Treating motorcyclists as second class citizens?

4Raven · 07-22-2012, 11:16 PM

Not sure if anyone else has had this experience. But the first place I booked in Petoskey Michigan was awful. I told them I would be traveling by motorcycle so I wasn't exactly sure of the time of arrival. So I get there and the room I booked wasn't available! Instead I got this "suite" that was a backroom storage room. It was late and I was dealing with a bike issue that was more important at the time. But what a scam. Then the owner asked me if I wanted to park the bike in the back...I asked why ...she didn't respond, so I said, "no it will be fine where it is." I got the feeling that she wasn't happy having a motorcycle or rider at her establishment. My evening was very quiet, I left to get some pics, eat, and came back watched the weather channel, cussed a little at the accommodations (not one wastebasket in the place, a small amount of tp in the bathroom, no tissues, odds and ends for furnishings and old towels...), then slept. The owners were nice one moment and a bit nasty the next. Weird. I have never had an experience like that ever!

ralphlong · 07-23-2012, 08:11 AM

I have done a lot of traveling with my motorcycle. Have never been treated any differently than when I have been traveling as a civilian. Except, perhaps for a few questions and some conversation about the bike, what it is like to travel by bike, that sort of thing.

Sometimes, they even suggest I park my bike under the drive through or in some other protected spot.

What kind of hotel was it that you stayed at Raven? I usually stay at mid price hotels. Not fancy scmancy and not cheapo.

Ralph

Badlands-4-2 · 07-23-2012, 09:42 AM

I have had crummy rooms like that several times over the years. Some while in the car, some on the bike. I just make it a point to never come back.

4Raven · 07-23-2012, 11:37 AM

I usually stay in chains...a little safer that way, I know what I am getting! This one was privately owned Bay Inn of Petoskey. It was like staying in a bipolar environment...nice one second nasty the next! I paid the same price as the rest of the rooms were going for that had a window view. Learned my lesson on that stay! All the rest of the places I have stayed at were fine, I have also had been able to park under a drive through. Maybe this one was just a fluke!

kat569 · 07-23-2012, 12:34 PM

I'd be leaving some negative reviews on booking sites like Expedia and Orbitz. You booked a room; it was not available despite having a confirmation. You received a substandard room for the same rate. You were not given the same amenities as I presume their other rooms receive. Poorly mismatched decor.

Personally, whether I was on my bike or in my cage, ANY room like that - any HOTEL like that - would be receiving phone calls from me demanding some sort of compensation for my sacrifice. And yes, that would be AFTER I posted reviews.

OTD · 07-23-2012, 04:10 PM

We've all had good and bad stays at motels, we should start a review thread where we can share our experiences (good or bad).

Team Elkhorn · 07-23-2012, 04:37 PM

Years ago, a friend and I revisited a bar that we hadn't been to in years. It had been kind of a rough around the edges biker hang out. But a new owner bought it and fixed it up. We went in and sat at the bar and the owner brought us our drinks but very politely asked us to move our motorcycles and park them out in the street.

We said sure and rode away. I guess some people just don't want to cater to the biker crowd. Whatever, its their business and I guess they have the right, but it sure seems silly to turn money away. Other businesses seek and thrive on the biker's business.

goalie · 07-23-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Elkhorn

Years ago, a friend and I revisited a bar that we hadn't been to in years. It had been kind of a rough around the edges biker hang out. But a new owner bought it and fixed it up. We went in and sat at the bar and the owner brought us our drinks but very politely asked us to move our motorcycles and park them out in the street.

We said sure and rode away. I guess some people just don't want to cater to the biker crowd. Whatever, its their business and I guess they have the right, but it sure seems silly to turn money away. Other businesses seek and thrive on the biker's business.

I watched an episode of Bar Resuce in which the "rescuer", John Taffer, stated that when more then five motorcycles are parked in front of a bar, most women will not go in. We all know that having women in the bar is the single biggest attraction for men.

That being said, I'd like to own a place that welcomed bikers. ...I can only dream.

jag13 · 07-23-2012, 06:59 PM

Many business owners frown on bikes in their parking lots because of the "divets" caused by kickstands on hot days. Or maybe they just wanted your bikes on the street to draw in more bikers. I know I am more likely to stop at an establishment with bikes out front than no bikes. (but most likely just worried about their lot)

Team Elkhorn · 07-23-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag13

Many business owners frown on bikes in their parking lots because of the "divets" caused by kickstands on hot days. Or maybe they just wanted your bikes on the street to draw in more bikers. (but most likely just worried about their lot)

I'll put something under my kickstand if the pavement looks fairly new, but it was gravel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by goalie

I watched an episode of Bar Resuce in which the "rescuer", John Taffer, stated that when more then five motorcycles are parked in front of a bar, most women will not go in. We all know that having women in the bar is the single biggest attraction for men.

