An observation on motorcycle culture

[@motodiablo]

First class in white trash. Roach class, all the way! Dime was hilarious. 😂 I had lunch at the track today where a bunch of riders were at a track day, having a great time. Afterwards, I hooned with a Harley dude out on the interstate. Any time I'm at the Tail of the Dragon, it's always packed with riders and the vibe is always great. Man, MC is alive and kicking and I'm glad to be part of it. 100% agree.

[@stevematthews641]

Royal Enfield are killing it at the moment with affordable retro looking motorcycles that you can tune yourself if you want to

[@Jer_O]

Just got my first street bike at 45, a Harley Breakout..always loved the old school chopper look. So I've been riding 3 years. I started on dirt bikes when I was 9 and always wanted a Harley. Like you said didn't have the disposable income when I was younger but would always talk to the bikers that I met. I love the old school ways of honesty loyalty and respect and helping others when I can. Great video and subscribed. Safe riding brother.

[@bleekrides]

Exactly 💯 very well articulated. I to love old school biker culture and chatting up the old bikers. And I wanna thank you for joining the ride and commenting, "Stay safe out there brother".

[@Uncletoast52]

Riding motorcycles is therapy.

[@tylerthrash3155]

The chopper community is really holding it down.. most of the motorcycle community is about looks and what you have, enjoy what you got and have a good time fuck what anyone else thinks. Chopper community 100% real

[@edwinbrown3303]

I've been riding for 60 years and I've had them all. It's all fun, couches kill more people than motorcycles do.

[@bleekrides]

Excellent statement 👏 thank you for joining the ride, Edwin

[@chiefjoseph8154]

Since my “retirement” I’ve been averaging 7,000-11,000 miles a yr. Currently on a Challenger. Turning the corner of making 70 trips around the sun. I still don’t consider myself a “biker”. I’m a motorcycle enthusiast.

[@bleekrides]

Thats awsome I love hearing this and them challengers are gorgeous bikes. Thank you for coming along on the ride.

[@williamurich9905]

Hell, you can buy used HDs for 3k to 10k that are low mile premium scoots. You seem to forget this fact.

[@jaycenferreira7186]

But there is so much motorcycle culture out there, they weren't made in the 60's-70's, it started when they started. I ride a triumph bonneville, been at it for 3 years now, I love all of them, won't use my money for a Harley, but I still appreciate them. I feel like people are coming back to motorcycles more lately. Between the small displacement and the big Hogs, we all are a little crazy, for riding, it's dangerous and thrilling and just awesome. But the culture is changing not dying. Good video bro, ride safe.

[@kenstringer9756]

I ride to please my need for a feel of freedom and to experience a road trip that I can't get from my motor home..

[@bren42069]

i heard the ~whispers~, i'm 37 and i just got my first bike, an 82 suzi 450 i picked up for cheap. that's the only way i can get in, buy cheap broken bikes and wrench em into shape. that's what we need are more cheap simple wrenchable bikes that are approachable for newbies

[@bleekrides]

💯 % agree and glad to have you here with us on the ride.

[@YouMotorcycle]

I liked your video, but I think part of your perspective is because you came after the "good ol' days"... Having been riding for 16 years now, and working in the industry for a decade now, the culture is definitely dying. It's becoming really really watered down. A lot of what made the culture great twenty years ago and in the decades before that isn't a thing anymore. - When I bought my first motorcycle, a total stranger picked me up to drive me an hour away to go and buy it. He said "Don't pay it back to me, pay it forwards" and that's part of why I started making informative motorcycle content, and still do, almost two decades later. - When I needed help riding, I was self-taught, no money for a course, and strangers met me in parking lots to help me. I still see this sometimes (I still work in the motorcycle biz) but it's not as common as it used to be. Now people are more interested in helping themselves, back then motorcyclists were so much more communal. - When I started riding, everyone waved. The wave is more like a 50/50 these days in comparison. - When I wanted to start learning how to wrench I had old bikers with hair longer than my girlfriend's say they would teach me. "Just bring beer, or smokes, and don't be annoying." Nowadays I don't see people teaching people, I see people learning from KZbin videos which often are made by people who only just learned what they're doing 10 seconds earlier and still don't have all the insights and experience that they should... - When I started going to motorcycle charity events, you had motorcycles of all kinds there, it was very much something that brought the entire motorcycle world together. Now the motorcycle charity events are so small in comparison because they're so niche and so cliquey, and they don't bring in half as many attendants or half as many dollars for the charity. It's really sad because these were the parties that brought everyone from all walks of motorcycling together, and they're half empty homogenous shells compared to what they used to be. - Whenever I used to go to motorcycle events, you didn't leave without saying "Ride safe" to people. It was a reminder to take care, and a reminder that we're brothers and sisters. It was a short way of saying, Ride safe, I care about you, you're my brother. "Ride safe" was to motorcyclists what "May the force be with you is" is to the jedi. I still say it at the end of all of my KZbin videos. I don't hear anyone else say it anymore. So yes, the motorcycle culture is dying, or if not dying, it's at least very watered down compared to what it used to be, but at least now it's growing, so I think in turn, it will come back, one day.

