When did motorcycling turn into a costume party?

Easy to see when you add up the costumes, the chrome, the loud pipes, the bikes that have no performance but are status symbols, it all ends up being about the inner child needing attention. Kind of sad, but at the same time kind of hilarious.

The black half helmet is the biggest mystery to me, this is a no helmet state...so if you don't want to wear a helmet why not just not wear a helmet, why wear a beanie that is going to be zero protection or a half helmet that is just barely gonna help? They must think it is part of the costume, or maybe they are so clueless that they think a half helmet is just the cruiser version of a full face helmet, same protection just a different style. Would these people wear half a condom when having dangerous gay sex? And then they wish they had face protection so they wear a thin piece of cotton fabric. Genius.

What I love is when new students (who have never been on a bike) show up for the basic rider course with all the Harley gear, especially the "distressed" leather jacket. Harley boots, Harley 1/2 helmet (I ask them what they did with the other half), Harley gloves (at least we don't allow the fingerless ones), Harley jeans. They look like (a) biker club probies; (b) grubby street people; (c) they bought half the H-D store the night before. And then I assign them to their course bike for the weekend: A Honda GN125 Titan. And a few of them manage to pass the course.

Some time in the mid 80's, thanks to the company (Harley). Now I don't wear a costume, what I ware is what I ware and my Harley is not a part of it. My leather jacket and vest are most likely older than you are. Bought for me by the first club I was with, in 1980. Or I should say, they picked them out and I bought them.

I've owned four Honda's and three Harley's, none of them have ever had a muffler on them. Pipes yes but no mufflers. A muffler is something on a auto, or truck and some thing you ware around your neck. I do own not one but two, face helmets. I ware them,in the winter time. I also hare worn a bandanna across my face, when it's cold or raining. The only Harley accessories I own are my gloves.

Imitation is as they say, a form of flattery. My club brothers and I, don't care if the weekend worriers dress up like we do. As long as if they ware a patch, that doesn't look like ours, we don't care.

There is a dress code in the clubs, meant to show unity and brotherhood. It's just like, a military uniform.

I will wear whatever the heck I want to wear when I ride my bike. It is NO business of yours, if you don't like it..stop me and we can talk about it if you want. or..mind your business. A bandanna IS a poor helmet for some people. Have you ever been behind a empty dump truck at 70mph...? A bandanna is a good thing.

Half helmet-half condom...yea about the same protection. If you ask the EMT folks that consider bikers "donors" they will tell you, with or without a helmet you can kick da bucket. Not everyone rides a Harley, bike clubs happened to start out with Harleys back in the late 1940s cause of the war surplus.

If someone wants to wear a "mohawk" on topa dey hed...hey, not my problem. Wear your own pants. I like loud pipes..don't care if you don't sorry, my choice at this point.

Do you have a muffler to keep your hands warm?

Besides, don't we all wear uniforms? Whether you are hanging with your friends in dockers and button downs or blue jeans and tee shirts or pin striped suits...we all dress according to what we think is the "wei" for us to fit in...okay maybe not all but, you don't often see men in skirts...except maybe where you live.

Is it a bit ridiculous? Yes, but, everyone should be able to do their thing even if it is only for the weekend. What is this the fashionista police???

Good luck

Do you even ride a motorcycle! Mufflers are on a car....pipes with or without baffles are on motorcycles. Handkerchief over face could be for various reasons, the cold or high dust and pollution levels (like here in Arizona) and some clubs wear them for identity protection. Many RUBS (Rich Urban Bikers) feel as if they and their women need to dress up as if in a fashion show...many dealerships and vendors cater to their needs. Helmets are a personal thing even though many now have funny accessories like mohawks, fake hair braids, etc.

If everyone wore full leathers and a full face helmet and full leathers would make sense. The half helmet and bandanna are of no more than a costume. When did motorcycling turn into a costume party? Good question

love it yeah, and i hope the iron maiden 1%er dragon boy does get his a** kicked, i think it all started when jessie james and the boys from west cost choppers inspired a whole bunch of white collar frat boys to go out and get Harley's, it Absolutely amazes me how on a friday night i go out and some skinny dentist with an 2006 bagger with 2000 miles wouldn't consider me a biker because i ride a yamaha. be raised around and on bikes i remember when those people though my family was scum for owning harley's. I love my yamaha it handles like a wet dream, when i am ready to hit the long road the market will be flooded with used harley's, thanks yuppie punk

he will the two could shave or cover up all hair on limbs and chest. Use a bra and or chicken fillets if possible, not balloons/socks. do not over accessorise and shop make up understated. p.c.. and outfit that suits him. If furry hands and legs are in touch, use 2 pairs of tights and long gloves. Use a wig this is robust high quality and decrease on him, if it appears that evidently like a lavatory push aside it is going to do on. have relaxing and training interior the footwear!

Yes, I totally agree with you. I find it ridiculous when these sport bike riding kids spend $500 for one piece leather riding suits, $400-$600 helmets complete with skulls, flames, etc. and I really like the ones that having the scuffed up knee protectors, worn down to the metal. Of course many of them wear them down by rubbing them on a concrete sidewalk so they will look like a real canyon carver. And let's not forget the $120 carbon fiber front fender, as if 12 oz less weight it going to turn them into a real racer. And yes, there's plenty of cruiser riders of all brands that dress up like they're going to a costume ball.

Me? Yes, I have an old worn tradition leather biker jacket I wear when it's cold, but usually you'll find me wearing tennis shoes, jeans and whatever shirt happens to be clean at the time. It may have a collar, it may not. See me setting in McDonalds without a jacket and you'd never know I rode in on a bike unless you're observant enough to notice the black gear shift stain on top of my left shoe. I also ride in all kinds of weather, 3,000-4,000 mile summer trips all over the US and I've racked up something close to 200,000 miles over the years. Real bikers may be dressing the part or they may not be. Don't let outward appearances fool you.

Should it matter to you what I wear when I ride?

I wear a bandanna over my face when the weather turns chilly to keep the cold out of my nose, it hurts a little at 70 mph. I wear leathers for the same reason: to keep warm. As for the helmet, we have a helmet law here so we wear them.