Real Biker...?

Question

Getting a bit fed up with the 'real bikers' looking down their noses at me because I am on a Honda Innova 125 (step thru). I enjoy riding it tho of course it is totally gutless. It has two wheels and an engine and so its a motorbike, no?.....Actually I have been riding bikes for 30+ years and I've worked for years as a courier, I have raced em too ...so I think of myself as a biker...I just cant afford anything better at the mo (4 kids, struggling business etc). So whats a Real Biker? Is it how much you spent on your bike? is it how much your helmet is worth? Is it someone who only gets their £10,000 Ducati out on a Sunday (if its not raining)?

Answer 1

A real biker is one who enjoys the ride & doesn't give a damn about what people say. 30 grand, 1000 miles a year & a harley tattoo don't make a biker out of you; sad thing is alot of newbies think it does.
Save your cash, get a bigger bike & leave the Innova 125 to the food delivery guys because that thing is more bicycle than bike.

Answer 2

A real biker is someone who rides a bike - any bike and does not have to justify it to anyone.

Why worry about what anyone else thinks? The vast majority of bikers will not look down on anyone on two wheels, so those who you feel are giving you grief are not real bikers.

By the way I have a £10,000 Ducati, ride it every day of the week but even if it was only on dry Sundays would that mean I wan't a real biker either? As I say a real biker does not have to justify it to anyone

Answer 3

I really hadn't thought about this until your question, but like a lot of others I've been riding since the early seventies, in all weathers, and loads of different bikes (except harleys), and usually wave or nod to any other biker irrespective of bike, ( you usually get ignored by the Harley riders).

I think it may be to do with the fact that smaller bikes are usually ridden closer to the kerb and you don't see them behind cars until you've gone past.

What also can be considered is that you rarely see scooters/step throughs out for a ride in a group, the bikes are mainly used for the daily commute and are rarely seen socially

Biking is not just a means of transport, its a social and cultural thing, how often do you see a motorist stopping to help a broken down driver - not often. Motorists are generally anti - any vehicle, let alone bikes.

I think of it this way - everybody has to start somewhere, and the Innova might just be your first bike, so you'd get a nod from me.

Answer 4

Will you ride in the rain, snow, cold, heat, dark or any other time, just because it's riding? Can you fix most things on your bike yourself? You have to know your bike, how it works, where things are located. You would rather live on your bike as to living in a house.
There's to many of the 'real bikers' whose bikes are trailer queens. Go to Daytona Beach for BikeWeek or Biketoberfest and see how many people ride in or trailer them in. Being a biker is a state of mind, and money won't buy it for you. You can tell the ones that are real bikers. Their leathers are worn and faded, gloves are faded. You can tell the difference.
Most of the people who are looking down their nose at you probably bought their bike because their friend at work did. The fad of the day sorta thing.
Your current situation doesn't stop you from enjoying bikes, and being a 'real biker'. Sounds like you have more time than most.

Answer 5

Don't listen to the weekend warriors that only take their bikes out on Saturday & Sunday in 80 degree plus sunny weather.
A real biker is someone who would ride day & night, rain or shine, winter, spring, summer, fall, snow storms, etc.
If someone trailers their bike to a bike meet to show off their ride, they are not real bikers.
You need a motorcycle license to ride a scooter.
So according to the law, a scooter is a motorcycle.
You bring your scooter to a motorcycle repair shop.
When bikers look down at you for riding a scooter, have pitty on them.
They've probably never ridden one and don't reliese the fun and pleasure that can be had from ridding them.
Just give the bikers a wave and say "I'm having fun, You have a problem with that. Keep it to yourself."

Answer 6

A real Biker ...Hmmm that's a good question and I would have to say these days are like no other compared to the 60s 70s 80s when Bikers where thought of as only rebels that hated he Law of the Land and raised hell wherever they went ,but of course they had a bad name in those days and it has taken years to get rid of that image that some would still like to keep . A real biker are people who love to ride Motorcycles and really do not care what somebody else is riding ,You see them on are Nations Highways and Byways small towns and city's ,We all have the same exact feeling that the rest of the world has not yet to understand and that is the feeling of the Breeze as were passing a car ,We go to bike events and runs for the needy ,We step up to the plate and help out another brother are sister when there ride is down ,We ride by ourselves are in large groups knowing its not the destination but the ride we look forward too ,We nod are wave to are fellow biker that feels the way we do , When we hear of a bike accident we all get that same empty feeling in are gut and say a prayer for him/her, A real Biker is presides of his own ride but would still love something even nicer ,maybe even yours ,We have Brothers and sisters uncles and aunts moms and dads grandfather and grandmothers that look at us and think Dam I wish I could be like that /Peace

Answer 7

I have been riding over 50 years, and I raced flat track and hill climbs, so I consider myself abit of a " Real Biker ", just as you do and should. The wind is the same whatever you ride and to me it is about enjoying the freedom and being OUT THERE. What you ride right now, due to your responsibilities to me is not an issue, and I respect you for your staying in there. All too many have this " image " problem (in fact most these days) and are not riding for the pure love of it. You keep riding and enjoy and pay the idiots no mind.

Answer 8

We've got a Honda Fireblade and a KTM 620 Supermotard and I'm just about to buy a 125 Yamaha TW, just for fun. There is definite snobbery in bikes and large sports bike riders tend to ignore the smaller bike riders and strangely enough the tourers BMW's, Goldwings etc. ignore both the sports riders and the small bikers and vice versa. Stupid eh?
Just enjoy the great freedom of being outside on 2 wheels and ignore this petty snobbery.

Answer 9

what is a real biker? to be honest im not sure.
i know what you mean about the snobbery though, i have an aprilia rs 125 and people on big sports bikes nearly always look down at me.i ride it everyday (wind,rain and shine)
does that make me a real biker?!? probably not to some people but i love riding the bike i have got and have respect for all those who ride sensibly and enjoy the open road wheather they have a big bike or scooter.

Answer 10

I think a 'real' biker is one who can actually fix the bike when it goes wrong! Or at least has a good general knowledge of all the mechanical bits.

And also, someone who rides all the time, not just on a Sunday morning scratching with status symbol mates.

It's not what you spend on a bike! Of everything, spend the most on your head and body protection...