[@bleekrides]

That's a awsome bit of history and I appreciate you sharing your experiences with me. I'm trying very hard to follow the old biker mentality and be helpful in my community I agree it's very watered down but then again so is the helping others mentality in 2023. We are becoming few and far in between but those of us who are our brothers and sisters keepers still try and f9r that much I think the spirit is very alive even if the culture has become almost unrecognizable. Truly detailed observations and your experiences are much appreciated 🙏 thanks for joining the ride and I hope you comment again you strike me as a person I can learn much from.

[@jerichostevens2711]

I just started riding at 36 years old, and I love it... I've got a nice big truck with a hemi in it, and I still choose to ride my little mt03 to work every day instead.

[@bleekrides]

Hell yeah bike is life:) thank for joining the ride.

[@kingarthur1776]

Tons of great deals on used Harleys these days

[@jackwilson9420]

Enjoyed your comments and agree with you very much. Just got my first motorcycle 1-1/2 ago and I'm 71 yo. I love riding. I'm in your club man! Thanks!

[@bleekrides]

That's awesome Jack and thank you for joining the ride.

[@Thegoodguy2004]

Its all about who you hang with its still alive and well with me and my friends

[@bleekrides]

Hell yeah and agree 💯 thanks for joining the ride. And for the comment Joe I appreciate you.

[@joshuathomas8529]

Harley is pricing themselves out of business. Catering to the rich go out of business. I bought a brand-new Royal enfield Super meteor for less than the cost of a used Harley. I have been riding for 20 years. Just recently got into motorcycles in a die hard way.

[@bleekrides]

That make two of us been riding 4 years and love it. Bike is life. Thanks for joining the ride.

[@GearHeadMoto]

100% agree with you. No way I am paying these prices for today's new vehicles especially the prices they are asking for a new Motorcycle.

[@tld522]

Bleek just found your channel today! Awhile back I put out a video talking some what about this but I spoke on club culture. I might do a response video to your and big Smitty's videos! Great stuff I also am a small creator. I'm also gonna sub to your channel. Great common sense stuff!!!

[@bleekrides]

Awsome brother do it. 🍻 👏 ✌️ it's crazy this video has been my most viewed bit of content and I think there must be a very nuanced issue at the heart of this conversation.

[@tld522]

Because it is a very important subject! It also gets the gears turning!! The one I put out awhile back was about the possible death of club culture. But this is a broader subject! Great stuff!!! As well as important stuff. I also watched big Smitty's video and subbed him as well!!

[@bleekrides]

I will go watch your club video I'm would love to maybe do a club style or history video. How bikes captured the souls of a nation. And well the world as well

[@13fyrefli]

My dad just said it is like a spiritual experience two days ago to me. He rubs his bike more than he rubs his wife lol.

[@bleekrides]

That's awsome 😀

[@gymshoe8862]

I have never been an outlaw cruiser type of rider. I have owned well over 100 bikes nearly all japanese but at age 73 I am starting to slow down. I have two bikes today, the road bike is a DL1000 V-Strom. The other is my daily commuter, a KLR650. I plan to keep riding into my 80's. I went on a Grom ride a couple of months back on the KLR--the kids were doing stupid stuff all around me and its dangerous!

[@bleekrides]

Bro your my hero I wanna ride till I literally can't no more. Thanks for sharing this awsome story and glad you joined the ride.