No, it was very obvious they didn't want the bikes anywhere near their business. The place was filled with older retired couples having dinner, most likely their target customers. Maybe our evil looking Night Hawks would have scared them away.

ralphlong · 07-23-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Elkhorn

I'll put something under my kickstand if the pavement looks fairly new, but it was gravel.

No, it was very obvious they didn't want the bikes anywhere near their business. The place was filled with older retired couples having dinner, most likely their target customers. Maybe our evil looking Night Hawks would have scared them away.

It would have interesting to see what would have happened if you had ridden up on BMW motorcycles. The owner may have asked you to park right next to the front door.

Or maybe not.

Team Elkhorn · 07-23-2012, 08:02 PM

I used to ride with a guy who had a BMW, you should have seen his face when other bikers would walk by and compliment my bike, and never look at his twice.

goalie · 07-23-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Elkhorn

I used to ride with a guy who had a BMW, you should have seen his face when other bikers would walk by and compliment my bike, and never look at his twice.

That happens ALL of the time when I ride with my BMW buddy. He's good natured about it, but I think that old school type bikes just tend to draw more friendlies.

paula · 07-24-2012, 05:32 AM

i stayed at this one place in WV, small motel.i felt like i should not be there. i asked the lady if i was safe there and she looked at me odd and said she lived there and will put me next to her. think the place had more residents. it was fine

allen_okc · 07-25-2012, 02:16 PM

Raven - you should of said Thank You for the accommodations, i'll be telling all of my hells angel biker friends, that this is a great place to stay...

cbdallas · 07-25-2012, 02:47 PM

Definitely post your experience on Tripadvisor. You can potentially send thousands of prospective patrons screaming in the other direction with the 'right' kind of review. They deserve it.

4Raven · 07-26-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allen_okc

Raven - you should of said Thank You for the accommodations, i'll be telling all of my hells angel biker friends, that this is a great place to stay...

That is too much!!! I am sure they would greatly appreciate the business!!!

chefonahonda · 07-26-2012, 10:25 PM

My brother and I were on St Simons Island, could not find a hotel/motel, called the Hapmton Inn, the manager answered and told me he had a room for us at 89 per night, when we got there he told us he wanted us to park our bikes right up front under the portico where they would be safe, then gave us a drink, told us where to eat and treated us like we were brothers. A couple nights earlier the desk clerk at the dumpy American Inn got pissy with me when she saw me move my bike inside the room but did not insist I remove it. I slept well that night. Have not had one bad experience riding except with cagers and one dog.

4Raven · 07-27-2012, 11:05 AM

Yeah I like Hampton Inns too! Can't imagine why I get the feeling that we are treated poorly when a prior experience is of a biker pushing his bike into a hotel room

thanks a lot Chef!!!

I have never done that...figure it is insured and I lock it up....

allen_okc · 07-27-2012, 12:28 PM

come on Brother Raven, never showed your bike the love...

chefonahonda · 07-27-2012, 06:41 PM

humbling myself. bike was new and I a noob. have not thought of doing that since.

4Raven · 07-27-2012, 09:39 PM

hahaha you are not the only one I have heard that has pushed their bike into a hotel room!

Allen_ did you call me Brother??? Sister dude Sister! LOL

allen_okc · 07-30-2012, 03:59 PM

sorry Sister Raven, didnt know...

allen_okc · 07-30-2012, 04:08 PM

i can pull my bike inside, its a 72 volt chopper all electric, but it does have an alarm system, so i could leave it outside too...

+ YouTube Video

07-22-2012, 11:16 PM	#1
4Raven Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,080	Treating motorcyclists as second class citizens? Not sure if anyone else has had this experience. But the first place I booked in Petoskey Michigan was awful. I told them I would be traveling by motorcycle so I wasn't exactly sure of the time of arrival. So I get there and the room I booked wasn't available! Instead I got this "suite" that was a backroom storage room. It was late and I was dealing with a bike issue that was more important at the time. But what a scam. Then the owner asked me if I wanted to park the bike in the back...I asked why ...she didn't respond, so I said, "no it will be fine where it is." I got the feeling that she wasn't happy having a motorcycle or rider at her establishment. My evening was very quiet, I left to get some pics, eat, and came back watched the weather channel, cussed a little at the accommodations (not one wastebasket in the place, a small amount of tp in the bathroom, no tissues, odds and ends for furnishings and old towels...), then slept. The owners were nice one moment and a bit nasty the next. Weird. I have never had an experience like that ever! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is liable to go to places no one has ever been before. - Albert Einstein

07-23-2012, 08:11 AM	#2
ralphlong Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 1,311	I have done a lot of traveling with my motorcycle. Have never been treated any differently than when I have been traveling as a civilian. Except, perhaps for a few questions and some conversation about the bike, what it is like to travel by bike, that sort of thing. Sometimes, they even suggest I park my bike under the drive through or in some other protected spot. What kind of hotel was it that you stayed at Raven? I usually stay at mid price hotels. Not fancy scmancy and not cheapo. Ralph __________________ I will come up with something profound.

