What is the most biker unfriendly place you have ever been to? [Archive]

webhustler

03-07-2008, 03:11 PM

Some people see a two wheeler and they hide the kids and close the shutters, and others open their garages to show you their new paint job. Local police departments and business owners react in the same ways.

When you ride into a town, or maybe as you ride out, you can always tell if the place "was just not for bikes".

It may sound crazy as heck, but I think all of us have either been hit with a brick of hostility, or we just "got that feeling", as we followed every rule driving through town, leaving as fast as the speed limit will allow.

I always got that feeling when we rode our dirt bikes to the next town over as kids. Our local cops did not care if we had licenses or street legal bikes, of which we had neither. That doesn't make it biker unfriendly, in reality. But to be realistic, I was only 14.

BH121869

03-09-2008, 11:10 AM

Urban Coyote

03-09-2008, 08:25 PM

I don't see it anymore but in the 60's any small town seemed to be unfriendly to bikers. In 1966 I rode around NC as I was stationed there in the air force. People would stop and stare at me as I rode through the towns. It was weird to see them do that. They acted like they had never seen a bike before.

Was there more of a relation of bikers being part of a biker gang back then, such as the Hells Angels and all people just feared and sterotyped all bikers as trouble?

BH121869

03-09-2008, 09:35 PM

Was there more of a relation of bikers being part of a biker gang back then, such as the Hells Angels and all people just feared and sterotyped all bikers as trouble?

Yes I think you are correct. I think there were more outlaws % wise than now and they were perhaps more open and rowdy back then.
Honda was the first bike Co to use advertising to clean up the so called image bikers had.

Roadrash

03-12-2008, 06:15 PM

I've been in a LOT of unfriendly places, so it's hard to pick just one.
We were gonna hold a poker run in Huron, South Dakota a few years back. We worked out the details with the host bar, a great place called Mulligan's. We had a band hired, and all the other stops in the surrounding towns were glad to help.
When word of the event got out, several of the locals that frequented Mulligan's went to the owner and complained that they didn't want that kind of element in "their" bar or their town. They threatened that if he didn't cancel the poker run, they were gonna tell everyone in the ABATE that Mulligan's was a "gang" hangout and that he was being controlled by our Club.
Once the local cops got wind of it, the chief of police went over and had a little talk with the owner as well. He told him that they didn't want criminals hosting public events in their town, and that although they couldn't force him to do anything, they warned him that if he decided to go ahead with it, the next time there was a fight or other problems in his bar, maybe they just wouldn't be able to respond too quickly (even though the bar is directly across the street from the local cop-shop). They also mentioned that the fire department would probably feel the same way.
He called me and talked it over with me. He was hopping mad about it, but after all, he has a business to run and he will still be trying to make a living in that town long after we have finished partying and left. We decided that since he had always been so good to us, we would cancel the run. We still go there to party once in awhile, and he is always glad to see us and treats us like royalty.
Of course, we still can't ride across town without getting stopped for a little extra "protect & serve"! Oh well,...
Respects,
Roadrash

a1c_joker

03-21-2008, 04:15 PM

Never been to a place where I was unliked, but I've experienced the opposite end of the spectrum. My Dad, Mom and I, all on bikes went down to this small town near the OK/TX border near Turner Falls. We stopped in at this small restaurant that served frogs legs. After about 45 minutes of us eating and conversing with the nearby guests (who were regulars in there for coffee and pie) the waitress walks over and goes, "Ya know, I saw the motorcycles and thought the worst, but I've got to say you're some of the nicest people we've met." They were going on and on about how nice we are, and how nice it is for a family to be out riding together. (We had my two younger brothers riding with us) I really do think that people have that "Hells Angels" image burnt into their heads either from news articles or movies. Seriously, how many forum members do we have now? And HOW many of them are Hells Angels who murder, rape, piledge (sp?) and steal???

Plain and simple, times have changed, and it just goes to show how a few people can ruin an image of an entire group.

BH121869

03-21-2008, 04:25 PM

I've stopped to help elderly folks that had a flat or other car issue a few times and at first they look nervous but then realize you are there to help and loosen up. They always have a biker story or two to tell me about the good old days of dirt roads and flatheads.

LowRiderGhost

03-22-2008, 02:56 PM

Wow, I'm thinking just how much things have changed in the relatively (?) short time of 36+ years I've been riding?! I sure remember from the early to mid 70’s being turned away from campgrounds, apartments for rent, and even jobs for no other reason then I rode a motorcycle! Never the less I think my (?) experiences overall were better then most?! I sure never EVER went out in the world with my hand OUT, and I always paid my own way… one way or another! But never the less people offered me a bed or place to pitch my tent, a meal or assistance as needed during my many past times out on the open road. I dunno… maybe because I was young? Or looked safe? Or just because I behaved myself? Go figure…. ;-) People IN cars (while driving) are as dangerous (and deadly) as ever, that much sadly will never change.

But these days I just can’t even begin to imagine anyone ANYWHERE giving you a hassle (to your face) because you ride a bike?! I think at least in part you can surely thank the Tuttles for that. Say what you will about them but I can’t imagine anyone else who’ve generated as much a positive image of motorcycling and bikers to the public in the past several decades since Then Came Bronson from the early 70’s?! I for one am dang grateful to be sure! ;-)

LRG :cool:

Footnote: Never the less, I gotta' admit I'll always be a bit envious of all those older Riders still who KNEW what it was like to be able to ride this country back when Flatheads WERE state of the art, and there was little (if ANY?!) traffic on them old dirt roads?! ;-)

BH121869

03-22-2008, 03:31 PM

The Tuttle's are fun to watch but I wouldn't let them touch my bikes. I started out welding and machining in of course machine shops. As the years went by I was a toolmaker and moldmaker. I also had a motorcycle repair shop myself that specialized in welding up cracked or broken blocks cases and tranies and re machining them. I've welded for the BMW and Yamaha racing teams when they were in Daytona racing. Watching the Tuttle's is how not to do something the right way. They are crude at best but fun to watch. I'd like to see a show about their bikes one year later and see how the riders like them then. Their best bike builder left the show. There are many bike builders that are really good like J James but not as popular on TV.