[@gymshoe8862]

When I can't easily climb on the tall bikes I'm gonna ge a scooter--a big one like the new BMW maxi scooter.@@bleekrides

[@j.z.5539]

happy pride month sarah n tuned...!

[@frankfurther3828]

RIP HD INC 1903-1999. Hey Millionaires: $40k and 40 miles do not make you an insta-biker. Get off of your overpriced trinket and shut that garage fan off.

[@BigSmittyRiding]

Dude, I think you nailed it in this video. You made your own points and took it from your view point. I very much appreciate the shout out man. I'm with you, if you love bikes you'll be an ambassador to the younger generation. Great job sir!

[@bleekrides]

Thank you Big Smitty that means alot coming from you the inspiration for my video and a peer to me in this motvlog genre. Hell yeah and thanks for checking it out sir. I appreciate you.

[@snowflakesuperbike8294]

Here in Arizona we are experiencing the return of the Harley Davidson from the Rich urban biker's to the Roach Class ! And this Happy PaPa Roach just got a Heck of a deal on a Nice Bike ! Live to Ride !

[@bleekrides]

Live to ride :) thanks for sharing and joining the ride.

[@juliysmith4598]

💕

[@frankcates3909]

............. You said: "older crowd in their 40's & 50's." Now that's funny. 40's & 50's, well that's only starting to age, but not the old crowd by a long shot. So here I am in my mid-70's, to tell the truth, LATE 70's . I rode in my early 20's on an affordable Honda 450., that was 1969. Here we are in 2023 and I'm riding with 40's, 50's, 60's 70's, and an 82 y.o. rider now. He's got a trike, but keeps riding. And he's as much a part of our riding group (not MC) as anyone of the rest of us. We all have an assortment of bikes, Kawa, Honda, HD's, Indians, all kinds & all ages. We aren't a hard-nosed bunch of hooligans causing fights in bars (not referring to you), rather a bunch of biker friends who don't compete with each other and simply enjoy good company & the Ride. One thing most of us have done, gone out to buy affordable used bikes. I was headed to buy new in 2022, but I absolutely refused to throw too much money at a new dealer. WHY? Because they're not doing anybody any favors. I'm happy with my 2014 Indian Vintage 860lb bagger. ......Culture. I'll give you that, whatever it means to you. We just enjoy what all Riders are after ... wind therapy. No one can argue about the physical & mental value in that, a fact we all can agree on. It's just my 2cents worth.

[@bleekrides]

This is awesome. I love that we are creating conversations. I wanna thank you for shareing your time rideing with me. Very cool Frank. Hell yeah man.

[@carlo6230]

STILL RIDIN A HARDTAIL. 65. AND AM WHAT I AM...FIRST PANHEAD IN 76.

[@davidnorris5675]

Evo sportster…. 1986-2003

[@DaFanky]

I dont think its dying its just changing. I think a lot of the culture was intimidating and people are changing the aproach to invite others in.

[@caseyrobinson5574]

Great video sir

[@brucem8129]

You should kill the music when you talk.

[@bleekrides]

I will take that under advisory. I appreciate you coming on the ride and offering this helpful observation.

[@dervinmann9873]

i think Harley is trying to become even more of a premium name than they were. Wasn't it raybans that you could buy almost anywhere and were seen as cheap, then they stopped selling their glasses so that they would become hard to acquired, then their brand name improved. i think Harley is trying this formula, only people that can afford new will be rich. Nothing against the rich, do your thing chicken wing. as long as the brand name is strong people will buy it.

[@RoysMotoVentures]

👍

[@Phillzillaa]

🤘🤘🤘

[@scottkaercher1733]

When you see these kids doing 120mph doing wheelies splitting traffic and going as fast as that bike will go yeah their dying because their driving like idiots. I got a 95 dyna for 3 grand and it runs like its brand new but im going to pimp it out.

[@thelost_woods]

It's still alive with the clubstyle and dyna scene......the old farts don't see it because they are too busy hanging out at the Harley dealer.....the young guys wouldn't be caught dead at a Harley dealer hangout

[@frankfurther3828]

F Dealer. Us dedicated riders of unsupported EVO's won't notice when HD goes belly-up.

[@Ivolutcion]

Basically all the edgy aesthetic kids who fake want to wrap around a tree

[@paulsilson2148]

He is false .