What's a Biker
The word "biker" means different
things to different people. Some people are
fixated on the movie stereotype with the
bad personal hygiene, low IQ, and penchant
for hitting people on the head with beer
bottles. Others in the motorcyle community
have their own rigid definitions and spend
a lot of time on "I'm a real biker and you're not" diatribes. Stinger
once asked a biker BBS for definitions and got a different answer from every biker
there.
Since we're using the B-word in the title
of our site, we figured we should take a
crack at defining what it means to us.
Stinger's version:
The short answer to the question "what's
a biker?"
A biker is not just one who owns a motorcycle.
There are numerous people who own multiple
bikes, but never ride them. A biker is someone
who owns and rides a motorcycle, and not
merely as a means of transportation. Being
a biker means taking a motorcycle on long
journeys, day and night, rain or shine. And
a biker shares a certain rapport with his/her
motorcycle. A biker loves being on the road
and the heightened sense of their surroundings.
A biker respects nature, being so close to
it so often. A true biker cares less what you ride and more that you ride. A biker is an adventurer, one
who transcends normal life, welcomes the
freedom of open motion, and the ecstasy and
peace of mind gleaned from it. A biker is
a generous and respectful person, who helps
those in need and believes in "live
and let live". And a biker is driven
by spiritual, rather than material needs.
Want the long answer?
Big Ben's version:
The best definition I ever heard was this:
You know a biker by the look in the eyes
as you pass each other and wave, a look that
says "You ride too, and you know what
I'm smiling about."
As far as I'm concerned, if you understand
what I'm talking about, you're a biker, end
of story.
And for you posers out there too blinded
by brand loyalties to see that it's all about
FREEDOM, baby, remember what my brother Carl Whitecrow said when some loser told him his CB 750
was Jap Crap:
"It sure as hell beats walking, don't
it?"
Peace!
