Motorcycle riding is all about choice, but there is much more to it. I have identified several key elements that play hand in hand with riding a motorcycle as a private citizen, whether you ride solo or are involved with a group or organization.

§        SAFETY:

I have yet to have one single person who rides a motorcycle or is a passenger on one look me straight in the eye and tell me honestly that they don’t care about safety, or that the message is “BS,” or that they never give it a thought. If they do, they are flat-out liars or they are living a false bravado – take your pick. We ALL want to be safe…how much simpler can it be said? And safety is all of our responsibilities, not only to ourselves, but to those around us.

§        CHOICE:

Every day life has risks. By the grace of the almighty, we have the ability to make choices, which can be a real challenge in itself. We are the ones who get to choose exactly what risks we want to take, and just how far we want to push our luck. The yardstick by which we individually measure these risks lies within our own mind, and deep down we know our limitations. So we must be honest with ourselves, and be aware of the consequences these risks hold. Always strive to make the right choices that will give you the best chance to come home from every ride safe and unharmed.

§        PEER PRESSURE:

Nowhere in our culture is peer pressure more prevalent or more powerful than within the motorcycling community. Think it isn’t? Just take a look around you and see for yourself. Ever heard the phrase; “you have to go along to get along?” That’s a good example of peer pressure. Don’t get me wrong, some peer pressure is good, so long as it is positive, constructive and not dangerous. It’s the peer pressure that takes you out of your own comfort zone that can be the most dangerous and even life-threatening, but you keep it deep inside. You have to be willing to be completely honest with yourself to see where the dividing line is between fun and dangerous, and be willing to make a CHOICE to accept it and go along, or do the smart thing and walk away from it…the choice is yours.  

§        IMAGE:

There is a persona, a look, a style, that all bikers have, but it doesn’t stop at the black leather clad crowd, it encompasses a variety of groups and styles. I don’t need to go into the various examples of “images” we have in the motorcycling community. Let’s just agree that there are many diversified ones, and let it go at that. All are unique, have a certain flair, meaning and even culture, especially to the individual who is involved in it whatever group he or she wants to embrace. Please remember one thing – never, ever compromise your safety or that of others around you for the sake of image “IF” that image is more about a certain “look” than it is about protection or riding right.

§        GROUPTHINK:

I read an interesting article a few years ago about “Groupthink.” Loosely translated, it is a phenomenon that occurs in a cohesive group when members let their need to agree with each other interfere with their ability to think about a decision critically and rationally.

There are three conditions that may lead to “groupthink:”

#1) - is the overestimation of the group’s ability and power, whereby members tend to ignore specific “warning signals.” This may cause a feeling of complacency which could result from an overreaction to low self-esteem, resulting from recent failures or having been faced with a difficult task.

#2) - is the “we vs. they” attitude, which leads to stereotyping of outsiders and encourages rationalization of decisions.

#3) - is the pressure toward conformity, which results from direct pressure being applied by the group to various members who try to disagree, thus resulting in members censoring themselves in order to maintain their membership in the group. All of this can be detrimental to an organization…that is unless you’re aware of it, identify it and work together instead of in a “groupthink” mindset.

However you choose to ride, dress or act while you ride is up to you as an individual. With all due respect, I also must caution each of you to be aware of the pitfalls out there…they can turn out to be an abyss you don’t want to fall into. If the choices you make are based on conformity, and following along rather than leading the way, then I suggest you please reconsider the risks you are taking, know the consequences, and be willing to deal with them.

Try not to allow yourselves to fall into a “groupthink” mentality. As individuals, let’s be aware that peer pressures exist and recognize how powerful and dangerous it can be. Let’s also make sure we do not allow it to control us as individuals, especially if that control places us in an unsafe environment or puts us in a situation whereby the risks associated with it are more than we are willing to accept.

I sincerely believe that if we all work together on making choices we can live with, and leading by example, then we’ll assure ourselves of the best chance possible to enjoy riding and each other’s company for years to come – and being in step and hand to hand with having fun is safety…and that should be every rider’s #1 priority!

Ride as if your life depends on it – because it does.

Gary