Roadrash

03-26-2008, 07:45 PM

Some of my Brothers recently went to check out a new strip-club in a nearby city. They were in town, on main street, for less than fifteen minutes when the entire city police force (four cars and about half a dozen officers) showed up. Surprisingly, they were fairly friendly. They said that they don't get patch-holders in town very often, and wanted to make sure that none of the locals gave them any kind of a hard time. They also asked them not to beat up any of the local boys if they could avoid it and gave them a courtesy card and asked to call if anyone was bothering them.
We don't get that very often!
Respects,
Roadrash

stuco

03-26-2008, 09:01 PM

jag1

03-27-2008, 12:40 PM

I know around here most of the people who ride are respectable folk.
most of the time you here nice bike or some other greeting, and people will go out of their way to talk to you just because you are on a bike.

afmajernik

03-27-2008, 02:42 PM

When i first started riding when i was in high school there were alot of sport bike groups that did stupid stunts in the middle of the road in my area. With in the first month of riding I am sure i met every cop in my town and the sorrounding just because they wanted motorcyclists (or you punks on two wheels as i was called by them often) to know they were watching us. But i started to make friends with alot of these officers and the started to notice i was doing any stunts and was a safe rider so they started helping me out.

Roadrash

04-06-2008, 12:54 PM

The media love to have a good "bad-guy" to bash. Bikers are easy targets. When was the last time you saw a biker portrayed as a good guy or hero on TV or in the movies? I can think of only a few examples.
Most of the time when you see bikers, especially patch-holders, they are portrayed as either criminal or unbelievably stupid,... or both.
The vast majority of humans take everything they see on the screen as the gods-honest truth. Even if they are watching a fictional story, they somehow equate the characters they see there as being realistic representations of actual people. Then when they see real bikers in real life, they look at them the same way.
There are lots of groups that have been treated the same way. How many of us think "mafia" when we meet an Italian? "Terrorist" when we meet an Arab? "Nazi" when we see someone with a shaved head? "Brokeback" when we see someone in a cowboy hat?
The media is a powerful tool, but very often I think they think dollars and ratings long before they think of how they will shape the public's perceptions.
Respects,
Roadrash

Dodsfall

06-15-2008, 11:02 PM

When was the last time you saw a biker portrayed as a good guy or hero on TV or in the movies?

Ghost Rider (2007)

crazydave

06-30-2008, 12:52 PM

It's not that there were only outlaw biker gangs in the 50's and 60s but that the media made it seem that way at the time giving all bikers a bad image. For the record, the media also exagerated the crimes and lifestyle of the hells angels (in particular) to sell their product. I'm not saying that none of the members ever broke a law just that it was nowhere near the extent that most newspapers, magazines and movies had you believe.
Oh I beg to differ. The Hell's Angels were and are especially today a highly organized crime syndication. While I was growing up in the San Francisco area in the 70's they were less cautious then they are now.

Their organization has always been know for the quantity and distribution of meth (one of the most evil drugs on this planet). Don't let the downplaying of these groups seem like over active media coverage.

I have seen personally what kind of people the REAL 1%'s are and trust me you wouldn't want them in your neighborhood.

WIFarmBoy

07-02-2008, 01:32 AM

I never really had a bad experience except in Chicago. Just this past month (June 2008) I rode in to park my bike in a privately owned public parking garage and was turned away. It was explained to me that the owners had too many problems with bikers and therefore all bikes were banned from parking in the garage. Online, the garage appears to be part of a large chain of garages around the city of Chicago. It was very difficult finding a place to park that night.

pintslayer

07-02-2008, 08:45 PM

Most of us quit stealing, raping and murdering years ago, but we still pillage on occasion.

PassioneDucati

07-14-2008, 03:21 PM

Without a doubt, the most bike unfriendly place nowadays is Miami, FL.

Check out this draconinan legislation:

"South Florida has a motorcycle problem, and lawmakers are introducing legislation to show bikers that they'll go a long way to punish those who break the rules. Stunt riding (including wheelies), excessive speeding, and concealable license plates will get you a 10 year ban on your motorcycle license, mandatory jail time, and an impounded bike. If the punishment sounds like the medieval practice of cutting off the hand of a man for stealing, that's exactly how State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants it.

Lopez-Cantera witnessed firsthand a variety of incidents during which reckless behavior was on display, including bikers flying down the highway at 120 mph, high speed wheelies, and more. Police officers can't even run plates since bikers will often flip them up to avoid detection, and it's very difficult to catch a motorcycle on the open road with a squad car. We like motorcycles, even though our focus is on cars, and it's disappointing to see that things have apparently gotten so out of hand in South Florida that draconian enforcement policies are being seriously discussed."

(http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/10-year-ban-for-popping-a-wheelie-in-miami/)

Srsly, WTF?

grappler

07-23-2008, 02:44 AM

the most unfriendly place I have been recently is the Del Mar/La Jolla area. It's a rich area and I guess the people there are just a little afraid of bikers.

Meeting my girlfriend for lunch (she lives in Del Mar unfortunately, or else I would never set foot in the place.) at a fairly nice restaurant got me a LOT of glares from older folks, even the waiters were staring at me. I wasn't wearing anything strange, jeans, my riding boots and a polo shirt. But I was the only bike in the sea of BMW, Lexus and Porsche. I mean I am a polite, clean shaven (except for the tattoo I guess) and well-dressed young man. Why would you feel threatened by me?

