Curious..

[CrazyDave]

When I first started riding harassment by LEO's and discrimination by businesses against bikers was still quite common across much of the country.

Based on personal experiences I would say that such things are almost nonexistent here in NH these days but.. how about your state.

A stipulation before you answer.. I am not looking for whining over a cop dutifully pulling you over for acting like a squid, nor the story of the motel owner/ restauranteur who refused you and your buds service for acting like the extra's in a bad biker flick, but rather real harassment based on nothing more then you being on a motorcycle.

[squidchief]

Dave, I've crisscrossed this country many times on a bike, generally wrapped in leather. Never a problem. The only time I've ever been discriminated against in this country was because I was a sailor.

[steve2010]

Ormond beach,Fl during bike week or biketoberfest. Ormond cops sit at the town line and get you for loud pipes apes to tall light not working, guess they want a piece of the old money flow.

[dgraves49]

The only discrimination I have witnessed was about 10 yrs ago in the Michigan UP.
I was at the motel in my car and the only customer registered. About 10 vacant rooms. 4 middle aged middle class people (2 men and their wifes on 4 bikes) pulled in on their BMW touring bikes dressed in rain gear and were told that all the rooms were taken.

[gypsy]

i actually find cops and business owner to be pretty nice. i ride in leather, have loud pipes and can look pretty road worn. i am polite. im not the bad boy i was in the 70's for sure and a lot of things and attitudes have changed. nowadays a lot of cops ride, also to ride a nice bike and wear good leather means the biker just my be solvent... good for their business. also the broader culture seems to have a good thing for bikers. a lot of us are vets and as with bikers, vets get a better shake nowadays as well. so i think it is different time for bikers and non bikers alike. i like it a lot better this way. i like being polite, waving at cops and kids as well as other bikers. and i like their smiles and waves and chat in return.

[Spool]

I've never been harassed or seen anyone else get harassed just for riding. If anything I have seen businesses going out of their way to accommodate us when there was a large group of us.

As far as police, never any harassment there either. I was pulled over one time on my bike this summer. I deserved it. I had just rejetted the carbs and was..err..umm "testing" it. Full throttle run going through the gears, I was going about 90 in a 45 when the cop passed me going the other way. It was dark as well. I pulled over as soon as I saw him. He gave me a lecture for acting like a dumb ass (which I was) and let me off with a warning. So..no discrimination there

[Rev.SpongebobSP]

I know what you are talking about, how it used to be. Nowadays, I get a lot of looks that suggest "wow, that's cool, wish I rode". A lot more people saying things like "nice bike" or "be safe out there".

[rkforrest]

1983-4 in Deland Fl my Hometown.Bike Officer Al Berry would pull me over everytime he saw me.It Finally came down to my Father a Deputy Sheriff in the County having a Talk with him to leave me the F alone.Other times were just because we were Military and Myrtle Beach SC was the worst for it.

[rb608]

Never a problem. In fact, I'm occasionally surprised by the folks who strike up a friendly conversation on the parking lot now and then. It's not as though I'm any kind of badass, but I generally have an unfriendly look on my face, so it's kinda nice when somebody wants to talk. Never a problem with businesses or LE. Maybe I'm just friendlier than I think I am.

[vzshadow]

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

When I first started riding harassment by LEO's and discrimination by businesses against bikers was still quite common across much of the country.

Based on personal experiences I would say that such things are almost nonexistent here in NH these days but.. how about your state.

A stipulation before you answer.. I am not looking for whining over a cop dutifully pulling you over for acting like a squid, nor the story of the motel owner/ restauranteur who refused you and your buds service for acting like the extra's in a bad biker flick, but rather real harassment based on nothing more then you being on a motorcycle.

I've only been pulled over three times by LEOs. Twice it was for speeding and I was speeding. Both times I got a warning, probably because I'm 60 and had lots of riding gear on. The other time I was on my NT700V and I was riding with a friend who was on an NT as well. A county sheriff pulled us over because he wanted to know about the bike.

Other than that I've never had any issue with LEOs or anyone else.