There are two kinds of people who ride motorcycles: “Motorcyclists” and “Bikers”. A “Biker” is your stereotypical Harley driver – black leather, denim, etc. “Motorcyclists” are everyone else.
“Bikers” can be intimidating because of their “Hell’s Angels” cachet. But what about “Motorcyclists”?
A few minutes ago I slowed at an intersection where I was turning right to allow an old lady to cross the street. It occured to me that I was wearing a black-and-dark-blue leather jacket, a full-face helmet, a backpack and shades; plus I was on a machine which even today relatively few people have experience with. (I still run into people, believe it or not, who say things like “You ride a motorcycle? Are you nuts? Do you have a death wish?”) I wondered what she must think. She can’t see my face. I’m on a thing. I’m wearing dead animal skins.
And then I thought about those motorcyclists who wear full racing leathers (a good idea, and they have saved me from injury in a crash – I should still be wearing them). When you’re in a full suit, you must look like some sort of anime character. Somehow a bit alien.
So non-riders: Do motorcyclists look intimidating? When you see one in “full uniform”, what do you think?
I usually think “I’d better give him a few extra car lengths when following in case he falls”. Either that, or “I’d better keep my eye on him if I pass him in case I want to merge into his lane later.” Other than that, not a thing. Motorcyclists and bikers are all the same to me – just other folks on the road.
I’ve found that a lot of people find my husband scary looking in his leathers and Harley gear, but are not nervous around my friend Russ when he’s in his non-Harley riding gear. Same for me in my Harley gear and my friend Cindy in her non-Harley stuff. I don’t know- I guess some people still think that riding=dangerous/crazy person.
Well, I’m not a non-rider, but I’m trying to keep up with all the bike threads.
I have experienced situations where people acted like I looked intimidating. You can actually use that to your advantage: if someone cuts you off, and you stop next to their window at the next traffic light and peer in, the looks on their faces are often priceless.
A bit mean, yes, but maybe it’ll make them pay attention the next time.
Neither “bikers” nor “motorcyclists” are intimidating to me. I try to give them a little more room on the road, but mostly I’m drooling because I want to go for a ride!
I don’t think anything different when I see a motorcyclist/biker in full “uniform”. . . unless I think they’re sexy. Then I think “YOWZA!”
I’d rather run into a whole gang of Harley riders than one of those gangs of kids who ride the crotch rockets around here. Most Harley riders (and most other cyclists for that matter) seem to know how to ride and how to do it safely, but the kids on those overpowered bikes scare me. Usually it is no helmet and shorts.
They seem to be really involved in the showing off aspect of riding, and if I am in my car or on my non-motorized bicycle I will try to avoid them if at all possible. They like to cruise along - then give it gas to jolt forward (mainly for the benefit of the girl in a half-shirt and shorts sitting on the back of the bike, I assume). I don’t need to run over anyone who falls off, so I stay far back. And they make a lot of annoying noise, racing up and down the streets full speed at all hours of the day and night.
My friends and I had a semi-weekly ritual of running our bikes through the the tricky parts of Mulholland drive and down the canyon roads toward Topanga beach and Las Tunas. Our uniform was usually T-shirt, shorts, helmet (required by law), and flip-flops. People thought we were insane, but I don’t think they found us intimidating.
I have exactly the opposite reaction. I am apprehensive of motorcyclists and treat motorcyclists (and Harley bikers) like small delicate children who will injure themselves if don’t watch where I step. My vehicle weighs around 7,000 lbs or roughly 10X what a motorcycle weighs. One mis-step and the motorcyclist is hamburger meat.
I don’t ride but my father does. In fact he was a founding member of a motorcycle gang…and the only one still alive from that time frame… Motorcyclists don’t intimidate me. Some of his friends (Killer…never learned his real name) were strangely attractive but scary all at the same time. They called him crazy because at that time he stuttered so bad. Memories.
When I see someone on a motorcycle (or a group), I usually pay some extra attention to them. Once they leave though, I have to go through about 10 minutes of convincing myself that, yes, I really will die if I get one. Not saying that bikes are inherent death traps, just that I’m not the most coordinated person in general and have a tendency to speed and drive less cautiously (but more fun!) than I should. Not a good combo when a crotch rocket is thrown into the mix.
Aack…forgot the “full uniform” part. A rider in leathers and helmet (especially if they match the bike) looks about 3 times more badass than one without, and about 10 times smarter.
They don’t frighten or intimidate me. I have the advantage, though, of coming from a riding family (even if my mother did only learn a couple of years ago), and spending time around their group which includes both ‘motorcyclists’ and ‘bikers’. I’ve worked with both motorcyclists and bikers too. Familiarity in this case hasn’t bred contempt, just an ease.
The only particular attention either category gets from me is extra awareness when we’re sharing the road.
Having gone to several Bike Weeks and Biketoberfests, my only reaction to riders is to be aware of where they are and give them room to maneuver. I shake my head at the ones in flip-flops and no shirts, hoping they never get in a minor accident. And I wish my husband would wear more protective gear, but he’s an adult and he’ll do what he wants.
The event that cured any fear I might have felt about bikers came during one Bike Week. I saw a fully-decked-out biker in torn denim and leather, tattooes, ponytail, scraggly beard walking down Main Street in Daytona holding the hand of a pink-clad 4-year-old who was thrilled to death to be out and about with her daddy. The vast majority of these guys aren’t outlaws - they’re just escaping from their everyday, normal lives.
I don’t find motorcyclists intimidating in themselves, but when they are in full gear I can’t make eye contact and can’t see their facial expression. Since it is those looks what I go by to see whether a fellow road traveller is a nice person who will give me right of way, or a psycho-loony-road-raged-idiot, I have no way to tell whether I should keep a safe distance. Whence I think: better safe than sorry.
I’m guessing most people who are not mind-readers have similar reactions, so, yes, motorcyclists are intimidating since you can’t tell what kind of person is behind the helmet.
It was so nice of your husband to take your kid to bike week!
I guess I’m not alowed to answer this since I am a motorcyclist. I don’t see to many people afraid of me though. I do get lots of looks and stupid things said to me in my riding suit.
Actually, he’s taken her several times, but she was a bit older than 4. First time, I think she was 14. He bought her a leather vest. And some kind of leather hair thingie. And a cut-off top. He’s such an indulgent daddy…
Incidentally, you didn’t intimidate me when I first saw you. Just in case you were wondering.
The flodfather used to ride. Had to sell his bike because the arthritis in his knees got too bad. Anyway, through him and his riding buddies, and through having two curious boys, both of whom have gone through stages of being crazy about anything with wheels and an engine, I’ve probably met several hundred motorcycle riders. I actually can’t remember any of them being intimidating up close and personal. They’ve all just been ordinary people, except that they will talk your ear off about their bikes if you let em
So no, I’m not intimidated. Envious, maybe, but not intimidated.
