PHILOSOPHY

THE BIKER'S CREED:

• I ride because it is fun.
   
• I ride because I enjoy the freedom I feel from being exposed to the elements, and the vulnerability to the danger that is intrinsic to riding.
   
• I do not ride because it is fashionable to do so.
   
• I ride my machine, not wear it.  My machine is not a symbol of status.  It exists simply for me, and me alone.
   
• My machine is not a toy.  It is an extension of my being, and I will treat it accordingly, with the same respect as I have for myself.
   
• I strive to understand the inner-workings of my machine, from the most basic to the most complex.
   
• I will learn everything I can about my machine, so that I am reliant upon no one but myself for its health and well being.
   
• I strive to constantly better my skill of control over my machine.  I will learn its limits, and use my skill to become one with my machine so that we may keep each other alive.  I am the master, it is the servant.  Working together in harmony, we will become an invincible team.
   
• I do not fear death.  I will, however, do all possible to avoid death prematurely.  Fear is the enemy, not death.  Fear on the highway leads to death, therefore I will not let fear be my master.  I will master it.
   
• My machines will outlive me.  Therefore, they are my legacy.  I will care for them for future bikers to cherish as I have cherished them, whoever they may be.
   
• I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those that do NOT ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them.  For those that do not know me, all I wish from them is to ignore me.  For those that desire to know me, I will share with them the truth of myself, so that they might understand me and not fear others like me.
   
• I will never be the aggressor on the highway.  However, should others mess with me, their aggression will be dealt with in as severe manner as I can cast upon them.
   
• I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or knowledgeable than I am.
   
• I will learn from them all I can. However, if my respect is not acknowledged or appreciated, it will end.
   
• I will not show disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than I am. I will teach them what I can.  However, if they show me disrespect, they will be slapped.
   
• It will be my task to mentor new riders, that so desire, into the lifestyle of the biker, so that the breed shall continue.  I shall instruct them, as I have been instructed by those before me.  I shall preserve and honor traditions of bikers before me, and I will pass them on unaltered.
   
• I will not judge other bikers on their choice of machine, their appearance, or their profession.  I will judge them only on their conduct as bikers.  I am proud of my accomplishments as a biker, though I will not flaunt them to others.  If they ask, I will share them.
   
• I will stand ready to help any other biker that truly needs my help.
   
• I will never ask another biker to do for me what I can do for myself.
   
• I am not a part-time biker.  I am a biker when and where ever I go.  I am proud to be a biker, and hide my chosen lifestyle from no one.  I ride because I love freedom, independence, and the movement of the ground beneath me.  But most of all, I ride to better understand myself, my machine, the lands in which I ride, and to seek out and know other bikers like myself.
  
  -ANONYMOUS-
   

IDEAS FOR BIKERS:

• Rule Number One:
  
  Don't call me bro'... ever.  I am not and probably never will be your "bro." You have not earned the right.  Just because you read in your copy of (insert magazine name here) that "bikers" call each other bro' does NOT mean you have to run out and find somebody with a Harley and call him bro' so you can be a biker too.
  
  Here's why:
  
  You have never pulled an all-nighter with me or stood tall with me in a confrontation.
  
  You have never helped me fix my bike on the side of the road (in the rain).
  
  You have never wasted your weekend helping me dig through a junk pile looking for that one little part that is just the thing I need to get my bike running.
  
  You have never loaned me the tool that I didn't have so I could put that part on.
  
  You never loaned me money when you where short yourself.
  
  Are you starting to get the picture? Just remove the word bro' from your vocabulary.  Trust me on this one.

• Rule Number Two:
  
  Having a fancy custom bike that somebody else built for you or having a brand new bike with only 3 digits on the odometer does NOT make you a biker.  You may be a biker and own one of the above but that is not what made you a biker.
  
  In my mind a biker is a person who loves to ride their bike just for the pure fun of riding it.  Getting out in the air and seeing the world in person and not through a window.  Or hell, maybe you just have a thing for getting popped in the face by bugs at 60 mph.
  
