The Biker Code | Sherrie Lord
The Biker Code
Sep / 06 / 2009
You know, this is a whole lot like the old Code
of the West, the pride of cowboys and real men,
regardless of what century they live
in.
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Not A Poser
It used to be that all bikers shared a common bond, an unspoken code of ethics and behavior that transcended words and was built on actions. There was never a bible written on this Biker’s Code; there was no need for such. But these days, the riders you see blasting down the road are just as likely to be clad in shorts and sneakers as jeans and engineer boots. And the roughest, toughest-looking biker you pull up next to could be your doctor or lawyer and may be wearing a Rolex under his leathers. There’s nothing wrong with that, so long as these new riders learn the Code just as we old-timers did.
Being a biker used to be about using your creativity to take a basket-case* old Hawg* and using your grit and ingenuity to turn it into a one-of-a-kind eye dazzler, then risking your life on the asphalt, in pride, because you built that bike yourself. Bikers wore leather and grease because they knew cagers* would just as soon run them down as look at them. So they had to be intimidating.
* Basket-case = People often refer to a person being a basket-case, but to a biker a basket-case is a motorcycle that’s in pieces, that literally comes to you in parts, in boxes (baskets)
* Hawg = a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
* Cagers = those driving cars, called “cages.”
We were a breed unto ourselves, with no union, no support group, and in many cases no family (they threw us out). We had to make it in the world on our own, against mainstream society, and against all odds. We survived and prospered because of the Biker Code, and we never took *$%@ from anybody.
As an old scooter bro once said, “It’s every tramp’s job to school the young. How else are they gonna know a Panhead* from a bed pan?”
* Panhead = an engine manufactured by Harley from 1948-65, and called so because of the “pan” shape of the valve covers. (In my opinion, the prettiest engine configuration ever made.)
With that in mind, we bring you a primer on the basic two-wheeled Code.
Don’t take any $&@%. Be kind to women, children, and animals, but don’t take any bull. This is an essential part of being a biker. It has to do with respect and honor and dignity. Anyone can be a quick-tempered fool. Stand tall and back up what you say with action, but be cool about it.
Never lie, cheat or steal. Always tell the truth. Bikers are always the greasy bad guys in the movies, but every real biker knows that his word is his bond, all you have in life that is truly yours. Guard it carefully and be something noble, for you are a knight of the road.
Don’t snitch. If you see a wrong, fight it yourself. Snitches are the lowest life forms on earth, right up there with biker thieves.
Don’t Whine. Absolutely no one likes or respects a whiner. Hold your mud, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Most of life’s little inconveniences work themselves out.
Never say die and never give up. Whether it’s in a fight, a debate, or a business deal, no matter how bad it gets, a biker never gives up.
Help others. When a brother or sister is broken down by the side of the road, always stop and help. Even moral support, if that is all you can give, is better than riding on by. Remember, life is about the journey, not the destination. And don’t just help bikers, help Citizens*. Show the world that we are better than our image portrays us. Courtesy costs you nothing and gives you everything.
Citizens = those who are not bikers.
Stick to your guns. Do what you say you’ll do, and be there when you say you will. This is called integrity. Like the song says, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”
Life is not a drill. So go out and take big bites of it. Bikers don’t stand around waiting for the party to come to them. You’ve got no time to lose, for tomorrow you could be road kill, thanks to some cager talking on his cell phone. So make the most of each moment.
These commandments are just a few of the broad strokes.
Remember, there is more to being a biker than buying a bike. If you just buy a bike, you are a motorcyclist. Being a biker is a way of life, a proud way of life we hold in high regard, with a burning passion for the wind and the highway. If you want to ride around in a Day-Glo Hawaiian shirt and sandals, go for it. But if you intend to look like an idiot, at least don’t act like one.
Now go forth and ride. When in doubt, ride. That’s what we do. We ride.
--Author unknown
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