On the plus side her Dad says he has taken a liking to me! Hurray, one point for bikers everywhere lol

Olivia Chillia

07-25-2008, 10:04 PM

I wasn't wearing anything strange, jeans, my riding boots and a polo shirt. But I was the only bike in the sea of BMW, Lexus and Porsche. I mean I am a polite, clean shaven (except for the tattoo I guess) and well-dressed young man. Why would you feel threatened by me?
l

Hotness. :D

Goliath616

08-01-2008, 01:56 AM

There are lots of groups that have been treated the same way. How many of us think "mafia" when we meet an Italian? "Terrorist" when we meet an Arab? "Nazi" when we see someone with a shaved head? "Brokeback" when we see someone in a cowboy hat?
Respects,
Roadrash

:eek: :D ROFLMAO I fell out of my chair when I read that.

as for the topic, I have not had any problems, but then again I have only been riding for 3 weeks. I did however have an older woman, holding her grandson, smile at me as I rode by and was waving the child's hand at me (he was 3 or 4 I think) and he was smiling real big. Made me feel kind of good to make a kid smile.

grappler

08-01-2008, 02:28 AM

Hotness. :D

LOL Thank you Olivia! I won't tell the GF you said that:D

headshrink

08-07-2008, 07:03 AM

I visited a VERY exclusive golf community last weekend (multi million dollar homes). Almost didn't let us in. Last visit my friend didn't get in on his HD.

(no I don't have this kind of $$$)

Olivia Chillia

08-10-2008, 12:30 AM

LOL Thank you Olivia! I won't tell the GF you said that:D

Any time. I'm sure your GF won't mind. She probably thinks you're very hot and has seen you. I'm just speculating.

Skitzzen

08-10-2008, 06:08 AM

Galvaston Bay Texas

TxFLSTC

09-05-2008, 04:24 AM

Some people see a two wheeler and they hide the kids and close the shutters, and others open their garages to show you their new paint job. Local police departments and business owners react in the same ways.

I have never had a problem... but I tend to stay to myself where ever I may roam... if they hated me I probly wouldn't notice.

ump

09-28-2008, 02:28 PM

However, I've only been riding for approximately 6 years. When I was in my hometown of Danville, Illinois on recruiting duty, I was welcomed everywhere I rode. (A LOT of small towns in that area) Now, being stationed in Virginia Beach, there are a lot of different things that cater directly to the biker "crowd" with several different poker runs a month, a spring mini rally "Virginia Beach Bike Classic". So, it's always been people admiring the motorcycle that I'm riding at the time. Mostly because my first one was 15 years old when I began riding it and they were interested in a Honda still running well at that time.

William

GI Jack

10-18-2008, 01:36 PM

Many cops in my area ride, they've got all police crews. its wierd. Sometimes I get scared looks from faggots in pastel polo shirts neatly tucked into slacks with loafers. I don't pay 'em no mind. I deal with that type of head EVER, so they might as well not exist.

there are a few full time cops in my guard unit, a few ride, and they all think MCs are cool ****. Unless your driving recklessly(or drunk), you'll probably never get a ticket.

As for me, I wear my old painted spiked studded, and patched(with bands) jacket from my punk rocker days.(on a bike older than I am) There is plenty of room for MC and army related patches so I'm keeping it. No reason not to. Its mostly other bikers giving me looks, "like who's this idiot?", or mabey their just looking for patches.

Francois

10-18-2008, 05:59 PM

well, here in Europe bike driving is getting more and more dangerous actually so everywhere turns to be wild !

duality

10-19-2008, 02:32 PM

there is a suburb here in phoenix that is a huge biker hangout but the town is soooo unfriendly they have noise ordinances and pull bikes over all the time.

CraigRC

10-23-2008, 01:39 PM

The townhome association where I live. When I was buying the place I read through all their rules and regs. I came to a section on motorcycles. We are not allowed to park a motorcycle in the parking lot. We are also not allowed to ride in the grass or on the sidewalk. That effectively means that motorcycles are not allowed (can’t park in the parking lot and can’t ride it from the parking lot to your house). I started to freak out since I was half way through the process of purchasing the house already when I found this out. I talked to my future neighbor, who has a couple of motorcycles. He had one parked on the patio and one parked in his dining room. He said they never hassled him, and he lived there for years, so I went ahead and bought the house. So far (3 years) nobody has said anything about me riding my bike onto my patio and parking it there. FYI: The patios are fully enclosed, so you’d have to open the gate to see into them.

Delray Beach, FL tried to ban all motorcycles on the main road through town. A huge number of bikers showed up at the town council meeting to protest that proposal and it was defeated (for now). They claimed it was for "noise pollution" reasons, but there are already noise laws and they were trying to ban ALL bikes, not just loud ones. I haven't spent a dime in that city since then.

eljefino

10-23-2008, 02:44 PM

Delray Beach, FL tried to ban all motorcycles on the main road through town. A huge number of bikers showed up at the town council meeting to protest that proposal and it was defeated (for now). They claimed it was for "noise pollution" reasons, but there are already noise laws and they were trying to ban ALL bikes, not just loud ones. I haven't spent a dime in that city since then.

It would be pretty easy to get a law like that shot down... For example the state constitution will say so-and-so is responsible for roads for the public to use, license plate fees let you use all the roads, etc.

SpeedDemon

10-24-2008, 06:48 PM

I think that now adays people do tend to be friendlier with bikers overall. The ones who are picked on however would be the ones who ride sports bikes. People now tend to generalize if you own a sport bike that you will race and break the law and etc. Do you guys know what I mean?

