I really think it is a waste of time to ask this question as the real deals I feel don't even own a computer, not to bust on anyone here. I think there is a distinct difference between hard core and having a passion, yet they cross some lines. I bring this up in part from SF posts, but also from a conversation I had today.

I talked with a co-worker who is in the IT group where I work. We really don't know each other until today. He knew me from a far as the guy that rides everyday. So he finally meets me and shares with me a gym friend named Roger. He tells me that Roger rides everyday, literally, as Roger did not own a car. Roger comes from England or some place where there is an accent like that but has been in the states many years. He owns several bikes and loves to ride, obvisiously. Billy tells me that there has been more than one occassion, even during the winter when it was pouring rain, and there would be Roger's bike outside the gym. Roger shared with Billy that his wife left him because of his passion for motorcycles and that he was proned to get up and go riding for days, just on a whim. After his divorce he started dating again and went and bought a small car so he could date this one girl. I'm hoping to meet Roger someday soon to meet a fellow rider with such an unbridled passion.

I guess I'm not asking for input, but feel free to do so. I just wanted to share my conversation with Billy, who is a self-professed fair-weather rider.

I view the hardcore biker as one that lives on his bike, it could be a 1%, it could be a lone wolf, but the guy or gal lives for their bike and the ride. That is why, in my mind that person wouldn't be here on a forum. However, I have met tons of riders that ride for the pure passion of it, there is many and plenty of those around us.

I wasn't really throwing the topic up for debate as it will run down rat holes of distinction, but segue in from songfans post on hard core bikers. I love a conversation with a person who has a passion for riding and I work with a few and we have to remind ourselves, it is work time. Like Billy yesterday, he took care of my issue within 5 minutes and we talked bikes for 20 minutes. He is a self professed fairweather rider, but I believe he has a growing passion and loves to talk bikes, thus he shared with me Roger. So you are right BOUSA, there is too many definitions and I find myself less concerned with what is a hardcore and just enjoy the fellowship with those who share the passion.

kenandpen - 2009-03-20 3:46 AM Here are 2 of them.......Radioteacher and Ken (of kenandpen.)

concur, rough looking dudes on funny looking machines...

I knew I was going to get a response when I put "Hard Core Bikers" in the title of that story.  For those of you who read it, I hope you can see the sarcasm in the title after my description of that day. 

Two of the characters in that story have probably had more of an impact on me as a rider than anyone else.  The Screamin Eagle driver (SE) almost single-handedly turned me against ever owning a Harley.  I've worked with him for nearly 20 years and have watched him bash anyone who buys anything but his brand.  His narrowmindedness and pure distain for other riders is sickening.  He is every bit as brainwashed as a Mooney or a Jim Jones follower.  I have never ridden with him before Wednesday and I will never ride with him again.

I have also known the Ultra Driver (UD) for the same amount of time.  (We are all Air Traffic Controllers and hired on with the FAA the same year.)  I have listened to him talk to anybody anytime about any kind of motorcycle ever made.  I bought my first bike when I was 40 years old (11 years ago),  a V-Star 650.  I knew it was too small but it was a good starter bike and was a cheap lesson learned in case I didn't really get into it as much as I thought I might.  The Ultra Driver complimented me on my choice as it was stone cold reliable and would be easy to sell if I wanted to upgrade or even decided that I didn't like bikes afterall.  He was always willing to ride with me, offered endless tips and never talked down to me.  After a year or so on the V-Star, I got really serious about riding and decided to pick the style of riding I really liked.  I was a Sport-Tourer at heart.  I sold the V-Star and bought a Concours.  Again, UD was the first guy in line to help shake down my new ride.  He marveled at the 7.5 gallon tank and how much "bang for the buck" it was. He was also amazed at how much my riding skills had improved.  He knew my work schedule and always invited me to go ride, even if he knew I had other plans.  In 2007 he turned me on to this wild looking Touring bike that Victory was coming out with and the rest is history.

Both SE an UD are hardcore but only one is a true biker/rider/pilot in my eyes.

Lets See  "What Am I"????   

