the stack. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Harry lived in one of the U.S. cities with the highest annual snowfall amounts, there he had found the weather could put a serious crimp in the riding plans of even the most dedicated biker.

In the late seventies the economy in Houston was booming and the job situation in Buffalo was getting more and more dismal. So, doing what thousands of northerners did in the 70’s and 80’s, Harry moved his wife and kids to Houston. In the ensuing 25 years Harry has become a successful business man, raised his children, been tolerated by his wife, made many friends all the while managing to continue to make many long trips.

Harry is quick to let you know that he married above his station in life and that may account for his endeavor to stay with the woman he has shared his life with for 45 years. She is the main reason he is no longer a member of any motorcycle club. In New York he wore colors but at his wife’s request, once in Houston, he has remained an independent and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Sunday night is reserved for his wife. Without fail Harry leaves whatever Sunday afternoon biker social gathering he may be attending to take his wife to a nice Sunday Supper.

As a young man in upstate New York – the Buffalo area – he was active in the motorcycle community and did his fair share of partying and hell-raising....

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "Harry Smith". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of Jan / Feb 2005 where this article was originally published.

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