I put a lot of miles on motorcycles and have experienced very little discrimination. However, at one motel, I was asked NOT to keep my motorcycle in my room at night. It never occurred to me to do this, but the hosteler explained that some bikers do this and they tend to leave oil spots on the carpet. Also, I've encountered two "gated" communities that have banned all motorcycles. I was told by both that they took this action because some bikers have modified their exhaust system to make more noise than stock exhausts. It appears that a few rotten apples give the whole bushel a bad name.

As I am told, in Daytona Beach, FL, bikers spend about 10x more money per capita during Bike Week, and are no where near as destructive compared to college kids during Spring Break.

I like motorcycles, but I do find it rather juvenile that vast numbers of bikers purposely make their bikes louder than they need to be.

The only time I was ever "banned" was from a Rehoboth Beach Bar & Grill. They didn't even allow "leather" coats. Never went there again.

Still, the bike itself does not evoke negative feelings in others. Usually, sweet old women smile, children squeal with delight and wave, other bikers look on approvingly, and carbound men look on with jealous admiration, but the women, ahhh, the women in the miniskirts come up to me and drape themselves all over the bike, stroke the handgrip and seat, then with their eyes, they do the up and down thing with the come hither smile and ask for a "ride" to which I oblige.

Then I wake up.

I've encountered two "gated" communities that have banned all motorcycles. I was told by both that they took this action because some bikers have modified their exhaust system to make more noise than stock exhausts. It appears that a few rotten apples give the whole bushel a bad name.

I will bet these are the same massholes who try to stop people from legally installing satellite dishes on their own property, screw peoples rights, make everyone conform has that become the American way?

WTF If you can’t be a bad-ass or at least sound like a bad-ass on a bike than what is the use ridin’? Any attempt to stifle this type of behavior will only cause it to pop up somewhere in society, maybe you should go back to your 67 VW microbus and leave bikes to the big dogs?

Maybe it is them that need to change their image. They cultivated the image they have and then complain when they are treated with suspicion. Discrimination keeps people safe and is a good thing. Choosy mothers choose JIF.

Bikers across the nation are revving up for a fight against discrimination

"Fight" how, by behaving better and setting good example as members of their new protected class? The whole biker ideal is loosely based on rebellion and bad behavior. Whether it's illegally chopping their exhaust pipes so they are as loud as a helicopter or formation riding in a way that blocks both lanes so no other drivers can get by, bikers as a group have a long way to go. I agree that is probably just the bad 80% that wrecks it for everyone else, but the first people they need to "fight" is their own membership. Respect is something that's earned, and the first step is respecting everyone else.

WTF If you can’t be a bad-ass or at least sound like a bad-ass on a bike than what is the use ridin’?

Maybe some people are justifiably uncomfortable around people who want to prove they are bad-asses? Just a possibility.

You can't revel in an outlaw image and then expect to be welcome everywhere. The two objectives are mutually exclusive.

Biker Hooligan BUMP!

because of their image as hell-raising thugs.

Yet another case of people being called bigots for merely recognizing the obvious. :-P

We did the Jay Leno Love Ride in L.A. this weekend -- more like an AARP convention. Old farts on Harley's -- including us. Wanted to raise some hell -- but opted for a nap instead.

I heard the Daytona Beach Police Chief state that in the spring, Daytona Beach hosts Speed Week (i.e., NASCAR) followed by Bike Week followed by Spring Break. And, of the three groups, the bikers are the best behaved and spend the most money.

I do find it rather juvenile that vast numbers of bikers purposely make their bikes louder than they need to be.

The biggest response from cage-drivers after they run into a biker is that they didn't see the bike. Loud pipes ensure that if you can't see the bike, at least you will hear it. Pipes often "need to be" that loud so the cagers won't run into us.

Still have to jet-kit my engine and add some new pipes on my V-Star.

WTF If you can’t be a bad-ass or at least sound like a bad-ass on a bike than what is the use ridin’?

Well, to go fast and feel the rush of acceleration and always find good parking and to remind the ladies that not all men have atrophied testicles from years of sitting in a tin box.

Still, I can't help but laugh at the fringy black clown leather set with the "performance" crusty chrome festooned bits all over their formerly smooth running machines. At this one rally I watched as one potato blatterer after another went up on the dyno to show off all the horsepower gains of their customs, and not a one had any more horsepower than the stocker Dyna Glide some proud new owner was trying out.

Thank God, Harley (and Porsche) came to their senses and built the most excellent and beautiful V-Rod. Maybe the aftermarket tinkerers will leave the engineering to the pros.

Thanks for the bump Ug, when in doubt; stab it!

Yep! The big cuiser crowd sez: Loud pipes save lives.

Then there's the Ducati crowd that sez: Loud clutches save lives.

Then there's the Moto Guzzi crowd: Loud valves save lives.

It's funny that that stereotype is still around, of course it's encouraged as part of the mystique. All the bikers I've met in the last ten years have all been middle-aged business men who have the money to plunk down on one those outrageously priced hogs. It seems to be the replacement for the red sports car for the mid-life crisis. Businesses who ban them today are doing themselves a great disservice. Today's bikers seem to be the very definition of disposable income.

Makes sense. I haven't thought about it that way.

All the bikers I've met in the last ten years have all been middle-aged business men who have the money to plunk down on one those outrageously priced hogs.

Who you callin' middle-aged?!