Why are Harley riders called Posers?

[IntruderCruiser]

I am curious as to how they got that nick name

any suggestions

[vhmike73]

Speaking un-scientifically, it's probably from the image of the old-time bad boyz/unruly rebel types superimposed on today's middle-aged doctors/lawyers who want to show they are the same way...today's baby-boomers holding on to an image of "bad boy" has derisively earned the whole lot "poser" status...

Considering you've got to be willing to lay out a large amount of cash even for a Sportster, such folk are the ones Harley seems to be aiming at reeling in.

Or maybe it's something else...as Dennis Miller once said, "That's just my opinion, I could be wrong." (And I probably am!)

[Rickster]

See, that's why I come on this forum, to learn new things. For example, all along I thought a poser was anyone riding any motorcycle just for the purpose of being seen on it. Silly me.

[Edward_Teach]

Originally Posted by Rickster

See, that's why I come on this forum, to learn new things. For example, all along I thought a poser was anyone riding any motorcycle just for the purpose of being seen on it. Silly me.

if thats the case, i submit we have all been posers at LEAST once.

[MagnumForce]

I thought a poser is someone who spends more time "showing" than "going."

[dragbar]

I sometimes strike poses in the mirror and sing Right Said Fred.

[vhmike73]

Originally Posted by dragbar

I sometimes strike poses in the mirror and sing Right Said Fred.

Now THAT'S a song I know I could have lived another 50 years or more and NOT heard/had mentioned to me again!! Geez...dragbar! Now I have to fire up some Disturbed to get that damn song out of my head (even the MENTION of the 'group' causes dismay- imagine if you added a soundclip??)

Back to topic, I based my 'initial response' off this website bashing Harley buyers' mentalities a buddy dug up when he was researching his purchase a couple months ago: http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/ Apparently, the webmaster of this site feels a tad strongly about Harley-Davidson and the "lemmings" that buy their products. Plus, shows on Discovery/History channel about the resurgence of motorcycling, and the shift in demographics of motorcycle buyers (and let's face it- those guys who were late '60s/'70s rebel kids are now a lot older) seem to show motorcycling as a status symbol for boomers. Let's face it, swinging $20K for a Dyna Wide Glide is more than most younger folks can afford on a hobby just starting out from school, while "Dr. Youngatheartagain" can drop that without blinking. Good for him, I say...

To each their own- just ride!!

[cjjtulsa]

Originally Posted by EZridr1

I thought a poser is someone who spends more time "showing" than "going."

I'm with you; it's someone who doesn't ride necessarily because they like it, but ride to show off. Nothing but poker runs and that kind of thing. They get most of their mileage riding to a place to park their bike and strut around in leather clown suits. And it's not just for the HD crowd, either, though I'd say they make up the overwhelming majority.

[Freakinout]

Originally Posted by cjjtulsa

I'm with you; it's someone who doesn't ride necessarily because they like it, but ride to show off. Nothing but poker runs and that kind of thing. They get most of their mileage riding to a place to park their bike and strut around in leather clown suits. And it's not just for the HD crowd, either, though I'd say they make up the overwhelming majority.

+1

[Shea]

Originally Posted by cjjtulsa

strut around in leather clown suits.

LOL That's good stuff! So true.

[Bluecruzer]

Originally Posted by cjjtulsa

They get most of their mileage riding to a place to park their bike and strut around in leather clown suits. And it's not just for the HD crowd, either, though I'd say they make up the overwhelming majority.

The man hit a home run with that post!

Everyone gets to leave their other life behind once they get in the saddle.
I think of it as getting back to who you really are.

Posers get back to who they really are when they get off the bike.

[tlwisner]

Posers are not the riders of a certain brand, or type of bike. Posers are the ones who have the 2 year old bike with all of the accessories sitting in the garage above an oil stain. The bike has fewer than 400 miles on it, but the sound of the bike revving in the garage is %%%%%in'. When these guys do ride, it's not very far and they drag both of their feet as they slowly go around a corner, because if the bike leans, it might fall over.

