I learned two things early in life.

One, I’m not tough enough, or mean enough to be a biker.

When I was a younger man, I backed up a biker friend once, it hurt, seven stitches. I stopped riding with him. He had a hair trigger..not gun, just fight. He needed a better friend who enjoyed being tough. I’m not mean when I drink. I couldn’t live that way.

Two, I just like to ride. It changes my appreciation of the world. It makes me part of it. Every time I ride, I am thankful I live in the USA.

Since “biker” is a definition, and we each have our own, it is meaningless to compare my 70+ year old version with someone else’s different experience.

 

Let me put this to rest since there are so many differing opinions here and it seems to keep popping up as a topic of discussion. Straight from wise old Merriam-Webster...

bik·​er | \ ˈbī-kər \
plural bikers
Definition of biker
1: someone who rides a bicycle
2: someone who rides a motorcycle especiallya person who is a member of a motorcycling group

There you have it friends.

 

This is a good thread.

I consider myself a biker, especially based on the OP list. Most of my friends too. I will ride if it is Sunny, 45F, and the roads are not icy. One of my best friends and long time riding buddy put his away 2nd week of October. I think he's a ***** but doesn't mean I think he's not a biker.

 

I do think that "we" always have a picture of a biker in our mind and I bet most automatically think of bikers as strictly male. In my opinion that would be incorrect. Biker in more inclusive than just the one gender.

 

If you ride 25,000 miles a year in all weathers, but have no clue on how to fix a flat on the side of the road or change a spark plug, are you a biker?

 

The definition of "Biker" changed significantly in the mid 80's with the EVO and now is something totally different. It is what it is....time marches on.

 

That has got to be one of lamest things I’ve seen in a long time.

 

I have a bike, guess that makes me a biker...

 

Lame how? It's true.
Not saying it's good or bad, but it changed. Mom and Pop Harley shops changed to mega dealerships with giant "boutiques".

Ever hear the saying "they used to hate us, now they want to be us"? I didn't invent that, but I seen it happen.
Here again, not saying it's good or bad, but it certainly changed.

 

It may have changed the way the MOCO does business but that has zero to do with mindset of the riders that fit the “Biker” stereotype. Those attitudes are still prevalent among many now that weren’t even born when the Evo was nearing the end of its production run.
Check out the serious Chopper scene nowadays.