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

burnrubbernotursoul

that was really good and i totally agree on that.

ken cool

People have come to xBhp, hung around for a few years and then they have moved on. People who have been armchair bikers, ardent contributors to the site, who have done pioneering work like setting up a biker glossary (unfortunately before the crash) and today rarely EVER visit the site for reasons personal or otherwise. I do not want to take names for obvious reasons. Some of them have become bikers, better ones, others have simply moved on to another mode as aptly pointed out by Sri. Similar evolution may or may not happen to me, you or anybody. Nobody knows what tomorrow may bring. Once a biker, always a biker they say. This is very true the way Sksy describes "Biking". As of now, let us celebrate the spirit of Biking the way you see it, I see it, with varying perspectives. Thanks Sri, for bringing up the article with your ideas. It will make a lot of sense to a lot of people. It will make less sense to some others. But as long as we are in the flow, let us enjoy the wind in the face.

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The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


BMW Motorrad Days 2011

Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

'Santa

All things said by SKSy_Biker and Ken are very true. But, if someone, who is really a 'biker', a 'wanderlust', and cannot pursue his/her dreams due to social or financial bondages and restrictions, would it be wrong for the person to proclaim herself/himself as a "Biker"???

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kri$hna

Wow !! this is a MUST READ article for every biker, who really means what he says .. definately worth the effort spent in highlighting the spirit of biking !! come wat may, never say die biking attititude

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-- kri$ --

kriss, you will be remembered forever.

ken cool

I guess the first "requisite" for being a biker is riding a bike. The rest follows from the heart.

__________________
The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


BMW Motorrad Days 2011

Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

santoosh

To me, calling myself a biker,the first thing that is necessary is respecting the other bikers around.
Doing rides without a reason/destination is the best part of Biker by Choice.

Santa
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Dulcemaria

'Santa

So you mean everyone who rides a bike is a 'Biker' ?????

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ken cool

No!

I said the minimum prerequisite to be a biker starts by riding a bike. You cannot be a biker by just driving a helicopter and no bikes.

__________________
The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


BMW Motorrad Days 2011

Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

niks_devil666

I would rather use the word(s) "motorcyclist" or "motorcycle enthusiast" than the word "biker"