SpeedDemon

10-24-2008, 09:40 PM

Without a doubt, the most bike unfriendly place nowadays is Miami, FL.

Check out this draconinan legislation:

"South Florida has a motorcycle problem, and lawmakers are introducing legislation to show bikers that they'll go a long way to punish those who break the rules. Stunt riding (including wheelies), excessive speeding, and concealable license plates will get you a 10 year ban on your motorcycle license, mandatory jail time, and an impounded bike. If the punishment sounds like the medieval practice of cutting off the hand of a man for stealing, that's exactly how State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants it.

Lopez-Cantera witnessed firsthand a variety of incidents during which reckless behavior was on display, including bikers flying down the highway at 120 mph, high speed wheelies, and more. Police officers can't even run plates since bikers will often flip them up to avoid detection, and it's very difficult to catch a motorcycle on the open road with a squad car. We like motorcycles, even though our focus is on cars, and it's disappointing to see that things have apparently gotten so out of hand in South Florida that draconian enforcement policies are being seriously discussed."

Srsly, WTF?

Im hating that law so bad.. I live in South Florida and we are feeling it pretty bad. Cops now are going around impounding bikes because they say they "remember" that you were speeding. I'll post up some articles that came out on the newspapers for you guys to see...

duality

10-26-2008, 02:23 PM

Jeepers

01-27-2009, 09:41 PM

Hah, reading this thread reminded me of this weekend. I stopped in at the bank and I swear the teller looked like he was gonna pass out. I guess black leathers are not typical banking attire. I am probably just reading into it, but as I was going in, a cop was walking out. I was inside for a good amount of time, but only after I walked out did he finally pull off. I thought the whole thing was kinda funny.

Giant81

02-02-2009, 11:51 AM

pretty much every place I've been to out here has been biker friendly. You can tell. Here at the local bars you can see the bikes lined up in the grass out front durring the summer, and snowmobiles durring the winter.

At walmart, bikes routinely park in the striped yellow between handycap signs (careful to park in a manner that wouldn't impeed a handycaped persons use of the slot. Or we park up in the large open pavement areas in the middle between the doors. (when they don't have sales racks out) and most people don't mind at all.

BJMartin

03-10-2009, 02:03 PM

There is this lady that lives in my house, she gives me hell about riding all the time. lol
Other than that, no problems yet.

Plumcrazy

04-12-2009, 01:26 PM

I would have to say my driveway...it's at least a 30deg incline to the garage

Oh and the road to the in-laws. For some reason my bike won't follow that path

Wayne S

Capri142

04-26-2009, 09:43 AM

LOL I went to pick up my to be girl friend on our very first date on a BSA of questionable vintage and reliabilaty. Her father was having none of that and drove us to the movie theater himself. I really liked the lady so parked the biked and managed to scrape up the cash for a 1962 Comet..(who made that?) to drive her around in. She later became my wife and still is and has put up with my bikes all of these years.

Dr Phil

LWRider

05-14-2009, 04:24 PM

My boss lives a couple miles from here in a community called Mountain Lake. This place has been a getaway for wealthy Northern bluebloods since the '20s (think Rockefeller). They allow NO motorcycles within their gates, period. I work out of my home and so does my boss, so I guess I can write off taking the bike over to his place on occasions that we need to talk face to face. A shame to fire up the Montero just to go a couple miles.

I am still not on the road yet, so I will have to find out what the rest of the area's reception is like, but judging from what my brother (who rides) says, it is friendly to bikers. Of course, having a brother-in-law on the force here makes it nice to know I won't be hassled if I keep my nose clean, anyway.

Cheers,

Mike

Ramazith

05-26-2009, 11:41 PM

I was hanging out front at the 7-11 early one morning, under the 'No Loitering' sign, in riding gear, bike parked there in the parking lot, talking with the lady who works there. She rides too. Cop walks up and says "Hi. How y'all doin?" He comes to that 7-11 often for coffee. She said "Fine and you?" I said, "I'M LOITERING!" :D He laughed and said, "Oh, that's just great!"

Then, I pulled out my jammy 9 and busted a cap in his azz.

Part of this story is true. :p

Bikertrsh

08-15-2009, 01:47 PM

At the age of 29, I bought my first bike in 1974, and was living on Long Island, NY at the time. It was a 1969 Harley Sportster with loud drag pipes and a 12" over "springer" front end. In 1975, my friend and I had planned a weeks vacation in Orlando, Florida, and after seeing the movie "Easyriders", all I could think about was the scene where Hopper and Fonda were riding down redneck alley, and got blown away by two yokels in a pick-up truck. After arriving in Orlando, with bikes in tow, we rode with my friends to the Keys and back, all over Orlando, Daytona, Cape Kennedy, etc., and didn't even get pulled over or hassled once by anybody. Just goes to show ya' what a movie and an over-active imagination can do.

badinfluence63

08-26-2009, 10:56 PM

In my 35 + years of riding I have never felt unwelcome anywheres except by other bikers, on occasion.

butim

08-27-2009, 12:01 PM

not sure where to post this but the other i was riding the back roads of good ole' mASSachusetts and a statie ran a stop sign at the end of his travel road and came into my lane. i was riding the yellow line thankfully. when he saw me he stopped. then stopped me. he asked why i was riding close to the yellow line. i told him so if people ran a stop sign i wouldn't get hit. guess what? you got it he was ****ed. he let me off though because he knew i was right:thumbsup:

McStuff

08-28-2009, 08:17 PM

"Nazi" when we see someone with a shaved head?

