Is "Biker" a derogatory term?

It isn't really used in Oz. Bikie is derogatory, biker is used by people watching too many Vanilla Ice videos wanting to patch their crew.

I'm just a bike rider

I think "biker" nowadays is not derogatory and viewed more as a fake participation label given to anyone with a motorcycle which is why REAL BIKERS don't like being called bikers. People have called me a biker plenty of times and I prefer not to be labeled period. I'm just a guy who owns and loves riding a motorcycle. I ride year round and only drive a truck when I'm hauling something or the roads are icy/snowy or heavy rain. There are lots of people who are weekend warriors who go out and buy all the leather and t-shirts and stuff and wear it as a fashion statement rather then needing it for its purpose. The people who "stick there chest out in pride" when they are called bikers are most likely these wannabe yuppys that think they are a badass because they bought a bike and ride there bike on sunny weekends with leather that looks brand new all the time because it never gets used.

I've been called worse by better so don't give a rats-@ss but I do try to correct people's misuse of the English language because a biker is a person that rides a bicycle and this here machine is called a motorcycle (or motorbike depending on where in the world you happen to be) so I'm a motorcyclist (or a motorbiker).

I do reserve my right of free speech depending again on where I happen to be in the world at that time, a lot of dip-sh!t riders like to be called bikers.

As CB has mentioned, I think the term "biker" as more of the ZZ Top looking guys decked out in tatoos, leather, and on Harley motorcycles.

I personally ride sport bikes. Since I occasionally ride it to work, I have been seen on my rocket with dress slacks. (Although I still have my motorcycle boots, jacket, and helmet.) So I would hardly consider myself a "biker."

I think it is derogatory term because of the media stereotypes of what they call bikers. The media portrays them as thugs in chain gangs. Anyone I know personally would find that offensive to be dropped in that group of people.

I am ambivalent about being called a biker - I ride motorcycles but don't think of myself as a biker - it conjours up more of a leather clad, harley riding, bar-hopping,wanna-be gang member to some.

I am more of the long distance adventure touring rider, who also occassionally rents motorcycles in other countries for multi-week long riding vacations. I drive cars to work in inclement weather - just because commuting by motorcycle in heavy metropolitan traffic isn't that much fun to begin with, but a weekend day trip will be well over 200 miles in most cases.

Depends some on who is saying it and who it is addressed at. Is speaker a police officer and arresting someone with colors and tatoos noted to be criminal organization marks? that was doing something real silly in traffic? Bouncer at a gay bar to would be customer wearing leathers? Rally Rat Bike rider that has just made a 500 mile run in bad weather to get there?-and greeted by same brand cycle rider? I get called a 'Nazi biker' rider for BMWs ridden, 'Male Chauvinist Pig' by the Feminazi pedestrians when I invite them to the campfire on cold night, 'Biker' by a few that recognize arm markings from old days, 'brother' or 'korpbruder' by some with same markings. .

The way I say it, it is. 95% of bikers are posers. Some of my good friends are Harley riding middle class noob posers. I forgive them, but don't want to ride with them while they are wearing their costumes. 90% of real bikers are garden variety scumbags. Then there are a few interesting guys who like to live outside of the law. No problem with them.

I prefer to think of myself as an enthusiastic motorcyclist... Some of.my friends probably think of themselves as bikers, some might think of me as one - the deciding factor is that I'm not into the politics that goes with the club/patch/lifestyle, I'm more decent chateau-bottled and single malts than beer and bourbon :-)

I do, however, ride 24/7/365, do my own spannerwork (including inside the motor), modify bikes to meet MY needs and make parts for friends (when they find out you have a pukka toolroom lathe and stuff, you're never short of bottles on a Saturday night, or muscle when it's needed to move stuff). So I'm kind of keen on them, ride to live and live to ride or is it ride to work, work to ride?

Like most things from our past that used to be clear cut, the term has been muddled by the ignorant.

Best bet is to try to determine from it's usage (keeping in mind WHO is using and why).

I don't care what anybody calls me, biker, *******, ****, it all fits. I don't care what anybody else thinks about me, just stay out fo my way and leave me alone.