[Rickster]

If we applied that whole idea, or way of thinking to a race of people, instead of a motorcycle brand, it would be called prejudice. 20 years ago this same mind set applied to what white folk thought of "Blacks" in this country. Here we just call it Harley bashing. Equating owning a HD to being a poser ranks right up there with the "Real men don't wear chaps" statement. Chaps are the most practical leg covering a motorcycle rider can wear. On and off very easy, great protection from mother nature, and good protection against road rash. Some might say it's part of the "Clown suit" (no offence meant "cjjtulsa"), but let's face it, is there any clothing we can wear that doesn't look silly when we are off the bike. None that offers decent protection that I can think of.

[italian biker]

At one time, we all liked the fact that we were seen on the bike at least once in our lives. To me, a poser is someone who trys to look like an "outlaw" but really isn't regardless of the bike they ride, or someone who wears the riding jacket or other motorcycle merchandise, such as harley t shirts, but has no bike. Then there is someone with the fake braided pony tail, and temporary tatoos at some bike rally. I have been to that website mentioned above serveral times and I agree with alot of what is said there.

[2kMarauder]

I think there are "posers" out there everywhere, but the Harley posers are easier to point out in my opinion.

They buy (usually for a ridiculous amount of money) a Harley and automatically think they are a "hard core biker". Then they fill their closets with Harley merchandise. Then when they ride to the local bars they can show off their cool shirts.

Not saying that all Harley riders are like that though.

[texrider]

Some lemmings, some sheeple, some wannabes, some posers..... Some gravitate to the HD scene for the "gang" benfits, ya know, to "belong". Not a Harley exclusive, but they seem to be over-represented......

I'm a gear oriented rider, and riding in a tee shirt with no helmet scares the piss out of me, having lost a lot of my hide against the ground...... So I wear the leather or mesh jackets, with helmet, gauntlet gloves, durable pants, riding boots, etc. I trim it back some in hot weather, but still sometimes feel like the "poser bike guy in my leather clown outfit". Of course I know better, as I fire up the M50 or the V2K......

[cjjtulsa]

Oh, I agree - and wouldn't mind having some chaps if they didn't make me look like one of the poser-types. I realize it it's about safety, not a fashion show, but what the Villiage People didn't do to chaps the RUB crowd has. Now, I call that get-up they have a "clown suit" because for these people it is safe attire only by accident; you can't tell me they are wearing chaps to be safe when they are wearing a leather do-rag, T-shirt with a leather vest (with a giant eagle and "ride to live, live to ride" on it), etc. If it was about safety they'd have chaps with a helmet. Go to some of these poker runs, and it looks like a costume party where everyone came dressed as the biker.

Conversely, we have a kind of parallel situation here in Oklahoma. Go to most any bar and it's like a costume party where everyone came dressed as a cowboy, though the closest they've come is stepping in cow sh*t at the fair. Kind of how I look at the "poser" bikers too.

Bottom line for me; do it because you enjoy it, not because it makes you look like something you're not. It doesn't fool anyone.

[MagnumForce]

Here's a thought for the poser and RUB types:

"You can talk the talk. But can ya walk the walk?" - Animal Mother, Full Metal Jacket

[TechJD]

I was told by a gang/club member who sold his Harley and bought a Suzuki "Buy a Harley to Show or a Honda to Go!" lol

I think if you wear chaps and a jacket with no club/gang colors on it and your not riding a Harley then it's for safety
even though some harley guys wear them for safety as well LOL

[inspiron]

As I was out yesterday, I saw lots of riders of varying skill levels. I was taking a break at the top of the Passwang (3100 feet above sealevel), watching the traffic pass. There were a couple of guys on GSX-R 600's who, IMHO, had no business riding those bikes. The could barely corner the bike, but were wearing one-piece leather racing suits.

Other people actually looked like they were in control of their bikes - I was much more impressed by a guy on a Cagiva 125 who was riding the bike to it's limits, riding a clean line and looking like he knew what he was doing. Someone with excellent riding skills wearing jeans is still safer than an idiot who can barely control his bike while wearing full racing leathers.