I like to keep my head shaved, but some people seem to have a problem with it. I'm not even close to being a Nazi. Once I got called a skinhead at my school. Whether or not it's a joke, it's stupid.
the most unfriendly place I have been recently is the Del Mar/La Jolla area. It's a rich area and I guess the people there are just a little afraid of bikers.

Really? I wouldn't think of Del Mar being that way. Maybe La Jolla or Rancho Sante Fe. I guess I'll see when I start riding.

Weebel

08-31-2009, 05:23 AM

Ha ha ha some of the replies here have been pretty **** funny...

OK heres my input...

Im almost 30 so Im still a young guy to some of you on here but with the exception of the fact I dont hate sport bikes.... I'm about the same as a 50 year old greasy biker.

I grew up around bikes... and have been riding them on the street from the second someone would give me a learners permit... So I was lucky enough to start riding before the population boom... even if it wasnt for long.... back then on occasion.. I did come across some hostility..

One time my parents and I (all on older harleys at the time... but I ride a Zuki right now) pulled into a restaurant in a small town a little under half way home on a VERY long trip... Most the people kept staring at us from the second we walked in the door... it was obvious they didnt want us there.. we tried to get service but the waitress ignored us completely... after a little while... we just left.... but not withought me yelling "all you people can go F yourselfs" as I walked out the door... it ****ed my stepmom off at first that I said it until she realized why I did LOL... stuff like that used to happen every once in awhile but not all the time...

Fast Forward to present day... its the other way around... people actually come up to you and talk to you because your on a bike.... it's annoying as hell... I actually miss the old days LOL. There are more people with bikes around this area percentage wise than anywhere else I've seen in the country... Im not sure why. One nice side effect is that the cops leave me alone now because they are used to seeing bikes.... that wasnt always the case.

Although I do find people on occasion that look at me funny or seem scared of me... I get a laugh out of that... I'm one of those people that dont cut or comb there hair, havnt shaved at all in a few months, wear an old cutoff over a leather jacket, wear oily jeans, and ride an old dirty bike.... the only thing that doesnt make me a perfect stereotypical biker that you see in the old movies is that Im not on a harley anymore.. I've had some of the old guys at work tell me that they thought they where back in the late 60's again when they saw me pull up LOL..

Last week after just getting to work (dressed like mentioned above since I always ride my bike).. I was in the break room getting my usual pre work caffien drink BSing with a coworker about something that was on the news... and one of the neat and tidey office girls was in there... I dont know if it was the way I looked or the fact the words " I woulda just let her drowned" came out of my mouth LOL (you'de understand what I meant if you where in on the conversation) but after standing next to be for a couple seconds... she looked me right in the eye and actually bolted back into the office... I started laughing my ass off after that... although I guess I am one of the few people around here left that actually fit the motorcycle gang stereotype (not going into detail why) but im not in a club.

Other than that type of stuff happening... I havnt really seen anything biker unfriendly in awhile..

zigzagman

09-01-2009, 08:34 AM

House of Blues in Myrtle Beach S.C. From the time we walked in the door, we could tell we were not welcome there. We were not wearing colors, just 6 guys who were there on a non-bike week weekend wanting a little food and entertainment. (we are all professionals in real life) After just a few minutes of the staffs (not just one person) nasty attitude, we decided to go elsewhere.
Long story short, that's been 10 years now, I've probably been to Myrtle Beach 10 or 12 times since then, I have yet to grace their doorstep again, not even when I was in Vegas or Chicago. I guess bikers are not touristy enough for them.
Other than that, I meet some really neat people when I ride. I enjoy stopping at Mom and Pop restaurants when I ride, especially in small towns. The locals all gather around the bikes and tell biker stories. That's why the ride is important, not the destination.

LWRider

09-01-2009, 10:26 AM

Looks like the whole city of Myrtle Beach has adopted that attitude. Not allowing bike week anymore within the city limits and passing regulations concerning motorcycles. :(

Weebel

09-02-2009, 04:52 AM

Looks like the whole city of Myrtle Beach has adopted that attitude. Not allowing bike week anymore within the city limits and passing regulations concerning motorcycles. :(

Meh.... some people just like to have something to complain about and like to tell people what to do...

Its not like all those bikes are any worse than there regular day to day traffic of cars.

moonmanhere

09-20-2009, 01:11 AM

This bar near me saw my riding jacket (honda red and black), and told me that they don't allow gang colors at their establishment.

mitchberry

09-20-2009, 02:28 AM

Most biker unfriendly place = Interstate 35 in Austin TX, or ANY road in Houston...

Most biker friendly place = Any Strip Club. The only problem is i can only fit -one- on the back... *cough*

coloradopunk

09-29-2009, 04:51 PM

I'd have to say Hollister, Ca. I stopped to take a btreak on my way into Monterey from Colorado and got pulled over twice for what they claimed to be "Noice Ordinance". My pipes are decently loud but nothing like what I see around rally time. No ticket was written but for a place that has an awesome rally (except this year) they have a really bad additude towards bikers.

Arko

09-29-2009, 05:59 PM

It's more that people are scared of me, than unfriendly to bikers as a whole, and I DO understand it:
6'4, built like a football lineman, and on any day I don't have to shave, I have a shadow. Add to that the jeans, the heeled cowboy boots and a bike that hasn't seen a hose since I've owned it, and I scare the hell (unintentionally) out of all the folks in the nice areas.

Goliath616

09-29-2009, 11:15 PM

my Mothers house....

JMcDonald

09-30-2009, 09:04 AM

Heh, this is a really interesting thread! I'm enjoying the stories :) :coffee:

Weebel

10-02-2009, 04:30 AM

MizzouJohn

10-04-2009, 11:55 PM

There is this lady that lives in my house, she gives me hell about riding all the time. lol
Other than that, no problems yet.

funny stuff~

Koda Coyote

11-18-2009, 05:59 AM

The Harley Dealership on my vintage Honda. First thing out of his mouth was "come in to get a real bike?" Not to mention all of the stares I got from the line of riders in the lot.

