The way Motorcyclists are viewed

[nathandenniso...]

Why is it that any normal person who knows nothing about Motorcyclists seems to think that were all crazy and trying to get ourselves killed, the same stereotype comes up with every person I speak to about Motorbikes who know nothing about them

[arry]

Yeah, but it's not going to ruin your life or anything is it, and it's not just motorcyclists and are stereotyped by ignorant and less informed folk - you could say the same about teenagers all being hoodie wearing knife wielding maniacs, for example.

Just move on with life and try not to let what others think bother you so much.

[pinkyfloyd]

[G]

Same for most things people don't understand that seem a bit 'extreme' - for instance hang gliding, which I've been looking into recently.

Ironically, you're probably much more likely to get hurt skiing say, but people are 'used' to that or haven't experienced it closely themselves to see how it can be quite scary.

[Crazy Assed Goose]

To be fair the stereotype doesn't just spring up from nowhere.

[Dazbo666]

Yet another case of the minority giving the majority a bad name I'm afraid...
A safe courteous rider goes unnoticed by most people, but a speed freak pulling 10k RPM with a loud popping exhaust tends to make an impression (for all the worst reasons unfortunately)

[edit] ...and yes I've enjoyed the best of both experiences when the situation is appropriate
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[pinkyfloyd]

[garth]

I hate the way I'm looked at for riding a bike. And, on a similar note, 90% of the people I meet who ride bikes are absolute prats aswell. I'd rather not be associated with them


However the big wanky top box I've got at the moment normally means the WW's avoid me
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Villers]

Its just the way life goes. Be it through ignorance, bad experience or a misguided level of self importance people will judge other people based on what is normally generally negative scales. Nevermind the non-biking public however, several threads here lately have shown that some bikers have negative stereotypes for other bikers. These range from the type of bike someone rides, when they ride it, their experience etc

If people in the know can be so negative and derogatory about bikers then the non bikers are very likely to harbour negative views too, the key to it is that everyone hss an opinion, doesnt make it right!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[27cows]

It's not like it used to be. The boom years of the late 90s saw a huge surge in weekend bikers buying toys for occasional use. Bikes became a trendy accessory and much of the poor image motorcyclists had has subsided since then.

This period also coincided in a big decline in the number of 'proper' bikers on the road. Sales of, and demand for, smaller bikes and more basic machines has dwindled. There are a shockingly small number of bike shops and dealerships left now.

I think people who aren't part of the power ranger and custom rider set are still seen as a bit disreputable, particularly by the weekenders themselves. You appear in Rye on a Sunday afternoon riding some tatty old iron, like a GSX550, and they'll look at you as if you've just announced you have a predilection for 12 year old girls.
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[craigs23]

[N cee thirty]

there just jealous that i can go past them in traffic light ques
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[pepperami]

[Polarbear]

Think yourselves lucky youngsters. When I was riding in the late seventies it was very common to see a pub with the sign 'NO MOTORCYCLISTS' or 'NO HEMETS ALLOWED'

We used to get hounded by the police, bulleyed by cagers & basically treated like shit.

It was the rise of the leisure biker that made motorbikes (more) socially acceptable.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Slacker24seve...]

The parallels between how motorcycling is perceived and how my other favourite past time, clay pigeon shooting, is viewed is striking

Despite only being a biker for a very short while it all seems rather familiar... people just need educating
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[calyx]

wasn't it "no bikers, no faggots" ?
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Boris - London

[keyser soze]

[Inkognito]

Personally I don't really care what people think of me when I'm out on the bike. I'm having a good time and that's what matters.
If people see me as a wanker or shout abuse when I filter past them then it won't ruin my day and I won't lose any sleep over it

Me shouting at the fucking renault clio sunday driver in front of me doing 20 in a 30 zone when I'm in the car is an entirely different matter though. Wankers they are! All of them!

[Bikeless]

Totally agree with above,who cares what people think.

[Vin]

[hellkat]

[TUG]

[2wheelsteve]

Theres no smoke without fire and to be honest its not a bad image really, there are worse ones like errrr those who wear speedos on the beach haha
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Ride Safe

[Stelmer]

People don't believe me when I say I have a bike as I don't fit the biker image.

Some even think i'm a raving homo with a leather fetish.....

[DrDonnyBrago]

I'm sure most of us have added to the negative image of motorcyclists at some point or another.

Can't say I don't enjoy pissing off old/snobby people though.