January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955

January 2011 Asylum Mobilitarium

Continuing from last month we will delve into the world of Harley-Davidson culture and how to survive that tense dinner party conversation about motorcycling that as we know always comes up.

I was asked recently if I thought that the term “Biker,” was a term only given to a rider riding a Harley. I said that I believed that the term came from the word “bike rider.” It was made popular and shortened back in the sixties in the then new era of Roger Corman bike exploitation films. We remember “Angels Unchained” and the other Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Sinatra movies at the drive-in.  And I’m talking about “Easy Rider” which was and is in an entirely different category.

Old timers used such terms as “Throttle Twisters,” to describe a rider. “Biker” became popular with magazines such as “Easy Rider,” in the early seventies. I don’t believe the word “Biker,” is exclusively defining nor has a Harley stamp of approval on it. But then again, I’m not sure riders of Gold Wings or BMW’s would accept the term as their own either.

An “Electric Leg” was a somewhat derogatory term describing a bike with an electric start. Harley people are died in the wool, and don’t accept change easily. When Harley-Davidson came out with their first hand clutch bike in the early fifties, riders didn’t exactly flock to the showrooms to buy one.

Mount a motorcycle like you do a horse, from the left side. If you see someone continually get on his ride from the right side, chances are he or she is or once was a motorcycle officer. That’s because they were taught to mount and dismount on the right to keep from falling into traffic. Makes sense.

KSU is new bikespeak for “kick stands up.” Not Kansas State University at least in the context of you better show up to a ride on time!  A “Dinner Ride” is when a bunch of folks get together and ride to eat. A cage is a car. This is what you might see in an e-mail, like “The dinner ride riding portion is off because of rain, but bring your cage.”

When you are a new rider to the chapter, and attend a dinner ride, don’t be shy. Get up and introduce yourself, and hopefully, other members will do the same thing to you. Don’t expect that you will be bosom buddies to the majority of the chapter right off. You should come to several functions and put yourself out there to be met and greeted! It will come in time.

A Rocker was a rider in the sixties known for wearing classic leather jackets and stovepipe jeans. In the early sixties this rider was known to have a duck tailed haircut. He usually rode a Triumph or BSA. His arch enemy was a “Mod.” A Mod rode Vespa’s and the like, and were sharp dressers. I’m talking suits and skinny ties, or any other current fashion trend. Rockers and Mods were famous in England for ruining many family vacations when the fighting erupted between the factions. Like the Brighton Beach riot. The Who’s album, Quadropenia was about this lifestyle.

Willie Hank

Panther Creek Historian

Youths Gone Astray since 1955