Met some really great HD riders as well - in fact, just met the nicest guy ever at a gas station. But sheesh did I feel uncomfortable at that dealership and I will never go back.

daddymakk

11-18-2009, 11:34 AM

there is a suburb here in phoenix that is a huge biker hangout but the town is soooo unfriendly they have noise ordinances and pull bikes over all the time.
All bikes get pulled over or just the obnoxious straight-pipe crowd that feels we need to hear them for a mile or more?
I feel little sympathy for those types. Louder pipes do help you become noticed but there are limits. Many v-twin types seem to think its all about them. I have an aftermarket pipe on my Suzuki but unless I have it cracked wide open it is not going to wake babies or set off car alarms.

daddymakk

11-18-2009, 11:38 AM

This bar near me saw my riding jacket (honda red and black), and told me that they don't allow gang colors at their establishment.
I hope they don't vote with that lack of intelligence rattling in their head!!

clahman

01-08-2010, 01:12 PM

eh,,, england.

markk53

01-10-2010, 11:20 AM

Let me preface this with the fact that it is the exception to the rules in most cases, but it's a shame when the bad guys are actually our own... Kind of like Walt Kelly's Pogo (http://www.igopogo.com/we_have_met.htm),

http://www.igopogo.com/images/Wehavemet01.jpg

"We met the enemy and he is us." Sometimes it's actually true...

I learned about a local Harley store was having some sort of open house and had the local sponsored HOG chapter doing the parking direction. One of the owner's good friends pulled up on his Vulcan 800 and was told by the HOG member at the lot entrance that there were no d--n Jap bikes allowed on the lot. I never heard what the owner had to say later...

In an interesting side note, that same store had the owner chase off some older Harleys, pans and shovels probably, because he didn't want oil drippings on his parking lot. Obviously not a fan of the old stuff... And they wouldn't work on anything over 10 years old - as many metric dealers won't do either. I wonder if they still do that, with sales and service down.

Otherwise I've been fortunate, other than some local businesses that didn't want motorcyclists gathering in their lots after hours, mostly due to the squids on sportbikes and in tuner cars, I've not encountered actual discrimination of any sort that I remember.

Boog

02-16-2010, 03:43 PM

my Mothers house....

brilliant response!!

oldschool900

02-16-2010, 06:40 PM

Looks like the whole city of Myrtle Beach has adopted that attitude. Not allowing bike week anymore within the city limits and passing regulations concerning motorcycles. :(

I live 20 min from myrtle beach not only has the city passed all the new regs but just before thanksgiving I was checking out resorts & motels for my uncles probably 75 to 80 % had no motorcycles or trailers allowed ive lived here since 1981 and theres been a rally every year dont know where everyone was staying they want ur money but not ur bike one place said u could park ur bike half a block over in a public beach acess so i would have to say myrtle beach is the most bike unfriendly place I know:thumbsdown:

slumlord

02-17-2010, 07:56 AM

We went to Myrtle as a family vacation after a 12 hours on the road. Got the call that MIL's sister died. Now all we needed was sleep in a quiet hotel and right back home for us.
I think some party thing was going down with college years end, and the hot rods and bikes sounded like a stock car race in those canyons created by the high rises,and this was at 2 AM. No way was any sleep gonna happen in that mess.
Fortunately,we had no reservations. We narrowed our hunt for a hotel to one made of concrete,and a room on the side facing the ocean. About twice what we usually spend,but worth every cent
This probably explains the Myrtle anti-bike attitude,but those fart can exhausts on the tuner cars would be almost as bad IMO.

oldschool900

02-17-2010, 04:03 PM

slumlord

02-18-2010, 05:09 PM

no sound regs on yhe tuner cars or diesel trucks my son has a dodge with a cummins and a 5in diameter straight pipe he cruises ocean blvd all summer with no problems drag pipes on a vtwin automatic ticket :thumbsdown:

My truck is a Cummins dodge. It is important to put the words in the correct order:) 2002 was the last year for the loud Cummins Diesels. I would love to have a 1997 12 valve,though...

oldschool900

02-18-2010, 07:49 PM

:thumbsup:My truck is a Cummins dodge. It is important to put the words in the correct order:) 2002 was the last year for the loud Cummins Diesels. I would love to have a 1997 12 valve,though...

sorry aint not had no higher learnin lol did u check out the cb750 u were talking about? my sons cummins dodge is an 04 with a 5 inch diam straight pipe n after market turbo :thumbsup:

AlmostThere

02-18-2010, 10:55 PM

Back in 74 I had a 350 that broke down every other day. It's a long story but the high point is I had to ride that bike from Huntsville, Alabama to just north of Baltimore, Maryland. Right when I was leaving Huntsville, I lost one of the baffles in my exhaust. Thinking I shouldn't ride that way, I pulled the other baffle out. I can safely say, that was the loudest bike on the planet earth. I got stopped in 5 different states for noise. I'd get within a hundred yards of another vehicle and windows would go up and I'd get some really dirty looks from anyone and everyone I came into contact with on that trip.

bighouse

02-25-2010, 01:12 AM

I have never met anyone who was not nice to me on mine but I would say that out of the places I've been, the most imhospitable places for motorcycles would be driving in Houston or South Florida. I live in the Huntsville area and have had to drive through Houston a few times and it is scary. I also went to school for a couple years in South Florida and nobody down there knows how to drive. I would never ride a motorcycle down there.