07-23-2012, 11:37 AM	#4
4Raven Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,080	I usually stay in chains...a little safer that way, I know what I am getting! This one was privately owned Bay Inn of Petoskey. It was like staying in a bipolar environment...nice one second nasty the next! I paid the same price as the rest of the rooms were going for that had a window view. Learned my lesson on that stay! All the rest of the places I have stayed at were fine, I have also had been able to park under a drive through. Maybe this one was just a fluke! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is liable to go to places no one has ever been before. - Albert Einstein

07-23-2012, 12:34 PM	#5
kat569 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 1,421	I'd be leaving some negative reviews on booking sites like Expedia and Orbitz. You booked a room; it was not available despite having a confirmation. You received a substandard room for the same rate. You were not given the same amenities as I presume their other rooms receive. Poorly mismatched decor. Personally, whether I was on my bike or in my cage, ANY room like that - any HOTEL like that - would be receiving phone calls from me demanding some sort of compensation for my sacrifice. And yes, that would be AFTER I posted reviews. __________________ When life throws you curves, lean into them...

07-23-2012, 04:10 PM	#6
OTD Ole Hamburger Hands Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norman OK Posts: 4,796	We've all had good and bad stays at motels, we should start a review thread where we can share our experiences (good or bad). __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-23-2012, 09:42 AM	#3
Badlands-4-2 Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 9,655	I have had crummy rooms like that several times over the years. Some while in the car, some on the bike. I just make it a point to never come back.

07-23-2012, 04:37 PM	#7
Team Elkhorn VP in charge of Diddly Squat Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 91	Years ago, a friend and I revisited a bar that we hadn't been to in years. It had been kind of a rough around the edges biker hang out. But a new owner bought it and fixed it up. We went in and sat at the bar and the owner brought us our drinks but very politely asked us to move our motorcycles and park them out in the street. We said sure and rode away. I guess some people just don't want to cater to the biker crowd. Whatever, its their business and I guess they have the right, but it sure seems silly to turn money away. Other businesses seek and thrive on the biker's business.

07-23-2012, 06:59 PM	#9
jag13 Ghost in the machine Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MN. Posts: 959	Many business owners frown on bikes in their parking lots because of the "divets" caused by kickstands on hot days. Or maybe they just wanted your bikes on the street to draw in more bikers. I know I am more likely to stop at an establishment with bikes out front than no bikes. (but most likely just worried about their lot)

07-24-2012, 05:32 AM	#14
paula Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Churchville NY Posts: 614	i stayed at this one place in WV, small motel.i felt like i should not be there. i asked the lady if i was safe there and she looked at me odd and said she lived there and will put me next to her. think the place had more residents. it was fine

07-25-2012, 02:16 PM	#15
allen_okc Verified Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 69	Raven - you should of said Thank You for the accommodations, i'll be telling all of my hells angel biker friends, that this is a great place to stay...

07-25-2012, 02:47 PM	#16
cbdallas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 1,786	Definitely post your experience on Tripadvisor. You can potentially send thousands of prospective patrons screaming in the other direction with the 'right' kind of review. They deserve it.

07-26-2012, 10:25 PM	#18
chefonahonda Lead, follow or get out of the way. Life Is Good! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zolfo Springs, Florida Posts: 743	My brother and I were on St Simons Island, could not find a hotel/motel, called the Hapmton Inn, the manager answered and told me he had a room for us at 89 per night, when we got there he told us he wanted us to park our bikes right up front under the portico where they would be safe, then gave us a drink, told us where to eat and treated us like we were brothers. A couple nights earlier the desk clerk at the dumpy American Inn got pissy with me when she saw me move my bike inside the room but did not insist I remove it. I slept well that night. Have not had one bad experience riding except with cagers and one dog.

07-27-2012, 11:05 AM	#19
4Raven Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,080	Yeah I like Hampton Inns too! Can't imagine why I get the feeling that we are treated poorly when a prior experience is of a biker pushing his bike into a hotel room thanks a lot Chef!!! I have never done that...figure it is insured and I lock it up.... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is liable to go to places no one has ever been before. - Albert Einstein

07-27-2012, 12:28 PM	#20
allen_okc Verified Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 69	come on Brother Raven, never showed your bike the love...

07-27-2012, 06:41 PM	#21
chefonahonda Lead, follow or get out of the way. Life Is Good! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zolfo Springs, Florida Posts: 743	humbling myself. bike was new and I a noob. have not thought of doing that since.

07-27-2012, 09:39 PM	#22
4Raven Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,080	hahaha you are not the only one I have heard that has pushed their bike into a hotel room! Allen_ did you call me Brother??? Sister dude Sister! LOL __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is liable to go to places no one has ever been before. - Albert Einstein

07-30-2012, 03:59 PM	#23
allen_okc Verified Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 69	sorry Sister Raven, didnt know...

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