crzyjack's blog: "biker creed"

The Ten Commandments of Harley Davidson 1. The one true American-made motorcycle is the Harley-Davidson, and thou shalt put no other motorcycles before it. 2. Thou shalt not bow down and worship nor serve the god of chrome; for, lo, he is a false god and will not get thy butt home. 3. Honor thy authorized dealer and thy hog chapter officers, that thy days may be long and fruitful in the land of Harley. 4. Remember the weekend, and keep it open. for it is written, five days shalt thou labor, and for two days shalt thou ride thy Harley, drink beer, and f**k off. 5. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's Harley, nor her manservant, nor her maidservant, nor her ox, nor her cute little ass. 6. From the throne of thine Harley, thou shalt not stoop to wave at sinners who ride jap-crap, for jap-crap is known to be the handiwork of the devil. 7. Thou shalt not pass by nor turn away from thy brother Harley rider who is in mechanical distress. (Remember this & live by it!! Rhonda) 8. Thou shalt not pose. verily, I say unto you, it is easier for a poser to pass his gold visa card through the eye of a needle than to enter into the true fellowship of Harley-Davidson heaven. 9. When riding thy Harley on the road of life, thou shalt not whine nor snivel, and thou shalt not suffer to ride alongside those who do. 10. Park not thy Harley in the darkness of thine garage, that it may collect dust for want of being oft ridden, ride thy Harley with thy brethren, and rejoice in the spirit of the road.

Where Are We? Got the opportunity to work a fundraiser for a local of the area. The run itself was grand. Great people, great sites and great weather. The only thing that would have made it better is if everyone where to join in with the event. The problem is racial, political or social? Honestly I don’t have all the answers. I do have many questions though. Will I get the answers, don’t know. What I want is for each and everyone to justify their answers with their own hearts. If a member goes down, from a MRO, everybody wants on the float. Why not, it’s a good cause, they are law-abiding citizens. If it is someone wearing a patch, lets jump from the float; it’s going to sink. These people represent the anti social part of society. But really is confusing is if that MRO person wears a patch. He’s on both sides of the fence. Now you don’t understand that person, hey lets drop them into the anti socialist party because you can not be both. Ok, that’s solved. A long hair, tattooed person wearing a patch is a person we don’t want. The local, clean cut, non-tattooed political, doctor lawyer, business owner that we need and use their services, hey, now he’s ok. He rides a motorcycle, even though we have never seen him riding, only his pictures on the wall of his bike. Great, we will use his services. Here’s the wrench. That same clean cut Joe just left his establishment. While leaving, he grabs his leathers and puts them on. Only one problem, it is a 1% club on his vest. He is a club member wearing a patch. Do we toss him to the side with the anti socials? He is a business owner paying all his taxes and wages to, say, 30 employees. We used his services yesterday but now we find out he is a member of lets say the Outlaws, now you don’t even want to know him. Let us forget that he is a member of the state safety committee or a MRO like ABATE or MAC. Is this not a double standard? The guy with the patch rode when we said that only outlaws and criminals rode motorcycles. Now we ride ourselves. Are we outlaws? Are we now the anti socials? They kept riding 30 years ago so that we can ride today. They took the abuse back then and now with new standards and equalities in today’s society. We still play the judge and jury to someone who wants to ride as a group. The clubs started out of WWII with the military soldiers who waited someone they could relate to and rely on. We do that today with our MRO’s and social riding clubs, example, the Southern Cruisers or CMA (Christian Motorcyclist Association). Our military so bad you want to call them the unlawful anti social? How can you judge a book by the cover if you can’t take the time to understand the book? I grew up caught between the patch and the law enforcement. I have been on both sides. Judge the book after you have read it. Some of these members belong to organizations willing to help the needy. Help them out without judging them on what you think you see. We all bleed the same. We are all out there for one interest, the enjoyment of the machine. The breeze between the knees. Read the book then judge the book while judging your book as well. Ride Safe, Ride free.

THE BIKER'S CREED I ride because it is fun. I ride because I enjoy the freedom I feel from being exposed to the elements, and the vulnerability to the danger that is intrinsic to riding. I do not ride because it is fashionable to do so. I ride my machine, not wear it. My machine is not a symbol of status. It exists simply for me, and me alone. My machine is not a toy. It is an extension of my being, and I will treat it accordingly, with the same respect as I have for myself. I strive to understand the inner-workings of my machine, from the most basic to the most complex. I will learn everything I can about my machine, so that I am reliant upon no one but myself for its health and well being. I strive to constantly better my skill of control over my machine. I will learn its limits, and use my skill to become one with my machine so that we may keep each other alive. I am the master, it is the servant. Working together in harmony, we will become an invincible team. I do not fear death. I will, however, do all possible to avoid death prematurely. Fear is the enemy, not death. Fear on the highway leads to death, therefore I will not let fear be my master. I will master it. My machines will outlive me. Therefore, they are my legacy. I will care for them for future bikers to cherish as I have cherished them, whoever they may be. I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those that do NOT ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them. For those that do not know me, all I wish from them is to ignore me. For those that desire to know me, I will share with them the truth of myself, so that they might understand me and not fear others like me. I will never be the aggressor on the highway. However, should others mess with me, their aggression will be dealt with in as severe manner as I can cast upon them. I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or knowledgeable than I am. I will learn from them all I can. However, if my respect is not acknowledged or appreciated, it will end. I will not show disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than I am. I will teach them what I can. However, if they show me disrespect, they will be slapped. It will be my task to mentor new riders, that so desire, into the lifestyle of the biker, so that the breed shall continue. I shall instruct them, as I have been instructed by those before me. I shall preserve and honor traditions of bikers before me, and I will pass them on unaltered. I will not judge other bikers on their choice of machine, their appearance, or their profession. I will judge them only on their conduct as bikers. I am proud of my accomplishments as a biker, though I will not flaunt them to others. If they ask, I will share them. I will stand ready to help any other biker that truly needs my help. I will never ask another biker to do for me what I can do for myself. I am not a part-time biker. I am a biker when, and where ever I go. I am proud to be a biker, and hide my chosen lifestyle from no one. I ride because I love freedom, independence, and the movement of the ground beneath me. But most of all, I ride to better understand myself, my machine, the lands in which I ride, and to seek out and know other bikers like myself. -Anonymous-