I have been informed that I am a rider....

[Ed Hobgood]

I ride a Stallion and I've been riding it for a while now and there hasn't been anyone talk bad about me or the trike. I must just be a nice guy or it could be I'm a little over six foot and they just don't want to mess with me. Anyway getting back to what you ride is your choice and why should you care what anyone else thinks? It's your be happy!

[Steve on 3]

I think we as trikers are less apt to point fingers and talk about others rides simply because we are subject to that ourselves. from comments like "don't park on Main st at daytona because you are taking up bike spaces" to when will you get rid of the training wheels? They do ge humbled when they ask if thye can put their helmet in my trunk instead of leaving it on their seat.

[cdculbertson]

These "what/who's a real biker" threads used to come up all the time in the two Harley forums that I used to belong to. After awhile those and the threads making fun of people who wear chaps (I don't wear them, but who cares who does?) got to be so common that I just quit visiting the forums.

I've been riding since the early '80's; first Suzuki's then Harley's, and I have never once had anyone call me a poser, make fun of my bike, or any of the other things that these types of threads address as though they were common. My attitude is pretty much the same as those who say "who cares what you ride as long as you ride." I will say that it seems that I get "the wave" less often now that I am on a trike, but let's please not start a wave thread!

Oh, I almost forgot one instance where I was someplace on my first Harley, a 2003 Sportster, and some guy said "Nice Shirley Davidson." I thought that was pretty funny.

[roadking2]

Can't be a true biker unless you dress like a pirate,,right? 😄

I'm so confused! Put on a skull cap and you become a pirate. Put on a bunch of leather, especially if it's new, and you are a poser. Ride anything but the biggest baddest and most modified bike on the road and you become a wanna be. Then there is the weekend warrior, the wallet biker, and the list goes on. You are in deep labeling territory if you have on a skull cap, new leathers, and just got a new ride and are sitting at the dealers having a cup of coffee. You are a prime candidate to become a multiple personality rider/biker/pirate/poser/ wallet biker/wanna be and even God can't save you from being labeled if you have on a vest and chaps. At this point the only way to ride without being stereotyped is to hop on your bike, trike, or whatever naked and then hit the road. I'm always amazed by the number of riders 2 wheeled and 3 that are determined to place a label on everyone they see without knowing a darned thing about the guy sitting in the saddle. If you want to talk to me about anything but politics, I'll sit and chat. Come to me trying to place a label on me and you get to see my back and possibly my middle finger. Personally, I judge people by who they are, not by what they may be wearing or what they ride.

[jaxbobg]

I'm so confused! Put on a skull cap and you become a pirate. Put on a bunch of leather, especially if it's new, and you are a poser. Ride anything but the biggest baddest and most modified bike on the road and you become a wanna be. Then there is the weekend warrior, the wallet biker, and the list goes on. You are in deep labeling territory if you have on a skull cap, new leathers, and just got a new ride and are sitting at the dealers having a cup of coffee. You are a prime candidate to become a multiple personality rider/biker/pirate/poser/ wallet biker/wanna be and even God can't save you from being labeled if you have on a vest and chaps. At this point the only way to ride without being stereotyped is to hop on your bike, trike, or whatever naked and then hit the road. I'm always amazed by the number of riders 2 wheeled and 3 that are determined to place a label on everyone they see without knowing a darned thing about the guy sitting in the saddle. If you want to talk to me about anything but politics, I'll sit and chat. Come to me trying to place a label on me and you get to see my back and possibly my middle finger. Personally, I judge people by who they are, not by what they may be wearing or what they ride.

Oh my God. I'm going to make a poster of this quote for all of my Harley buddies to see. This is way too good for words to describe!!!

[2blackbelts]

I'm so confused! Put on a skull cap and you become a pirate. Put on a bunch of leather, especially if it's new, and you are a poser. Ride anything but the biggest baddest and most modified bike on the road and you become a wanna be. Then there is the weekend warrior, the wallet biker, and the list goes on. You are in deep labeling territory if you have on a skull cap, new leathers, and just got a new ride and are sitting at the dealers having a cup of coffee. You are a prime candidate to become a multiple personality rider/biker/pirate/poser/ wallet biker/wanna be and even God can't save you from being labeled if you have on a vest and chaps. At this point the only way to ride without being stereotyped is to hop on your bike, trike, or whatever naked and then hit the road. I'm always amazed by the number of riders 2 wheeled and 3 that are determined to place a label on everyone they see without knowing a darned thing about the guy sitting in the saddle. If you want to talk to me about anything but politics, I'll sit and chat. Come to me trying to place a label on me and you get to see my back and possibly my middle finger. Personally, I judge people by who they are, not by what they may be wearing or what they ride.

Great post. I have been riding for so long, and I mean with "the good, the bad, and the ugly", that I just don't care anymore. I don't need to prove anything, and no one does to me either.