Around The Bend: What Is A Biker

Warning: This article is based on opinion. It can contain sarcasm, derision or incongruities. Protective clothing may be necessary when reading.

Some of these magazines have an article entitled “What is a Biker?” And truth be told, we all have our own idea of how that question should be answered. I have listened to bikers discussing politics who are die-hard Republicans. I have also sat with bikers who are so far on the liberal side of the fence you can no longer see the fence. We are all races and all ethnic groups. We cross over every line, white-collar, blue-collar, doctors, lawyers and the occasional Indian Chief.

So, how does one answer the age-old question? What is the “Truth” about what makes a biker a “biker”? Try as you might; it isn’t possible to define what a “biker” is, any easier than you can explain an emotion without using a synonym. The problem is we are really no different than any other group of people with a common denominator, that unique link between us being the motorcycle. And that connection is getting a touch more murky with each passing day.

Harley is not the only acceptable 2-wheel vehicle any longer. Crouch rocket, BMW, Iron House, Indian, Honda, Ural, Triumph, Big Dog and the list goes on and on, are parked, side by side, in front of once thought to be “Harley Only” hangouts. There are even Harley riders gasp changing over to other types of motorcycles after years of faithful membership to the Harley “ONLY” group.

Riding a bike is a conspicuous hobby. You generally ride because you love to ride. Let’s face it though, covertly (or not) most of us really do like to stand out amongst the general populace. But as long as the sun sinks into the west, there will always be riders for whom it isn’t so much the love of riding as it is a love of being “seen”.

Some of us do enjoy taking advantage of the image that goes along with having a motorcycle. But still there are those who once in awhile, when it suits them and the weather is pretty perfect, out comes the bike, along with the appropriate leathers, dusted off for a quick jaunt (because basically their bike is made only for short quick trips). The rest of the non-riding public doesn’t know this, and so they see all the riders as one in the same. To them, a biker is a biker is a … well a biker.

But not necessarily is a biker a “rider” and therein lies the difference I believe.

So really, are we standing out? Or are we just blending in? Where does the world get their idea of who we are; what we are? I think it started way before our time, well, mine anyway, with the movies. The Wild One and Easy Rider being the two biggies that spring to mind, of course.

Wild was initially released in 1953. Can you imagine? It was the first time motorcycle riders were defined as a “gang” (definition: criminal element). It couldn’t have been a great year to be a biker with that kind of discrimination hanging over you (it wasn’t cool to be a criminal in the 50’s like it is now).

Needless to say, the legend began. As most everyone who has a bike knows by now,...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "What Is A Biker". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of Mar / Apr 2006 where this article was originally published.

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