motorcycles and skulls

egetaseb · 08-11-2010, 07:52 AM

Will someone please explain the link between bikes (bikers) and skull images? I have searched online but could not find any literature on the history of these two.
I personally do not like skull images anywhere around my bike or on my jacket but I am fascinated by the love affair bikers have with either the plain skull or the flaming skull.
Thanks

kenb · 08-11-2010, 08:29 AM

Probably a perceived attitude sign. "See my flaming mean skull logo? I am a mean dude, have a bad attitude, don't mess with me" It works too. Its all about the visual.

Loafer · 08-11-2010, 08:35 AM

Thats a good question, bikers were scary at one time, people didn't understand them, I bet most everyone here has felt misunderstood. Someone must have thought that having skull designs on their person or MC would scare the townies. I think it worked for a long time. One of my sons hates skulls, says they remind him of evil. He doesn't want to be a biker, he wants to be a motorcyclist. I think that might be one reason some riders had to have a HD, they need to be scary, because they are not. If you read this far, congratulations, you now know I don't know

cactusjack · 08-11-2010, 08:59 AM

I don't see what's evil about a skull. We each have one.

The Hell's Angels and other motorcycle clubs have used skulls in some form in their patches for 60 years or so. I am guessing it might be for the intimidation factor. A puppy or flowers don't evoke the same initial reaction.

phenrichs · 08-11-2010, 09:13 AM

Nobody is afraid of someone driving a VW beetle with the little flower on the dash. However a big guy on a bike covered in skulls evokes an entirely different feeling.

of course BD and his pressed shirts can be frightening as well.

Loafer · 08-11-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OP

Nobody is afraid of someone driving a VW beetle with the little flower on the dash. However a big guy on a bike covered in skulls evokes an entirely different feeling.

of course BD and his pressed shirts can be frightening as well.

HAHAHA!

AlabamaNomadRider · 08-11-2010, 09:44 AM

Just a guess but pirates used skulls and cross bones and represented being a bada$$ maybe. Just a thought.

Blue Rebel · 08-11-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loafer

Quote:

Originally Posted by OP

Nobody is afraid of someone driving a VW beetle with the little flower on the dash. However a big guy on a bike covered in skulls evokes an entirely different feeling.

of course BD and his pressed shirts can be frightening as well.

HAHAHA!

I'll 2nd that, HaHaHa!!! :) :)

Blue Rebel · 08-11-2010, 09:57 AM

Now you'll also notice more T's for Christians with a cross, bikes and eagles.

I like to associate eagles with motorcycles as a symbol of free spirit.

mac · 08-11-2010, 10:10 AM

My daughter isn't a biker (although she'd like one), and she LOVES skulls and collects them. She's strange.... (but extremely smart).

macmac · 08-11-2010, 10:57 AM

Not into them myself, but I think once after WW-2 and most bikers having been in the Militarty is where it comes from. But that was then, and this is now and so I have no idea why it hung on as it has.

I don't do skulls, flames and other what has become common cookie cutter deco art, but I don't try to stop others from it.

Some bikes in flames i still like too, but just not on my bikes.

My wife collects wild animal skulls as she can and has one of a horse as well. The only ones I have are antique beads carved from bone, and not particullarly well. I am not sure if I still have them either.

**ringadingh** · 08-11-2010, 03:00 PM

Ive never been a big fan of skulls on bikes, but there are some unique custom paint jobs depicting a skull theme.

recumbentbob · 08-11-2010, 03:16 PM

google search turned these up.

http://www.pacificgrids.com/skull/wi...ll-article.htm

http://www.oldburialhill.org/pond/po...3a.html#winged

http://history.vineyard.net/cemetery/wt/index.html

http://www.bigcyclepro.com/the-histo...avidson-logos/

Looks like the skull and wings were used as far back as the 1600s.

egetaseb · 08-11-2010, 07:54 PM

From reading the responses, it seems that none of you is a fan of the skull design on your bikes or accessories. I do like Blue Rebel's idea of the eagle and might borrow that when I paint my bike. I just browsed all the links recumbethbob provided and now admire HD's marketing genius more than ever.

wiz · 08-11-2010, 07:58 PM

I have seen some skull designs that I did like, and some that were mostly lame. Personally, I like the Maltese cross designs. :)

