Who are the real bikers?

There is a term that you will inevitably come across sooner or later when you are out and about in this colorful scene. We're talking about the “Real Biker” . The question that comes to mind every time is who or what does that mean?

If there are real ones, there must inevitably be fake ones, at least I think that's a logical conclusion. Now I am a German citizen and they are often accused of so-called pigeonholing, which I have always tried to fight against. And how many of you have just opened the two drawers that say real and fake?

And now I would like to know who you saw in which one? I bet most of you saw yourself in the “real” one, with the other one just as full to the brim? Assuming that there is a colorful mix of everyone on these pages, then that cannot be the case purely statistically... Reason enough to think about a few more in-depth thoughts at this point.

If you analyze this fundamental question a little more closely, the community seems to be split into two camps. The calendar of events for next year is packed. Anyone who surfs through the relevant forums will stumble across all those who are already commenting on how to get there.

On your own or on the trailer, that seems to be almost a question of faith for many. So is the only person who is a real biker who struggles over congested highways on two wheels, braving wind and weather... who is happy to accept the costs of a few additional inspections and wearing parts because he is a real biker?

And are all those who lash their best thing onto the trailer and drag it from A to B the “unreal” ones?
Both parties should have the same amount of fun at their destination... Have you ever noticed that this discussion only exists among motorcyclists? No recreational sailor would even begin to suspect that he or she sailed over canals and rivers to the coast in order to have a good time there.

The same applies to glider pilots, cyclists and windsurfers. But to be a real biker…why the hell is that?

I confess that I have already passed 50 years. But I would like to say that I have covered significantly more kilometers on two wheels in the last few decades than most of the esteemed readers here.

I used to be a real biker and went everywhere on my own. OK, I didn't have any money for the car and trailer, so I couldn't have done anything else. Today I wouldn't dream of torturing myself across France to enjoy motorcycling in the Pyrenees.

Trailers are a great thing, as are car trains, and well-known shipping companies have long since specialized in offering the “all-round, worry-free package” for motorcyclists. I want to arrive and enjoy myself and not need three massages and an oxygen tent to recover from the exertion.

To be honest, I don't give a damn whether you think I'm real or fake. When it comes to this question, in the end all that matters is that everyone has as much fun on their motorcycle as possible. Please... drive thousands of kilometers on highways, it's just not my thing anymore.

It's just not fun. And to all those who are just on their way to the next ice cream parlor or always take the same route to the next moped meeting... please, you can do it if you enjoy it, but I don't.

OK, all of you who have been in the saddle for as long as I have also know the times when motorcyclists were a close-knit community. It was enough to get around on a motorcycle and you were unintentionally part of it.

We weren't necessarily outlaws (they existed back then too, it just wasn't for me), but we weren't necessarily fully accepted by society. For example, it was almost impossible to get a hotel room in a leather suit (which was only black back then).

The fact that we were different from the others not only connected us, but above all it made us much more open to people who were different. We were definitely more tolerant.

And so it's not about the question of real or fake, but rather I miss tolerance today for everything and everyone who doesn't tick like you do.

It doesn't matter what kind of motorcycle you have, what brand or model you drive, it doesn't matter how far or where you go with it, in the end all that matters is that everyone has fun with it.

And I would be very happy if I could get a bit of that tolerant community back, but I can also have fun riding my motorcycle without my own personal…

With this in mind, the left hand in greeting,
Peter Schulz

Text & photos: Peter Schulz

Column: Guest author Peter Schulz / motorcycle editor, book author, photo and filmmaker