Bikers

I don't usually rank, honest but this will be one... sorry stop reading now if you like :)

There are a lot of RIDERS out on the streets now, they like to think they are Bikers.  They are not! plain and simple.  I have long heard the saying $30,000 and a leather jacket does not make you a Biker.  Well you know what, a motorcycle of any kind and whatever you wear on it does also not mean that you are a biker either.

I am truly tired of these silly little 'biker clubs' also that seem to be springing up everywhere lately.  I'm sure you all know the clubs, 'Family Friendly', anyone can join we don't care what you ride. The idea of finding like minded individuals to ride with is great and I actually like the idea that I will be easily able to identify these riders when I see them also so I guess thanks are in order.  One of my main issues with these organizations is that they put rules around how they ride together and think that now that they know these rules they are bikers and can lead others.  They then go and say people that know these rules real well can be 'Road Captains' or 'Tail Gunners' ( I always laugh at that one), they don't care how you ride, how long you have ridden, hey they passed the test, let them lead they know the rules.  One of the clubs around here I take a personal dislike for, it's really too bad also because I know there are some bikers in this group.  I know for a fact that they have 'promoted' people that can not ride to save their lives (I have seen it first hand) become 'Road Captains' and 'Officers' of the club.  For this, I paint the whole club with one brush stroke, wrong to think this way, yes but too bad, if they knew better they would say something.

I know you can find like minded individuals to ride with, anywhere.  It comes from talking with them, riding with them, then decide.  And after more riding, talking, if they are not like minded get on your bike and go the opposite direction.

So why the rant.  Today I rode my bike in a funeral procession for a biker. Yes I said biker, not rider.  he didn't have the best bike, was not even the type of person most people would bother to get to know. but he didn't pretend, he rode, whatever the weather and whenever you needed him and rode well.  He didn't call himself a biker others did, see there's the secret.  We led the procession, something I thought was wrong, it was his last ride he should have been in front, but I didn't know all the bikers see it was bad weather that usually separates riders from bikers but unfortunately a rider was leading the bikes, I was in the middle.  We took off, the procession was not up with us, the motorcycles were taking off and leaving my buddy behind.  NOT COOL!!!  I dropped back, that line was never more than 30 meters behind me, if a car came between us I got them out of there, that is what needed to be done. We finally caught up to the rider leading, he didn't think anything was wrong, I turned away, I had to say goodbye.

There are lots of codes out there, ways to 'be a biker', know a biker etc.  I got only one thing to say about that.

Your a biker when a old, good rider, biker introduces you as a biker he knows.  that's it, that's all.

RIP brother, you will always be a biker in my eyes.

PAWS