I'm not sure what an outlaw biker is these days. There are so many interpretations. If, did I get a cue from some other decade...sure. But today? Explain it to me because I am understanding outlaw biker groups are nothing more than media attention getters looking to fill their pockets with money via their notoriety.

 

Sorry to burst your bubble but the CHiPs series used Kawasakis.

 

not really influenced by 1% ers but i must admit that nothing says freedom more to me when i get passed by a pack of them on the freeway. makes me smile every time.

 

I honestly can't remember being "inspired" to ride Harley...it's like graduating high school, something uncles and the like took for granted would happen and so did I, same as Mom and various aunts figgered i'd end up in prison. (Goes to show, the wimminfolk in my family ain't near as smart as they think!)

I started riding dirt bikes, steadily inheriting anything my older brother thought he'd outgrown until I won enough and earned enough to make my own choice and bought a Montesa 450 at 14...Gary Wells was my hero.

When I turned 17, my uncle Jimmy wrecked his panhead and gave me what was left (and bought an early shovel). I worked, I rode more enduros, I hit every motorcycle salvage and swapmeet I could reach...I met a lot of outlaws and "just a biker that looks scary" types, and most of them became invaluable friends, plus being the people I'd probably never have finished the bike without their help, advice and encouragement.


...and their beer, I should admit.

When I left home in Colorado headed west, it was in company with two or three others who introduced me around when we hit California, so that whole interlude was a lot less traumatic than I guess most leaving-the-nest scenarios are among the non-wealthy; I left one family for another one and had a place to park my pan while I served my hitch, came home to find an offer waiting for me that was more generous than I had a right to expect,so I sold the Pan and bought a used SuperGlide.

Traded it, later, for a Ducati after a party and never could find the SOB after I sobered up. Don't get me wrong; I loved riding that thing, especially in the canyons, but it was never the same. When I married a family, kids included, I wasn't hard to talk into selling it...and so became the bikeless wannabe you see before you. Been riding horses for the last 20 years or so, but the kids are grown, that marriage is over and my new wife was so anxious to get me away from Rodeo she didn't offer a peep when I said I was gonna get a Harley. While I was "gone" Willie G seems to have been busy building bikes he meant for me to love with minimal modding. It won't be long...a couple more months and my cds mature and I tell the boss "thanks and good-bye!"

Wow...dang near my whole life story! Maybe I should link this from my profile; I didn't tell y'all squat there.

D'jall get enough ?

 

Cool story Gimp.

 

I'm originally from Daytona Beach. Grew up in a little house less than half a mile from Main Street, just behind the Ocean Center. Whenever you are at a rally and see some young kid wondering around with his parents and thinking, "what the hell is that 10 year old doing here?" - that was me.... Except without the parent. Going outside alone wasn't as big an issue back then as it is now. I would spend hours walking around Main looking at all the **** and bare a$$ed women on bikes. When I got bored, I would walk across the Main St. bridge to N. Beach St. and look at some more **** and a$$es. Also, back then was when N. Beach St. wasn't so filled with venders but just one huge area with one huge concert stage - not 3 or 4 little ones, and they didn't ID to get in either. I spent a lot of time over there too.

I grew up around the bike week and biketoberfest stuff. All my moms boyfriends rode Harleys, and my uncle was pretty tight in the local MC world. I think it was inevitable that I would own one at some point in my life.

 

Funny thing is.... I bet that is true for some people out there! haha

 

I was 13 in 1969, and loved the TV show Then Came Bronson, with Michael Parks. I didn't start riding until my youngest graduated from High school. Got my first Harley last year, and am going to go camping with it, for the first time this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYKQ3fwNb0c

My bike is a little more luxurious than Jim Bronson's Sportster, but I am a lot older than he was, in 1969.

I have never been inspired by outlaws, whether bikers, mafia or gangbangers. I hate all criminals. I was raised to work for what I get, not steal or deal misery, or use women. Remember, you asked outlaws, not motorcycle clubs, so I am assuming you are talking about criminals.

 

Not me. Concept of outlaw biker flew right over my head up till SOA came on TV. I'd never given that lifestyle a second glance. Now I find it kind of funny and pathetic. Grown men still behaving like schoolyard bullies. That's what a lack of proper education will get you.

I'm sure truthful responses like this inevitably bring the hardcore outlaw out of the woodwork to defend his precious outlaw ways, with wise *** remarks about how people like me aren't up to the challenge, but deep down they know who's really on the losing end.

I remain inspired by law abiding citizens who ride because they love it.

 

At 10 I'm pretty sure it didn't matter all that much to me...so no bubble to burst.