PerrySB

02-25-2010, 10:28 AM

My riding partner and I decided to do the four corners run, we are from California and both are LEOs, well I was then retired now. For us it was Georgia and Louisiana, first of all we found out they don’t like Californians, and they have the stupidest cops we have ever met. We came away figuring there was just too much inbreeding down there. However many of the people we met in those states were very friendly, they just have dumb cops.

AlmostThere

02-25-2010, 01:53 PM

bighouse

02-25-2010, 04:30 PM

Any chance you were living in Huntsville in April, 1974? I wish I hadn't been.

What happened in 1974? I wasn't alive back then, I guess that means I'm still just a young pup lol.

AlmostThere

02-25-2010, 07:43 PM

What happened in 1974? I wasn't alive back then, I guess that means I'm still just a young pup lol.

I was stationed at Redstone back then. I was in the first part of my AIT training. I don't remember the date, somewhere around the beginning of the month. One night we had several tornadoes come through Redstone. It did enough damage that the next morning we were told to head out to our next duty station. No orders, no transportation vouchers, no nothing, they just said GO, we can't do anything for you here. I gave a buddy who was heading to the same place my military gear and I took my civies, put them on my bike and took off. My bike was a bull**** Honda 350 that broke down every other day. I rode it from Huntsville to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen Maryland. I was a 17 year old kid. Between the tornadoes tearing up the building I was in and the ride to Maryland on a piece of junk bike, it was a helluva experience.

On edit:
I wish I had known Cal Ripken was going to be such a great player. He was just starting his high school career when I was sent to Aberdeen.

BikerAttorney

03-02-2010, 03:22 PM

Every State has them. I have been turned away from breakfast joint, bars, hotels, you name it!

vcand

10-01-2010, 04:10 AM

I would say Orlando is pretty bad. We have one Interstate here, and it's always jammed up with terrible drivers.

FLBandit

10-03-2010, 12:12 PM

I would say Orlando is pretty bad. We have one Interstate here, and it's always jammed up with terrible drivers.

Yeah, I-4 sux. I bought my Bandit a while back in Longwood, and rode it back to Lakeland that night. I got stuck in traffic near downtown for hours. I finally got off the interstate and probably did twice the actual miles home, but the traffic wasn't as bad.

Rain

10-03-2010, 03:05 PM

Only problems I've had, I caused. I'm older and wiser now.

The Tourist

10-03-2010, 07:35 PM

Was there more of a relation of bikers being part of a biker gang back then, such as the Hells Angels and all people just feared and sterotyped all bikers as trouble?

That could be, but we were well known in our county and did some public charity work and did not have a reputation for property damage.

To be fair, this was also the age slightly before the formal alignment of 1%ers and "A" and "O" states. Everybody's colors looked pretty much the same.

For me, the most unfriendly place was in small town taverns and at county fairs. That figures, because in that environment everyone is a drunken townie, even their mayor.

tubesteak

11-04-2010, 07:10 PM

atlanta georgia. you will get cut off by every single car

RezZ

06-22-2011, 09:55 AM

CraigRC

06-22-2011, 10:41 AM

Mad Max!

Yeah, but look what happened to Goose (the motorcycle cop). He was burned alive!

WinterWarrior

06-26-2011, 09:57 PM

Ha! Poor goose......

Most unfriendly place to be a motorcyclist is a condo community. Everytime i go to my friends condo after dark, he gets a noise complaint and the cops roll up.

Granted, there are also communities where everyone and their mother has a bike parked in front, so I guess generalizations are out :)

So in conclusion, condo developments in mahwah nj

pngiaca

06-29-2011, 12:58 PM

Amish country.......

Graywolf51

07-07-2011, 03:45 PM

Just had this conversation with my father, who lives in Myrtle Beach. That city had to learn the hard way! Myrtle Beach used to have 2 bike weeks. I used to live there. Regular bike week and "black" bike week. During these weeks a few businesses got trashed by some of the bikers. The city in it's wisdom, decided that they did not need several million dollars worth of revenue that this genrated and forbid formal bike weeks. That didn't work people came anyway. Some businesses decided to closed thier doors for those weeks. That was met by law suits from the NAACP because they failed to close the doors during regular bike week.
The the city decided they would make up thier own laws, such as a helmet law and sound laws that were different than the state of South Caroliina and issued massive amouts of tickets to riders.
That was met with another lawsuit and the city had to refund all fines paid with interest attached. All in all it cost them millions to drive motorcycles out of town.
Now the economy has gone south, they want us back! You made your bed now lie in it Myrtle Beach!

For the most part the vast majority of bikers are posers, but we have the money! We obay the laws and just try to have a little fun! You want to ride in a biker friendly place, come up to NE.GA. There is hardly a business that does not have a sign that says "bikers welcome". We may live in the sticks, but we know not to "bite the hand that feeds you".

joekool4

07-14-2011, 04:56 AM

i get wierd looks all the time when i drive into work. I work at an upscale hotel in north florida (night shift usually). Most of the time I get wierd looks from people staying here. But, I've also had older biker chick wannabes flirt with me as I leave and then bikeweek and other daytona festivities come around and we have anywhere from 6 to 26 bikes parked in our lots. the towns pay per hour garage usually has a no bike rule but come march and october they have a dedicated bike lane. the whole state of florida has been cracking down of sportbike shenannigans, 1,000 dollars for the first time one wheel comes off the ground, 2k the next with a 6month suspension of license and 5k the third time and 2 years of no bike. i think it has something to do with the endless streches of straight paved 6lane interstates we have where the legal speed limit is 70 minimum of 45. but everyone goes 80 and noone cares. my first ticket was for 89 in a 70, the cop gave me a break I hit 110 before letting off the gas to go over an overpass. i also topped ot my truck at 101 all on I95.

jkm4201

07-19-2011, 10:17 PM

I really do think that people have that "Hells Angels" image burnt into their heads either from news articles or movies. Seriously, how many forum members do we have now? And HOW many of them are Hells Angels who murder, rape, piledge (sp?) and steal???