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A BIKER WHEN...
- You ever bought saddlebags so you can carry more beer. Yup.
- Your girl follows you to the party with the car so you can take more beer. Yup.
- Your best friends are named after animals. Fer Damned sure
- Your best shoes have steel toes. Nah - I'm too old fer that
- You have motorcycle parts in the dishwasher. Nah - I own a Vision

- Your idea of jewelry is chains and barbwire. Nah - I'm too old fer that

- You can tell what kind of bugs they are by the taste of them. Yup

- You're only sunburned on the back of your hands. Yup
- You carry around a crushed beer can in the case of soft tar when you
park the bike. Yup
- You pull your bike into the motel room and use a bath towel to wipe
it off. Yup
- Your girl friend has to climb over the bike to do the laundry in the
basement. Nah - Bike has her own comfy nest
- You carry a picture of your bike in your wallet. Yup
- Any day you ride is a good day. Yup
- Your other vehicle is a truck with motorcycle ramps in it. Nah - never owned a HD so didn't need this
- You get hit by a Taxi in N.Y.C., slide 80 yards and ride the bike
home 30 miles with a fractured hip. Yup - except it was my buddy's Bike that hit me
- You've been too drunk to Piss but not to drunk to ride your bike Oh yeah....
home. Oh yeah....
- Your three piece suit are Chaps, Leather Vests & a Leather Jacket. Yup
- You don't think its a good party till someone rides his or her bike
in and does doughnuts in the living room. Yup
- You think Tequila is a Sex Aide. Nah - I KNOW what this is for....
- You wake up next to your girl and your first thought is if your bike
will start. Nah - I own a Vision
- Your kids learn to ride on the back of your bike before they can
walk. Yup
- Your garage has more square footage than your house. Nope. Car lives outside - bike inside
- Your coffee table collapses from the weight of motorcycle magazines
on it. Yup
- You throw a party and more bikes show up than cars. Once upon a time....
- Your kids take a motorcycle chain to Show and Tell . My only kid is 33 year old daughter - rides a Ducatti Monster
- All your ashtrays are pistons from your last engine rebuild. Nah - never owned a HD so didn't have to do this

I think maybe I am 'Hardcore'.....

I think in part my post was just a ramble, but there again it will ignite the passion of debate. I think that is why I started the post with saying this post is a waste of time because the real deals I feel don't even own a computer. Now that comes from my impression of a "hard core biker". But it is also easy to see I think there is a few among us everyday, that might even post a comment or two. But I took it from the hard core biker to the biker with passion. In deed he MIGHT be that lawyer that wants to look the part and so on, but if he's got the real passion to ride, what about that?

I humored myself at the local HD joint again today and it was one of those "show off your ride" events. They had about 8 Harley categories, 1 non-harley category and 1 metric category. I didn't even enter, but I would have won the non-harley category as being the only one there on a Victory. The metric was covered by a wing and a kaw. But there were more Harleys in the show then there was just at the event, at least 3 to 1. And there wasn't even 20 in the show. Okay, so what was my point. Out of the 2 hours I was there talking to a few friends, besides them, I don't think their were many "real" bikers there. So with all of that, and at the end of the day, "who cares."

I enjoy talking with the bikers that when they tell you a story they are just sharing their experience. Like the older dude that jumped on my case for hauling a big bag in my backseat when I was returning from a trip. He said that if I had that much stuff, get a trailer because you are ruining your ride. He was talking about the handling and he's absolutely right. The bag was tall and I tried to strap it down but it threw off the balance of the ride. He goes on to share that he used to do sturgis every year. After the first year of packing the bike, he got a trailer. He said big difference and much more enjoyable. He was an old HDer, but we could talk Victory's easily. Why? Because he was a biker, maybe even hardcore. He hadn't rode much in the past few years because of heart attacks and back problems, but he just like riding and talking to bikers.

So, no problem in having the passion, that's what makes you a biker if it is real. Hard core, well, one day maybe, when I see many sunrises laying beside my bike and finding a place to lay down again when the sun set. Take a load off Annie....