Biking..........Racially Exclusive?

[Lissa]

Firstly, apologies for the rubbish title. It's the closest I could get to what this thread is about without being about 30 words long.

This is something that Pete and I have often pondered about, but it's taken me a while to figure out how to ask the question so it makes sense.

Apart from our mate Gots, and the half-dozen or so people we know from Org, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of bikers we have seen at countless meets, rallies and events who are not.............and I'll use a designation often found on official documents here...........white caucasian.
This is probably less than 1% of 1% of all the bikers we've seen and yet according to the 2001 census the population in the UK of............as they describe them..............'ethnic minorites' is 7.9%

So why do so few of them, apparently, ride bikes?

Is it because biking is still perceived by them as a bastion of the white, anglo-saxon male?

Is it a cultural thing? Is biking somehow seen as 'not quite the thing'?

Is it because some who have tried have met racism and given up?

I'd genuinely like to know people's thoughts on this, and if any of our American or European members read this, I'd be interested to know if there is a similar pattern in their country.

Finally, I have tried really hard to write this in a way that won't cause offence. That is honestly not my intention.

I think "exclusive" is the wrong word to use. Nobody is excluded from anything in the motorcycle world as far as I can see. Money is more important. If someone has money to spend on training/equipment/license/bike then it doesn't matter what they look like at all.

Edit: Not that it would matter if it were free!

Lots of 'brown' bikers in London. Even professionals such at the Met, paramedics, spatchers etc.

Although I have to admit that I've never ever seen another female rider of asian descent in this country. Women ride small bikes and scooters in Asia tho.

[Bluepete]

I know exactly what you mean, and have wondered the same myself.

I can't answer your questions though, maybe 'cos I came to bikeing at a relatively gentlemanly age (34) or 'cos I don't think about it, because it doesn't matter to me. Dunno really........

I do know that one of my bikeing hero's is a Sgt a work, Sid Rasheed, Asian, about 6"4', been bikeing all his life, joined the cops in the '70's which was brave enough as it is! He rides like a demon at work and on his own R1. Helped me a huge amount when I joined traffic and got my SV.

Oh, and no offence could be taken at your well thought out and well written post.

Pete.

Plenty of ginger's tho

Originally Posted by Dr Rich

Plenty of ginger's tho

really?

yeh london does have a good number of ethnic riders, or black and asian whatever the term.

i dont know them but theres a couple of asian guys around my way with 600's they often nod when i pass them, and theres always black guys up at the ace on a friday or sat night.

i think bikes just attract white people more some odd reason.

maybe its the steroetypeing-long haired greasy bikers.

in the states its quite evened out you only have to look at stunt wars or stunting vids from there to see that.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Ratty46

yeh london does have a good number of ethnic riders, or black and asian whatever the term.

i dont know them but theres a couple of asian guys around my way with 600's they often nod when i pass them, and theres always black guys up at the ace on a friday or sat night.

i think bikes just attract white people more some odd reason.

maybe its the steroetypeing-long haired greasy bikers.

in the states its quite evened out you only have to look at stunt wars or stunting vids from there to see that.

Its been observed on many an occasion on reaching a SELKENT meet that "non caucasian" skin must be road-rash proof, ie there are a lot of aftican/carribean origin guys running around on R1's in T-Shirts and Shorts.

There is certainly no racial/cultural bias in the .org that I can see, I just think that unfortunatly for some reason we dont get a lot of non-whites turning up to meets and so joining in.

In fact, taken in the context of this thread, with Lissa and even myself dancing around certain words and phrases to avoid offence at ALL costs.

Soho Massive is definately not Racially Exclusive - they even let Scots in......

I think - like most things in life - it has something to do with willys?!?!

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I think - like most things in life - it has something to do with willys?!?!