What has made motorcycling respectable

[HenryDorsetCase]

Thats both a statement and a question.

My view is that what has made bikes "respectable" in society of late (say last 5 -10 years) is the influx of cheap cars: boy racer fuckwit cars in particular.

This has meant that people who, in an earlier age of more expensive motoring, would have bought motorbikes to get speed thrills on, now buy rice rocket shitpiles.

That means that people who buy bikes now are enthusiasts. Also there is a well documented swing towards people buying bikes later in life or reintroducing themselves to bikes.

Thus the demographic shifts, and viola, "Boy racers" are now vilified as the fucking morons they are, not bikers.

Its a good thing, I think.

[thehollowmen]

I think you've got something there.
We've also got to add metrosexual bikers to the mix (if your toiletries won't fit in your saddle bags you know who you are) and mid-life crisis-ers.

They're the new face of bikers, being professionals everybody sees them at work and this has opened us up "they're just like us but with less wheels"

funny I was discussing this the other night over cocktails..

[gamgee]

then there's still us younger ones who ride for that thrill, that being in a high powered cage just can't give, swinging ya bike through a set of twisties for example, can't wait to get a bigger bike, haha showed a non bikie mate what i was planning on getting next, he says i'll kill myself, then again, he said that about the kwaka, the honda, and the yamaha, and i still haven't even fallen off

[Pwalo]

Yes you are right. Riders, as opposed to Bikers seem to be quite respectable lately. I guess it's because a large proportion of us are in the middle age demographic and bikes aren't seen as the dirty and nasty things they were previously.

I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

[Motu]

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.

[Marmoot]

My view is that what has made bikes "respectable" in society of late (say last 5 -10 years)

I think you'd better stop smoking that much weed......

[outlawtorn]

I try and put out a friendly image by waving to kids who stare at me and by being very courteous on the roads.

[James Deuce]

I get pissed off being labelled a "mid-life crisis-ers(sic)", or even worse a metrosexual. I use deoderant, but I have nose hair. And back hair. Lots and lots of back hair.

I wouldn't be a "returning biker" if it wasn't for serious injury. I couldn't ride a bike, had to give up racing karts, all sorts of stuff because I couldn't hold a steering wheel, operate a throttle or brake lever, and couldn't guarantee I wouldn't end up miles from anywhere imobilised by a sudden migraine. Not a headache, a real proper migraine, with aura, tremors, vomitting, dysphasia, and no feeling in my hands or feet.

I dare say that there are a great number of people who have either realised that life is too short, have recovered from illness or injury, or any other myriad of reasons at an age where the bike press, and the young uns disparagingly label us BABs: Born Again Bikers.

Motorcycling isn't respectable until people stop getting pissed off at us for lane splitting, automatically hear "Gang" when you say Club, or stop talking and stare when you turn up at a cafe in leathers and a helmet. 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.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I think you'd better stop smoking that much weed......

I hate the shit. Havent had it since my early '20's.

oh, and why?

[Keystone19]

Don't forget the increasing number of women riding. That will always bring respectability to an activity...

[Finn]

haha showed a non bikie mate what i was planning on getting next, he says i'll kill myself, then again, he said that about the kwaka, the honda, and the yamaha, and i still haven't even fallen off

Be careful saying stuff like that here buddy. The Grim Reaper is a regular on KB and he loves immortals.

[Lou Girardin]

but I have nose hair. And back hair. Lots and lots of back hair.
.

This evoles some horrible imagery. Do you find it waves in the breeze like a field of maize?

[James Deuce]

Only at the beach. I do wonder if there is an Italian or Greek in my family tree somewhere.

[Big Dave]

not me!!!!

[bigbadwolf]

I agree that biking has become a bit more respectable recently, yet the media still tends to focus on giving bikes and bikers a negative image. Picked up my newspaper and turn to the second page (may have been the Saturday Press?), only to see a "Motorcycle Mayhem" article about how a bike was clocked at 170km/h around Invercargill (may have been Scumdog? haha). Think of the number of cars that would be clocked at that kind of speed compared with bikes, then think of how many of those cars would get mentioned anywhere...