What has made motorcycling respectable

[buellbabe]

It's not a lifestyle, it's just engaging, enjoyable transport, with enough fun factor to make it an enjoyable weekend hobby in all its forms.

HUH? Have to disagree with that. For me it is most definately a lifestyle choice, my life revolves around bikes!

And keystone19 has a good point re:the incresase of female riders, that does seem to have influenced public perception

Also somone else mentioned Harley, well the reason Harley formed the Harley Owners Group was to change the way Joe-Public viewed their bikes. There were too many a-holes riding their machines and they wanted to attract a 'nicer clientele'. Harley partly sponsor the HOG Rallies and are constantly peeved with us Kiwis cos we have booze at our Rallies. The Hog Rallies in the States are VERY family orientated!
They really have gone out of their way to make their bikes 'appeal to respectable types'(with $$)...

[Finn]

But it's also brought in an image thing centred around money - the latest go fast bike,one peice race leathers,tyres etc,riders think they get ''rep'' from other riders by having the ''best'' bike and gear,''chicken strips'',knee sliders,$1000 helmets with the latest paint job.

Maybe some counciling will help? I've got a one piece suit, no chicken stripes, a $2000 Aria helmet and according to the press and WINJA, the slowest go fast bike on the market. The later has just been rectified by Lou.

I'm not looking for any respect or kudos... just twisty roads.

And I don't think anything less of you for riding a farm bike.

[Lou Girardin]

Harley partly sponsor the HOG Rallies and are constantly peeved with us Kiwis cos we have booze at our Rallies. The Hog Rallies in the States are VERY family orientated!

They'd really hate the Czech chapter then.
2006 HOG rally in Prague, 21.30 - 22.30 Miss Wet T shirt
22.00 - 22.30 Striptease
23.45 Sexy Dancers.
The locals are seriously miffed too.

[Motu]

There are countless gararges around the country wherein lies a KTM dirt bike,used twice.....a FatBoy,used 3 times a year.....a brand spanking new looking sportsbike also used 3 times a year - the disposable income has given these guys the money to indulge their every whim,they can play the part,and be respectable.

I'll go to the Classic meeting in a couple of weeks - and I'm sure somewhere I'll see an XR8 pulling a brand new trailer...on the back will be a beautifully restored Goldstar DB34,the rider will have brand new Tachnic leathers and Sidi boots - he just thought he'd like to give classic racing a go.

I heard this morning that another billion dollars of personal debt was racked up in Dec - where the fuck is this money coming from?....more importantly,who's giving it away?.....and who's taking it without the means to pay it back?

[buellbabe]

They'd really hate the Czech chapter then.
2006 HOG rally in Prague, 21.30 - 22.30 Miss Wet T shirt
22.00 - 22.30 Striptease
23.45 Sexy Dancers.
The locals are seriously miffed too.

LOL! Jeez harley must be PISSED at them!
Wonder how long the Chapter has been going...

[Mooch]

/me is not respectable. I don't want motorcycling to become "respectable", I'd like it to be "respected". And Mr Motu has a point , too many riders with lots of money, it's in danger of becoming a wankfest. There's guys out there who spend more on a helmet than I do on a bike. Which is OK I guess, so long as it doesn't become a "nigel" sort of thing, like it is with cars. Bikers used to be very genuine people, no swank or posing about them , not so sure that's true any more. The whole notion of a "metrocyclist" seems absurd to me.

I don't quite see motu's / your point the same way. Motorcycling is often relative to income, most people's incomes peek around there late 30's earlier forty's . Add to this that often mortgages are often at an end and some will have kids move out into the world. It leaves a high disposal income to spend of things other than retirement. It's not about showing off, it’s that some things are more affordable. I don't remember changing from a genuine "biker" to a wankfest after buying a newer bike and some better gear. Still the same person (OK, maybe slightly senile) I spent more on my first bike 1991, relative to disposable income than I have now as do many people here. These younger 250 sportbike riders will know what I'm talking about.

