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What is a Motorcyclist?

Sketchy Etch said:
I knew I was a motorcyclist before my feet would reach the pegs. I didn't get my first bike until 20 years after this photo, but it was inevitable.
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Looks like you were a poser back then :twofinger
 
I am in the camp of all who ride are motorcyclist and then further adjectives apply from there.

There are some strong terms for sure that surround the term.

Biker is probably the strongest IMO. When folks ask are you a biker.. I say not really, because I believe that is a lifestyle. Several others are as well, but biker seems to be a lifetime journey for most where others are more temporary in nature.
 
:wave I'm a motorcyclist.

I ride motorcycles because I love to ride them. The ones I currently own are the ones that make ME happy, and I don't care what anybody else thinks of them.

If the only motorcycles available were big heavy loud underpowered cruisers, then that's what I would ride. If only scooters were available, then I would ride them. But I have a lot of choices, so I ride what I enjoy most. But if it has two wheels and a motor, I'm still interested in riding it. And that should be a proper definition of a motorcyclist.
 
I am also a motorcyclist.

I would also put in there that I don't care what you ride, just that you are safe. I love seeing motorcycles, I love learning about becoming a better rider, and most importantly I love riding motorcycles. So maybe I am a motorcycle enthusiast, maybe some riders are just more enthusiastic than others, but we are all motorcyclists.
 
Seems like there are a lot of people taking a lot of time to word-smith what it is exactly that they do and what they are. Just do; just be. Don't worry about the rest! Unless you're writer. Then you should probably be typing more... :)

(that's my definition of *.whatever)
 
My Dad (born in Kansas in 1915) moved to California strictly because he could ride motorcycles all year-round. He got sick and tired of riding on frozen dirt roads and crashing regularly. I am a native Californian because of that little tidbit of information.

I was taken for a ride on his 1947 Harley when I was probably only five and holding on to the two gas caps. So, since it definitely was in my Dad's blood, obviously I carried on the tradition. My son's do as well.

Dan
 
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Depends of whether "motorcyclist" is a noun or a verb. If I felt the need to be labeled or label another, I like to use the term "rider". You can own a motorcycle and be a motorcyclist but you are not necessarily a rider.
 
If you ride or want to ride, you are a Motorcyclists but like most things there are different levels of involvement. Personally, I'm in DEEP.
 
My brother sold that CB550F a while back, and the guy kept in touch. He took the bike to some customizer guy, who put on the Brown seat, square Firestone tires, cut the stock fenders, cut the stock pipes and Bobbitized it. Basically, he fucked it up. The guy rode it once, crashed it, then sold it. He was not a motorcyclist.
 
dravnx said:
Depends of whether "motorcyclist" is a noun or a verb. If I felt the need to be labeled or label another, I like to use the term "rider". You can own a motorcycle and be a motorcyclist but you are not necessarily a rider.
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I don't think it has so much to do with the term Motorcyclist" as much as the adjective that precedes it. I think anyone who rides is technically a motorcyclist regardless of it's just on slab, posers or to look cool or whatever. Some are obviously avid, experienced, novice or weekend etc.. etc... which differentiates the type of motorcyclist.

But I guess the OP question really is asking for a less technical answer/thought?

I'm the only one in my family who rides and they look at anyone on two wheels as a motorcyclist without much differentiation which imo is accurate. However, as riders, we tend to notice all the differences whether subtle or not which allows us to decide for ourselves if we think that fits into our definition of a motorcyclist.. So I guess this post was totally circular logic and makes no sense. :loco
 
russ69 said:
If you ride or want to ride, you are a Motorcyclists but like most things there are different levels of involvement. Personally, I'm in DEEP.
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Deep is good.

As in for life. I get that Russ.
Hope you show up for our barf rally next year and bring a friend or two so I can see how Deep your passion runs man. Really would just like to meet Ya.
 
budman said:
...As in for life. I get that Russ.
Hope you show up for our barf rally next year and bring a friend or two so I can see how Deep your passion runs man. Really would just like to meet Ya.
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Thank you Mr. Budman. Yeah I have 45 years of street riding so far and I still can't wait each year for the new models to come out, so I can see them, touch them and maybe ride a few on my favorite roads. My friends have it worse than I do. Here's my pal, he thought riding Baja was a good place to start dirt riding:
 

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I agree with flyinghun, it doesn't matter how many miles a year or how many times a year you ride, if you own a bike and have the balls to throw your leg over it even once in awhile and take it for a ride knowing at anytime you can be a statistic then you are a motorcyclist
 
bambamb43 said:
I agree with flyinghun, it doesn't matter how many miles a year or how many times a year you ride, if you own a bike and have the balls to throw your leg over it even once in awhile and take it for a ride knowing at anytime you can be a statistic then you are a motorcyclist
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I agree with bambamb's agreement with flyinghun. I've learned the hard way to never question another man's motivation which is really what we are talking about here. I have found that I have more in common with a rider, of any stripe, than the rest of the zombies I share the Earth with, stumbling through their days awaiting death and serving me coffee, or whatever.

Its all about what it means to be human, to be alive and know it unlike the other animals;
http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9022043&postcount=32
 
I think being a motorcyclist is more a passion, a want to ride if you will. There are some amongst us that can no longer "ride" I still consider them motorcyclists.
 
lol at motorcyclists and what they consider it takes to be one. the thing i find most common is the instant affinity, and fast friendships that form over something as ridiculously simple as a love of two wheeled transport. for all their oddness and idiosyncrasies - my favorite people. whether or not i am one is nobody's business but my own.
 
I feel more alive when I ride. That is why I ride. I am a motorcyclist.
 
Google says:

Motorcycle - noun "a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor and has no pedals."

So anyone that rides what is described above? :dunno
 
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