She called me a "Biker"

[nhmaf]

Generally the biker gangs like the skulls, hells angels, etc. don't have much public visibility in our area -- EXCEPT when it comes time for certain big time motorcycle races at the nearby Loudon Speedway, or for the Laconia Motorcycle rally (which used to be just a weekend but for the past 10 years or so has been exteneded to an entire "Bike Week".   It is a gigantic conglomeration of squids on racerboy bikes, H-D posers, Grandpas on Goldwings, Airheads, Cafe racers, Adventure bikers - you name it....and the true 1% honest to god badass bikers also do show up, too.  They have their usual/frequent spots and out of the main thoroughfare party and camping areas that You Just Do Not Go To if you have half a functioning brain in your head.   Several decades ago there would be some skirmishes among rival gangs but they mostly try to keep a lower profile these days and just push drugs at the events out of the main spotlight, unless someone does something to cause  serious offense.   In some of the towns in my area a gang may move in for the week and rent most of the available rooms/cottages and the other gangs will generally try to honor boundaries and pick a different town to collect in.    Most years, there isn't too much trouble, though the local police departments always gear up for that middle of June week in anticipation of something happening.

[steve hawkins]

I have also been a member of a large motorcycle club.  but quite often the club politics can get in the way of any fun there might have been had.

The club I was a member of was a 'general' club, but there were factions within and was quite often 'clicky' (derived from - clique) and difficult to get into and as such had a high turnover in new members.    

The factions varied, there were those that like to sit in a field all weekend and get drunk/high, whilst listening to a second rate band.  Those that liked to foster an image of being 'bad ass', whether it be by the way they presented themselves or the way they rode.  There were Harley people, race rep people, Old Brit iron types, general assholes and me, on a BMW K100.

The club finally self destructed, as there were two personalities, both of which felt that they had the answer about what the club should be doing, where it should be going, where/when it should meet, etc.  This led to an irrevocable split is the club.  Not into two factions but into three.  10% of the members backed one side, 10% backed the other.  The other 80% walked away in disgust.

I did a few trips with them, across to France a couple of times, down to the coast, and a couple of bike shows, over a 2 or 3 year period.

Frankly, I do not like riding in large groups.  Quite often it can be very  dangerous, as you only need one inattentive or irresponsible muppet to create mayhem, or at the very least cause friction within the group.

Then you are forced to introduce rigid rules of the road for the group.  The larger the group, the less likely it is that you are going to get from the ride, what you want.  Whether you are being forced to ride slower than you want to, make more fuel stops for the idiot with the less than 100 mile tank range, or the bloke that comes out for a ride on an ill prepared machine, with no fuel.  

The list goes on.  I was one of the 80% that walked away in disgust.  If I wanted 'office politics' I can get that from work.  I just wanted to enjoy my bike and chat with like minded people - which I found were few and far between.  This is what make these forums a great thing!  

I also now only ride in very small groups, with people I know well, who have a similar outlook.  On long rides, when we get to 4, we split into two independent pairs with similar bikes and riding styles - A buddy-buddy system.....And we have a destination and a time to meet at.  We may do the whole ride as a foursome, we may not, for whatever reason.

We talk at the destination and do not use intercoms or radios whilst we ride.  We just text each other if there is an issue.  Everyone is responsible for navigation, whether you lead or not.

Friends of friends are welcome.  If they fit in, they get asked to come again.  If they don't......well

Cheers for reading.

Rev. Light

[k_enn]

<snip>Frankly, I do not like riding in large groups.  Quite often it can be very  dangerous, as you only need one inattentive or irresponsible muppet to create mayhem, or at the very least cause friction within the group.

Then you are forced to introduce rigid rules of the road for the group.  The larger the group, the less likely it is that you are going to get from the ride, what you want.  Whether you are being forced to ride slower than you want to, make more fuel stops for the idiot with the less than 100 mile tank range, or the bloke that comes out for a ride on an ill prepared machine, with no fuel.  
<snip>
I also now only ride in very small groups, with people I know well, who have a similar outlook.  On long rides, when we get to 4, we split into two independent pairs with similar bikes and riding styles - A buddy-buddy system.....And we have a destination and a time to meet at.  We may do the whole ride as a foursome, we may not, for whatever reason.

I hear all that you said, and I agree with most of it.  I will ocassionally do a large group ride for charity, but it does make me uneasy.  There are usually enough idiots somewhere in the group that safety gets compromised, either by tailgating, inattentiveness, showing off, etc.  Like may BMW riders I know, I prefer to ride alone, or with one other rider.  This is so even for club events.  Usually I will meet the other members at the destination, and enjoy swapping stories of the day over a beer or two.  But for actual riding, I do prefer to have the freedom to take diversions and interesting roads that may pop up on my way to the destination.  

k_enn

[Barry]

They say riding in a group is an acquired skill but I never did acquire it and it never felt as safe as solo riding. Too much speeding up and slowing down for me,  The rider behind always seems to have to ride faster than the lead rider just to keep up.  I like to ride at my own pace and rhythm or with someone else of like mind. Even if you lead there is almost inevitably a physiological pressure to ride faster than you might otherwise do.