I do however get pissed off with "Tall Poppy Syndrome" IE, anyone that has something nicer / newer / better / higher whatever than "me" must be a swank/ poser /w@nker.

Is motorcycling respectable? depends on the attitude and experiences of the person judging really, based on the circle of friends I've gained through motorcycling I'd say it's highly respectable. (sorry Jim2 , this includes you )

It's probably about time the "Born again biker" saying goes as well. Once a biker, always a biker. End of story !

[James Deuce]

Jim2 : no offence intended there. .

Sorry sir, none taken, I was making an observation in the heat of the moment and there was no bite back intended, it just came out that way.

[Ixion]

HUH? Have to disagree with that. For me it is most definately a lifestyle choice, my life revolves around bikes!

And keystone19 has a good point re:the incresase of female riders, that does seem to have influenced public perception

Also somone else mentioned Harley, well the reason Harley formed the Harley Owners Group was to change the way Joe-Public viewed their bikes. There were too many a-holes riding their machines and they wanted to attract a 'nicer clientele'. Harley partly sponsor the HOG Rallies and are constantly peeved with us Kiwis cos we have booze at our Rallies. The Hog Rallies in the States are VERY family orientated!
They really have gone out of their way to make their bikes 'appeal to respectable types'(with $$)...

I guess that's why there's so many arseholes riding Harleys nowadays - with never a wave. No diss to the HD riders here who are all good types (ie non-respectable) , I'm sure.

But really --- NO BOOZE ???? WTF sort of bike rally is that ?

[Ixion]

I don't quite see motu's / your point the same way. Motorcycling is often relative to income, most people's incomes peek around there late 30's earlier forty's . ..!

I think the point was that there seem to be quite a few people out there who are buying bikes not because they have any real committment to biking but because it's the next "fashion accessory" on the list - Got the beach house - check; got the Mercedes - check ; got the Jetski - check : what's next - Oh yeah gotta have a motorbike to look cool on - guess I'll mosey down to the Harley Davidson agents and get one , and pick up some of that cool leather gear while I'm there. And then the bike gets ridden for a couple of kilometres once or twice a year. But it looks good sitting on it in the driveway and revving the engine. I know at least two like that, one's a physician , t'others a lawyer.

[Mooch]

Know 3 Harley riders myself, ride with two of them. Yep, ones a senior manager, the other is an exec that's change recently changed career. They ride , and ride and ride. They are in it for motorcycling always has, always will. They have the gear, disposable income again. Motorcycles again relative to income. Real motorcyclists ,Yes. Same as the guy on the RG150 or the Girl on the CBR250RR., same as the person that been riding 1 or 50 years.

[Ixion]

..

I'll go to the Classic meeting in a couple of weeks - and I'm sure somewhere I'll see an XR8 pulling a brand new trailer...on the back will be a beautifully restored Goldstar DB34,the rider will have brand new Tachnic leathers and Sidi boots - he just thought he'd like to give classic racing a go.

..

Bet he didn't do the restore though. The real classic racers are usually doing it on the smell of an oily rag, and their leathers are patched , faded and shabby.

[Lou Girardin]

Harley riders are as varied as any other group. You get the '500 km's in 6months' type and the guys that do 80,000 km's a year.

[Big Dave]

I heard this morning that another billion dollars of personal debt was racked up in Dec - where the fuck is this money coming from?....more importantly,who's giving it away?.....and who's taking it without the means to pay it back?

Me - wanna but a 1998 Triumph Trophy?

[pritch]

I heard this morning that another billion dollars of personal debt was racked up in Dec who's taking it without the means to pay it back?

Me ? :-)

[Bonez]

Yes you are right. Riders, as opposed to Bikers seem to be quite respectable lately.

I do think you are getting the terms "biker" and "bikie" mixed up. Have always have been and always will be a biker who rides a m/c.