Are You a Real Biker?

[metricman]

Real Biker
A real biker is someone who truly LIVES to ride. Not necessarily a one-percenter or an outlaw, although like it or not, that element exists. The ride is not about how fast you went, or how far you rode. It is about the ride itself and you don't need to go fast or far to find happiness. Happiness is two wheels and a motor. A biker will ride instead of drive whenever possible. Some don't even own cars. They brave the rain and cold or extreme heat to get to where they're going, and not just on the weekends. They give of themselves for charitable causes, and for their fellow riders, enjoying a good ride and a party in the process.

[kenb]

So, what is a motorcyclist?

[nomad561]

I have been riding motorcycles since I was about 8. Do I consider myself a biker? I think the term is subject to personal opinion.There are those people that own motorcycles and ride on the weekends to meet their buddies at the local tavern call themselves "bikers" and there are those people that ride 30,000-40,000 or more miles a year that call themselves "motorcycle enthusiasts". I bought my trailer so we can go more places on the bikes and didn't need to take the cage. I am fortunate to have a girlfriend that loves to ride as much as I do.We will ride 300 miles for lunch or 1 mile for a cold one with friends.Every trip,whether it is to the store or across tthe country,we try to take the bikes. We ride 18,000-20,000 miles a year and would like to ride more,but responsibilities prevent that.
My opinion of what makes a person a "biker" is a person that lives to ride.Nothing else matters.Family,job,money,everything revolves around their motorcycles.
Am I a "biker"? Some would say yes some would say no. I think I am somwhere in between a "biker" and a " motorcycle enthusiast" and I can live with that.

[oldbikers]

I don't care what you call me I have been riding for a long time, and I ride because I love it not because someone has a name for me

[nomad561]

Originally Posted by oldbikers

I don't care what you call me I have been riding for a long time, and I ride because I love it not because someone has a name for me

You call yourself "oldbikers",that makes you a biker.

[phenrichs]

Originally Posted by KenBob

So, what is a motorcyclist?

I honestly believe that the term "motorcyclists" was brought about by riders. These riders are true die hard bikers but were tired of the image that was cast upon them. The general public associates the word 'biker' with all the 1%er images that they are force fed through the drive-thru media.
Many of the people I have met that refer to themselves as motorcyclist have serious full touring machines and have put more miles on 2 wheels than some professional truck drivers have put on 18. I live in SD and one friend's dad only missed 13 days of riding one year, after you subtract required driving like taking the family to grandma's for thanksgiving. 6 of those 13 days were because the interstate was closed for snow. He never once referred to himself as a biker but I would hope that I could be half the 'biker' that he was.

[Top Cat]

The general public associates the word 'biker' with all the 1%er images that they are force fed by media.

That statement right there is why I don't consider myself a biker.
When I hear the word biker I think of the the exact same image.
I am a person who loves to ride. Be it 8 miles to town and back or 300 miles with friends for an all day trip.
I call myself a motorcyclist.

[macmac]

I consider myself a Rider.... I look like a 1% though... At first glance my black jacket is loaded with patches.. The say things like NH, NY, Pa, Oh, Va, Ga, Tn, Ca, Me, Nb, SD, Nv, Ut, the really bad ones see?

[cactusjack]

I call myself a biker because I can't spell Motrclycilst.

[goose]

+1 Scott, I can't even spell it with spelling check, And I don't care what others call me, as long as they don't call me late for Supper! Goose

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I call myself a biker because I can't spell Motrclycilst.

[NRiderUSA]

When I hopped on My Vulcan in 2001 to ride from Minneapolis to Southern Missouri and the themp was 23 I was dressed in layers of insulated underwear, leather, rain gear and full helmet with with a scarf.... I was a biker.
When I hopped on my Nomad in 2008 to drive from Kansas City to Florida and it rained the entire ride even got hailed on just east of St Louis.... I was a biker.
When I hopped on My nomad last weekend and it was 79 and sunny.... I was a motorcyclist.

Guess it depends on what song is playing on my head set as to what I feel like that ride.

[Kawhead]

Rather you call me late for super than an ambulance.
I went so far as to look up the meaning and both so far look like they have the same meaning. Biker is a easy word to say compared to "motorcyclist" and it don't make you sound elitist. And it's also easier to say "There's a feller that rides a motorcycle". :)

[pronghorn]

Yes I am either or both. I just like to ride.

[trip]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I call myself a biker because I can't spell Motrclycilst.

Ya can't spell Nohmaid either, huh CJ?

Call me whatever you want, I just love to ride. While I probably don't look like a 1%'er, I have had families lock the doors to their cars when I pull up.

[metricman]

I call myself a biker because I can't spell Motrclycilst.

LOL.

Reason I asked the ? was I took a survey on face book.
Are you a real biker? my answer was yes.
I am like most of you I could care less, as long as I am riding I am at my happiest
I ride year round, work and play.
I don't think the word biker has the same bad boy image that it once had in the past. maybe it's because of my MP3 player and GPS on my bike.