Originally Posted by SKSy_Biker

Biker by choice?

Dear reader,

I wish you warm welcome to the Hard Torque section. Now if you were reading this article on xBhp it would be fair of me to assume you have at least a tiny bit of interest in biking. The title of this article is fairly clear-cut, so ask yourself… Are you a biker?

If you said “No” then I wouldn’t bother much and just let it be. You must be just another passing visitor to this site. But if you said “Yes” with a puffed chest, let me ask you again, “Are you a biker?” Well to me a biker is not every TDH who knows how to ride a motorcycle or rides one to work or college on a daily basis. Oh no sir, its definitely much more than that to me. You just don’t earn that tag by posing on a flashy bike or blabbering specs of every bike ever to roam the face of this earth.

Now let me take a step back and get to what I was writing about, being a biker by choice. A motorcycle is probably the first motorized means of transport to be owned by a person in India. Cheap, fast (compared to car in city) and good mileage makes it the ideal choice (or no choice) for a college going youngster or someone who is drawing his first salary. Post the boom in the Indian economy there is no dearth of cheap and fun 150cc+ bikes that are positioned as performance bikes. So its not a wonder that someone who buys one of those gets carried away, pulls out a few stunts, pops a few wheelies or a long ride here and there. The self-proclaimed biker goes on with his shenanigans till his biking saga is brought to an abrupt halt by a new car (or an accident). So where is that poser biker now? Well he is no more; it was just another fleeting biker to whom a bike was a joy toy for a while. He is wiser now and has probably moved on to a car with his own alibi for not using the bike anymore.

So would you still call yourself a biker? Would you hop on your bike and ride a couple of hundred miles without reason? Would you spend a couple of hours rubbing that polish on the tank just to get that special shine? Would you respect the sanctity of the road and take care of the safety while riding? When you get older and your priorities change, would you still keep riding? Would you call yourself a biker by choice or a bike since you had no choice?

Now why all this rant about such a small thing as a bikers tag?

This article being in the Hard Torque section means its more than any other trip log or bike news. Its about being able to relate to what Hard Torque is about, yes it is all bike talk, but what might go unnoticed is the author’s extra ounce of passion towards biking that would go into each article that’s up here.

So the next time you call yourself a biker, mean it from your heart. And know that there are scores of others here equally passionate about our passion. I thank you for reading on so far. There’s more to come in Hard Torque from us. Ride safe.

Biker by choice…
SKSy_Biker
(Srikeerthi K S)

Read this on the Hard Torque blog

Originally Posted by Olias

Richard sums things up pretty well in that short quote and it's something that the vast majority of 'wider' society will never understand. Nice post dude.

I'll add something that's been going around by email here in the UK among bikers. Sums things up here too! It is from a western U.S. perspective and draws on the unwarranted image that some of the media have portrayed of bikers (in the west) for the past 40 years or so. Not the happiest of pieces but worth posting, I think. It kind of unites bikers and the lifestyle and the difference we feel to the rest of society, who limit the risks they take but take risks with others' lives.
You Didn't See Me


But, You Didn't See Me

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
But, you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But, you didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by.
But, you didn't see me driving behind you when you tossed your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless kids.

I saw you stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
But, you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me cry as my children where born and how I have their names written upon my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But, you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car.
But, you didn't see me pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But, you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But, you didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
But, you didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
But, you didn't see me…I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family.
But, you didn't see me…Because I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker...
A person with friends and a family.

BUT, YOU DIDN'T SEE ME!!

Author Unknown

It's also a reminder to take care out there! Ride free!