Respect the Two-Wheeled Traveler

There's an unwritten code among motorcyclists: respect is shared among two-wheeled aficionados only if you can prove you are worthy of it.

I've mentioned before that I don't really "fit-in" with most motorcycle clubs. I ride what marketing types have labelled an "Adventure-tourer"; in other words, a motorcycle built for long distance travel over various types of terrain. I'm not limited by the boundaries of asphalt roads and highways; dirt and gravel suit me fine. My bike has a large fuel capacity, which allows me to cover about 600kms before taking a break to fuel-up (which I often do). Because this whole adventure touring thing isn't really the norm here in North America, I often get strange looks from the "Biker" crowd... They don't really know what to make of me and my too-tall half-faired steed. The squids sort've brush me off too; since they can't figure out what exactly it is I'm riding. This all suits me fine, as I didn't get into motorcycling for the "cool" factor.

What I have found, however, is that most motorcyclists - regardless what flavour of bike they're riding - tend to show some curtesy and respect when I meet them. Maybe this is because they can tell by looking at my setup that I'm not just in it for "show". The tankbag, sidecases and topcase, GPS, heated grips and full rider gear are there because I need them; they all serve their intended purpose. I log some serious miles on my bike; often doing over 1200kms per day. For some reason, other motorcyclists respect this, and I've often found myself sitting with the leather-chaps-with-fringe crowd at a roadside diner in some forgotten town.

Here's my personal breakdown of motorcyclists according to what they ride:

• Harley Davidson: You'll meet really great people who ride Harleys. You'll also meet complete assholes who are nothing more than poseurs. The nice folks are almost always the ones who actually ride. The assholes are the ones who add bling and trailer their precious chrome collections to rallies.
• Crotch Rockets: You'll meet really great people who ride sport bikes. You'll also meet complete assholes who are nothing more than poseurs. The nice folks are almost always the ones who actually ride. The assholes are the ones who spend thousands trying to get an extra 7hp out of their precious inline-4's and carry dyno charts in their wallet to prove it.
• Luxury Tourers (Goldwing, K1200LT, etc.): You'll meet really great people who ride luxury tourers. You'll also meet complete assholes who are nothing more than poseurs. The nice folks are almost always the ones who actually ride. The assholes are the ones ride but somehow believe that the fact that they paid the price of a small house for their two-wheeled Camry gives them the right to be whiney geriatric diaper-fillers.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

Rule of thumb: be good to your fellow motorcyclist. Doesn't matter what you ride - as long as you ride.