biker stereotypes

[froggyfrenchman]

anybody else ever had this prob?

I have noticed over the years that a large percentage ofthe general population instantly have to lecture me on road safety and the danger ofbikes when they realise i ride. Well thats the 1s that dnt asume im a dirty smelly stereotype biker ready to kill them all unexpectively!

The point im tryin to make is, in Hawkes bay, its been over 2 years since anyone died on a bike, and it seems theres a fatal car crash every week.

WHY ARE BIKERS SEEN AS SCUM OF THE ROAD????????

[Ixion]

Meh. I like being scum. Tis an upwardly mobile step for me. I used to be dregs.

Them as lecture me on how dangerous it is, I just agree and tell them I've dies three times already

[froggyfrenchman]

im the same. but couldnt they give me a chance to prove it 1st?

[zadok]

Get called a temporary Australian sometimes. I'm not even Australian! That's what some people think of bike riders.

[Dadpole]

Fek 'em all. The part I enjoy is taking off my helmet and they find I am older and greyer than them.

[NC]

I have a large collection of tattoos and a matt black shitty NC30.. I win, I'm biker scum? Hell NO! I ride a bloody japper, it's those harley riding CLOWNS that are biker scum. Well that's what I always heard

[Dafe]

Probably just Jealous cage drivers who envy our freedom.
Most unfortunate that Harley riders do tend to give motorcyclists a bad image especially when roaring through quiet areas scaring the crap out of the oldies. There are alot of elderly folk who are horrified by the extreme noise when it passes by. I know I've jumped a few times myself.
Also, the odd Japper will often add to the equation with speed antics.
Not so much wheelie hoons in Wellington as WhiteTrash has sadly now moved north.
Personally, I don't think motorcyclists have a bad name, not in Wellington. Motorcyclists are probably looked upon as reasonably well respected road users here. I find cage drivers in Wellington are quite courteous to bikers.

[TonyB]

I've been called a temporary NZer many times. Whatever.

As for the scum of the road thing- the is an element of biker culture that works hard to look that way . We all get the rewards for their efforts.

I was at a hardware store once with my jacket on and carrying my helmet. For some reason my eftpos card refused to work on their machine- it wouldn't recognise my pin. The girl said "oh it's the machine- we're getting it replaced". A woman behind me in the que said just a little bit too loudly to her freind "He probably stole it". Made me feel real good that did- never stolen so much as a boiled lolly.

It does have it's advantages though- I used to be able to walk down the busiest street in Chch with my jacket and helmet and people would just get out of the way- bloody funny when you look at the size of me. It didn't work in Nelson though, the difference was quite noticeable.

[SixPackBack]

Things are changing folk's......read the post on the secret life of sixpackback.
Yesterday i was asked to wheel my bike into a 70th birthday function while old dear had her photo taken on it.....gave the old girl a cuddle and a peck on the cheek.....she had tears in her eyes when we left, it really made her day.
Lot more bikes on the road these days, and in my experience not many plonker pilots.......the public will see that, some of them need a little time to catch up!

[Bonez]

Things are changing folk's......read the post on the secret life of sixpackback.
Yesterday i was asked to wheel my bike into a 70th birthday function while old dear had her photo taken on it.....gave the old girl a cuddle and a peck on the cheek.....she had tears in her eyes when we left, it really made her day.
Lot more bikes on the road these days, and in my experience not many plonker pilots.......the public will see that, some of them need a little time to catch up!

Fuck and here I was trying to live up to the "scum of the earth image" Like most other riders I don't give a toss what dedicateted cagers think

[inlinefour]

If I had a dollar for everytime some dumbarse nurse told me off and gave their opinion on why I should not ride, I'd have a new friggin bike!
i now ask if they enjoy life and really feel like they are alive, most say no or not really I then state that i like to do something that scares me every week if I can it helps me fully enjoy life and feel alive, plus I'm addicted to adreniline I suspect, as I also get off on doing stupid things on my mountian bike If they still carry on, I suggest that they go see a Psychologist, I.E. someone who cares

[Motu]

I've never had that lecture - not even from me Mum.I've certainly been looked at in scorn in my younger days - I have no tats or jewlery,but my leather jacket had studs and I worn a filthy cutoff DJ over it,the bikes fitted the stereotype and were noisy.

These days my bikes look cute,I wear a white helmet with designer bikewear - still no one talks to me,but I get the impression it's more - ''wow,he rides a bike,I wonder where he's been,wonder where he's going?''

[Dafe]

Is it just me or has the kiwibiker members all woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Too much last night then? Abit more this morning should get ya

(Turn away if you don't wanna know the Rugby result!!!)

Or is it the lousy attitudes after a well deserved loss to the Boks?

[texmo]

My mums friend is a paramedic his nick name for me is "doner"

[Beemer]

My mums friend is a paramedic his nick name for me is "doner"

Doner? As in kebab? Or donor - as in donator of body parts?

I get told all the time that motorcycling is dangerous, but I think rugby is more likely to injure people than riding. People say to my husband "you don't look like a biker, where are your tattoos?" He usually replies that I have enough tattoos for both of us!

My mother was telling someone that I rode a bike and the person said "oh, does she have a Harley?" My darling mother replied "get real, she rides a REAL bike, not a piece of crap!"

I don't worry about being thought of as scum - I'm a journalist and we usually rate below used car salesmen on the list of respected professions so I suppose a biker journo must be the lowest of the low!