  A biker, to me, is NOT someone who got a bike just so they can look cool or because the guy down the road has one and you need a bigger/prettier one to prove you are somebody important. If this sounds like you, sell your bike.  You'll never make it.
  
  If you have ever been depressed because you rode your bike and nobody saw you, hang it up.  You are a world class RUB.  Once again, sell your bike. Maybe what you need is a Porsche instead.
   
• Rule Number Three:
  
  Don't think you are king of the crap pile because you have some fancy hog that cost more than 3 of my bikes.  Just because I'm on a Sportster or a chopper or a rat doesn't mean I deserve less respect.  Matter of fact, it doesn't make a hill of beans to me what kind of bike you are on.  Granted, I have a thing for American made bikes but that doesn't mean you have to.  If you are on two wheels (or three) I feel an instant kinship with you.  Especially if you don't screw it up by breaking one of these rules (grin).  I give a wave or a nod to EVERY rider I see when I am on the road.  I don't care if he/she on the latest crotch rocket from Japan or on a full dressed Harley.  He/she is dealing with the same idiots on the road that I am and doing it on two wheels.  That's good enough for me.  Maybe I'm over friendly but it really chaps my butt when I pull up next to somebody on their hog and give 'em a nod or a wave and they ignore me because I'm not on what they consider a "cool" bike.  Get a life.  Funny thing is that I have never failed to get a wave back from somebody on a non Harley.  Maybe they have more brotherhood going than us Harley riders do.  Are you ashamed yet?
   
• Rule Number Four:
  
  You know that pretty new tool bag on your forks?  Put some tools in it.  A cell phone and a gold card are NOT a tool kit.
  
  Want to be annoying?  Just have somebody pull over on the side of the road to help you with your broken down bike and not have any tools.  That will do the trick.  Try to get at least the basics.  A pair of good pliers, wrenches that fit most of the bolts/nuts on your bike, a couple of screw drivers, a full set of hex (Allen) wrenches, a flat repair kit, a small pocket knife and a good rag.
  
  Want to really impress me?  Add these: Spare spark plugs, some electrical wire (just a couple of feet), some electrical tape (half a roll is pretty small and can save your butt), a spark plug wrench, vice-grips, a couple of feet of bailing wire or a couple of "zip ties" can work miracles, a small wire brush for cleaning electrical contacts/spark plugs and for extra points a small flashlight with GOOD batteries.  This is what I try to carry if I am going any farther than the city limits. Yes it all fits in my tool bag.
  
  Going on a long trip?  Got a little extra storage room like maybe saddle bags?  Add these:  A Clymer or other such repair bible for your bike, a socket wrench and sockets, a bigger flashlight and for a gold star get a small voltage tester/ohm meter.
  
  Every bit of this will fit in the bottom half of one decent sized saddle bag.

• Rule Number Five:
  
  Sell your trailer and RIDE YOUR BIKE.  It's as simple as that.  That bike you bought has wheels on it for a reason.  If you want to be a real biker you can't do it driving your "Good Times" van with the bike being towed behind like some kind of midlife crisis pull toy.

• Rule Number Six, The Big One:
  
  NEVER ride on past a person on the side of the road with a broken down bike.  Even if you haven't got a clue how to fix a loose mirror on your best day.  At least stop and see if you can call somebody for them from the next gas station.  Who knows they may stop for you some day.  Pass 'em by and I promise they won't.
  
  ___________________________________________________________
   
• Bonus Rule:
  
  Are you finding that you are still not making it?  Are you still a total loss RUB after working through the first 6 rules?
  
  Here's a bit of advice.  The next time you are around a group of bikers find yourself a Greybeard (old biker).  Buy him a beer or a cup of coffee and ask him a some POLITE questions about his bike or some such to kick off a conversation.  As long as he keeps talking, keep buying those rounds.  If you treat him with respect, shut up and LISTEN to him, you just might be surprised at what you learn from his stories.