[singpilot]

What Tech said.

I work in a pretty conservative group of people (I worry that some of that is wearing off on me. I come here to OT to keep 'centered'.).

When I show up for work, it usually triggers an alert around the plane. Big sportbike, red full leathers with drag scars on the toes, knee pucks and elbows, full helmet.

Then the helmet comes off (after first removing the bi-focals), and everyone recognizes their captain. Is always good for a laugh. Invariably, thru the next few days on the road, I get all the questions from the crew that everyone has always wanted to ask a 'biker', but never known someone that actually 'was'.

Did I build that bike myself?

Does my girlfriend have a pierced tongue, and lots of tattoos?

Do I split lanes on the freeway? That one always gets the most questions. Most people in California do not realize it is legal (when done legally). Unfortunately, the legal ones are not what most people remember.

Do I think the shows do a disservice? Go to any motorcycle salvage yard and look around. More than half of the totalled, bloody bikes there have paper plates on them. Insurance statistics indicate that the most dangerous rider out there is 40 to 60 years of age. Been riding (recently) less than a year (may not have even gotten the endorsement to ride legally). Brand new bike. I'd bet that if the rider was interviewable, he'd say that these shows had influenced his descision to buy a bike (again).

Tech is right. It's entertainment. Not reality. Reality is at the salvage yard (Or on national TV, sporting a fat, stitched lip).