Plain and simple, times have changed, and it just goes to show how a few people can ruin an image of an entire group.

It's ironic how you've labeled the entire club (Hell's Angels) as murderers, rapists, and thieves. My father was an Angel, and I assure you he didn't shoot, steal or rob anyone blind. You have to remember, just because a few decide to break the law doesn't mean the entire club did, and it varies from chapter to chapter. By your logic for example, the first time a professional athlete gets caught using steroids or gets accused of rape makes the entire team a bunch of rapists.

Don't get me wrong, there's no denying that the Hell's Angels have been involved in some hairy sh**, and they are one of the most notorious and most violent clubs out there, but not everyone in the club goes out of their way to find trouble or to get in it.

------------------------

Oh, and as for friendly/unfriendly/uncomfortable situations.. Here's one:

Back in '93 I moved to Mississippi, ended up married to a southern bell that turned out to be a gold digging, loose legged, wh*re, but in any case, while I was married to her, I bought a bobber to cruise around on until I could afford to get a real commuter. At the time, I wore the traditional attire, vest, chaps, riding boots, gloves, and a skid lid.

She had 2 kids and took them to church every sunday but unfortunately, I had to work on Sundays, well I get to work, the boss says he's got nothing for us to do and to take a day off, we go our seperate ways and I roll up on the church and park my bike. Never in my life have I ever been looked at with such scrutiny and distaste, people were talking low about the "biker" and how he had no business being here like that and when I got inside the greeter at the door stopped me and asked me to leave because I was upsetting the others and I wasn't dressed appropriately.

So, already irritated to the point of wanting to make someone eat their own teeth I calmly turn to the guy and say, "What? God has a dress code? You realize he created men and women with no clothing right? You realize that nowhere in that book you hold so dear to your heart does it say, you must wear a suit and tie right? Now get the F*** out of my way so I can join my family which IS dressed appropriately and enjoy the sermon. The guy swallowed hard cleared his throat and let me pass, after the service I walked out with my family, she took the kids to her car, I jumped on my bike and while she continued to go to that church, I chose to make the seat of my bike my church from then on.. (Well at least until I sold it and went through a nasty divorce which landed me back in Michigan lol.)

RezZ

07-19-2011, 10:47 PM

It's ironic how you've labeled the entire club (Hell's Angels) as murderers, rapists, and thieves. My father was an Angel, and I assure you he didn't shoot, steal or rob anyone blind. You have to remember, just because a few decide to break the law doesn't mean the entire club did, and it varies from chapter to chapter. By your logic for example, the first time a professional athlete gets caught using steroids or gets accused of rape makes the entire team a bunch of rapists.

Don't get me wrong, there's no denying that the Hell's Angels have been involved in some hairy sh**, and they are one of the most notorious and most violent clubs out there, but not everyone in the club goes out of their way to find trouble or to get in it.

----------

So is everyone supposed to look past the insane amount of stolen motorcycles and hard drugs being pushed?

Hell even in Sonny Bargers book he admits that tons of his club members constantly took parts and bikes.

jkm4201

07-19-2011, 10:53 PM

So is everyone supposed to look past the insane amount of stolen motorcycles and hard drugs being pushed?

Hell even in Sonny Bargers book he admits that tons of his club members constantly took parts and bikes.

Like I said, I don't deny that the certain charters and members have been involved in criminal activities, but not everyone is or did. For instance, the New York chapters even now are doing some pretty hanus stuff, but just a few states away there are chapters that just get out there and ride and aren't doing anything like what the entire club is being accused of. I would be a fool to argue that the Angels are squeaky clean, but they've cleaned up quite a bit over the years and with the exception of a few skirmishes with clubs still bent on turf wars and bad blood from years back, they have been pretty quiet.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Hell's Angel and while my father may have been in the club, I won't be following those footsteps, getting shot for wearing the death's head doesn't sound good for a guy with 2 kids and a loving wife. lol.

RezZ

07-19-2011, 10:58 PM

Like I said, I don't deny that the certain charters and members have been involved in criminal activities, but not everyone is or did. For instance, the New York chapters even now are doing some pretty hanus stuff, but just a few states away there are chapters that just get out there and ride and aren't doing anything like what the entire club is being accused of. I would be a fool to argue that the Angels are squeaky clean, but they've cleaned up quite a bit over the years and with the exception of a few skirmishes with clubs still bent on turf wars and bad blood from years back, they have been pretty quiet.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Hell's Angel and while my father may have been in the club, I won't be following those footsteps, getting shot for wearing the death's head doesn't sound good for a guy with 2 kids and a loving wife. lol.

All I mean to say is there is no denying MANY of them are out there dong some really bad things that hurt people. (ie stolen bikes, selling meth) Thats not to say that some arnt, but you cant ignore the huge amount that have been successfully prosecuted for it, and then imagine the amount not caught for there crimes.

jkm4201

07-19-2011, 11:12 PM

All I mean to say is there is no denying MANY of them are out there dong some really bad things that hurt people. (ie stolen bikes, selling meth) Thats not to say that some arnt, but you cant ignore the huge amount that have been successfully prosecuted for it, and then imagine the amount not caught for there crimes.

I agree with what your saying, what happened can't be ignored but time changes everything. Hopefully, the Angels will slowly creep out from under the shadows of their past. While I'm not one of them, I can say that from those I do know in the club and from what I've seen, that I would ride with the guys I do know on any given day or night.