08-11-2010, 07:52 AM	#1
egetaseb Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 238	motorcycles and skulls Will someone please explain the link between bikes (bikers) and skull images? I have searched online but could not find any literature on the history of these two. I personally do not like skull images anywhere around my bike or on my jacket but I am fascinated by the love affair bikers have with either the plain skull or the flaming skull. Thanks __________________ Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. KawaNOW #00755 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-11-2010, 08:29 AM	#2
kenb Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Galt, Ca Posts: 514	motorcycles and skulls Probably a perceived attitude sign. "See my flaming mean skull logo? I am a mean dude, have a bad attitude, don't mess with me" It works too. Its all about the visual. __________________ VBA 00735 VROC 28102 2008 KVN MOB & NS The only hand-held device that should be legal to use while driving is the STEERING WHEEL!
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08-11-2010, 08:35 AM	#3
Loafer Sr. Contributor Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 18,287	motorcycles and skulls Thats a good question, bikers were scary at one time, people didn't understand them, I bet most everyone here has felt misunderstood. Someone must have thought that having skull designs on their person or MC would scare the townies. I think it worked for a long time. One of my sons hates skulls, says they remind him of evil. He doesn't want to be a biker, he wants to be a motorcyclist. I think that might be one reason some riders had to have a HD, they need to be scary, because they are not. If you read this far, congratulations, you now know I don't know __________________ Gerry Martineau / 802 VT / VBA #0892 /[email]glmjgm@gmail.com[email]
	0

08-11-2010, 08:59 AM	#4
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	motorcycles and skulls I don't see what's evil about a skull. We each have one. The Hell's Angels and other motorcycle clubs have used skulls in some form in their patches for 60 years or so. I am guessing it might be for the intimidation factor. A puppy or flowers don't evoke the same initial reaction. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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08-11-2010, 09:13 AM	#5
phenrichs Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 2,498	motorcycles and skulls Nobody is afraid of someone driving a VW beetle with the little flower on the dash. However a big guy on a bike covered in skulls evokes an entirely different feeling. of course BD and his pressed shirts can be frightening as well. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-11-2010, 09:44 AM	#7
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	motorcycles and skulls Just a guess but pirates used skulls and cross bones and represented being a bada$$ maybe. Just a thought. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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08-11-2010, 09:57 AM	#9
Blue Rebel Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines Posts: 607	motorcycles and skulls Now you'll also notice more T's for Christians with a cross, bikes and eagles. I like to associate eagles with motorcycles as a symbol of free spirit.
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08-11-2010, 10:10 AM	#10
mac Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 265	motorcycles and skulls My daughter isn't a biker (although she'd like one), and she LOVES skulls and collects them. She's strange.... (but extremely smart). __________________ ~Ride Safe~ Mac Dennis "Master Mac" McHenry VROC#880, VBA#673, DarkSide#273 '15 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited '05 Vulcan 1600 Nomad (Left the nest) '02 Vulcan 1500 Classic Fi (RIP) '95 Vulcan 750, (Retired) Houston/Klien, Tx
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08-11-2010, 10:57 AM	#11
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	motorcycles and skulls Not into them myself, but I think once after WW-2 and most bikers having been in the Militarty is where it comes from. But that was then, and this is now and so I have no idea why it hung on as it has. I don't do skulls, flames and other what has become common cookie cutter deco art, but I don't try to stop others from it. Some bikes in flames i still like too, but just not on my bikes. My wife collects wild animal skulls as she can and has one of a horse as well. The only ones I have are antique beads carved from bone, and not particullarly well. I am not sure if I still have them either. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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08-11-2010, 03:00 PM	#12
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	motorcycles and skulls Ive never been a big fan of skulls on bikes, but there are some unique custom paint jobs depicting a skull theme. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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08-11-2010, 03:16 PM	#13
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	motorcycles and skulls google search turned these up. http://www.pacificgrids.com/skull/wi...ll-article.htm http://www.oldburialhill.org/pond/po...3a.html#winged http://history.vineyard.net/cemetery/wt/index.html http://www.bigcyclepro.com/the-histo...avidson-logos/ Looks like the skull and wings were used as far back as the 1600s. __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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08-11-2010, 07:54 PM	#14
egetaseb Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 238	motorcycles and skulls From reading the responses, it seems that none of you is a fan of the skull design on your bikes or accessories. I do like Blue Rebel's idea of the eagle and might borrow that when I paint my bike. I just browsed all the links recumbethbob provided and now admire HD's marketing genius more than ever. __________________ Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. KawaNOW #00755
	0

08-11-2010, 07:58 PM	#15
wiz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 498	motorcycles and skulls I have seen some skull designs that I did like, and some that were mostly lame. Personally, I like the Maltese cross designs. :)
	0

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