All in all I don't find it a good recipe for safe and enjoyable riding.

[livingdeadhead]

when my sportster was off the road and i was using my 1100 virago , i went over to st leger harley for parts and to browse .(closed now) got talking to the boss and was invited out the following sunday for a run , doncaster to matlock , about 40 miles (took 3 hours , utter tedium) unbelievably i had to sign a waver and generally be a nice chappie , i was warned about taking my hands off the bars ! lol f****g snitch lol. they were quite derogative over my choice of steed , they were even looking down on a guy who'd picked up a brand new gorgeous £8000 sportster . of the 45 or so , several had bikes bought just the day before !
 topics of conversation included newly purchased £600,000 houses in walled estates , and the bike they were getting next , one guy had more tattoos than skin , strangely none would show when wearing a nice shirt when in the office , he stated he didn't like old harleys as they may be unreliable ! and admitted the dealer did all his work , as it was under guarantee , as they all were , he changed it every year or so . actually the topics usually concerned , houses , cars , investments etc , they'd arranged to have a cafe for their own use and parked round the back or in the adjacent alley . all their clothing was harley brand £500 jackets etc . (had my £10 akito on) their mechanical knowledge was vague or non existent, most had started riding in their 40s, 95% of harley riders seem to be like this, rubs (rich urban bikers) it doesnt matter if you call yourself a biker or a motorcyclist . the point is . excluding all personal reasons , and you could either afford a bike or a car , what would you choose?

[steve hawkins]

well done for sticking with it.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Bear with me here for a moment, but from one perspective my favorite motorcycle movie, "Wild Hogs" demonstrates social typecasting, both positive and negative.  Yes there are pirate wannabes and there are high end snobs.  To me it's all about the ride and the fact that you care enough to go out and ride.  I even wave at scooter riders.

[DerekM]

It's all about the ride. I tend to see bikers as someone who lives in a fantasy land, whether it's a brand new triumph with matching triumph jacket, or a Harley Davidson weekend rider. In LA we get a lot of cafe racers who dig the hipster vibe but work on their own bikes, or lawyers who pay for $100 throttle cables. And I don't trust anyone who won't work on their own bike.

Personally, I am a two stroke scooterist no matter what I ride. Always will be. I run a vintage monthly ride out of pasadena. Modern plastic things don't do it for me, and that's why I ended up here with a r65.

[Barry]

Very nice and probably costs more the an R65. I'm going to guess and say it's an Li Series 2. I had a Lambretta before I got into bikes. It resulted in my only ever brush with the law when I was caught riding under age. £5 fine and points on my yet to be obtained license.

Never had one but I was fascinated by the Vespa which had the engine on one side and the spare wheel on the other. The weight imbalance didn't seem to cause a problem.

[Lucky_Lou]

Frankly, I do not like riding in large groups.  Quite often it can be very  dangerous, as you only need one inattentive or irresponsible muppet to create mayhem, or at the very least cause friction within the group.
Rev. Light

I think "Biker" may have a different connotation in the USA as I don't feel there are as many negatives here in the UK, I have been on several major event ride Afghan Hero's from RWB several times which despite having thousands attending the atmosphere is great and the ride well disciplined.
The MAG protest group events are a different matter, plenty of Muppets showing off their lack of skills, as we were gathering at the M62 services for the last one there were at least three rear enders between bikes on the way into the car park
We see the wild hog types regularly at squires where we welcome all sorts of scooters/ mopeds antiques etc, personally I don't have time to be arseing about polishing all that chrome I just want to have the freedom to ride when and where I feel like it.
Lou

[steve hawkins]

Nice scooter Derek.  Had a PX200 myself in the not so distant past - i.e. it has a disc brake and autolube.  However my 18 year son 'hoons' around on a 1979 Douglas (Vespa) P125X.  Mixes his own petroil, he does.

Its a bit shabby and basic.  But its great for transport around the town.  I.e. it can keep up with the traffic.  Buts its another thing out on the open road : )

Rev Light

[livingdeadhead]

i rode one once ! a vespa !

[DerekM]

That's my lambretta LI150 series 2, I pulled it out of a barn in Redding, CA a few years back and has been in California since 61.  I did all the work myself with the exception of the engine, its got a 190 kit and pulls very nicely for a scoot. Owned more than a couple of vespas and love them too. still have a rally 200 in my garage. Great for around town and short freeway jumps, those 10" wheels can get dicey.

http://youtu.be/RueOvwkjc2Q  

[Barry]

That's one fast scooter. They must have near doubled the stock power output to go that quick. I remember 2 stroke tuning being all the rage with fancy exhausts and grinding the ports in the barrel.  And wasn't there something about filling the flywheel balance holes with cork to increase crankcase compression? What could be simpler than a piston ported 2 stroke. 1st engine I ever took to bits at the age of 15.