The essence of bikers:
Bikers are lovers and admirers of motorcycles, but unlike ordinary motorcyclists, bikers have a motorcycle as part of their lifestyle.
Their ideology is based on three symbols: road, speed and freedom. It is also characteristic to unite with like-minded people based on this way of life. — Advertising —
The spirit of brotherhood, freedom and truth, which underlies the philosophy of a true biker, tries to resist the temptations and temptations of a society of consumerism and hypocrisy. The motorcycle always comes first for a biker. Then everything else, including love and family.
The knowledge of a bike club member includes knowledge of the technical intricacies of servicing your favorite iron horse, as well as the history of the movement and the club, and rules of behavior. Many motorcycle clubs have a president, vice-president, sergeant-at-arms, treasurer, and secretary who perform their duties. Every biker is an active participant in the motorcycle life, whose activities are aimed at benefiting the community.
Biker Style:
Leather biker jacket, denim or leather vest with the symbols of a motorcycle club, leather pants. Bandanas, black knitted hats that protect from the wind, motorcycle glasses, long hair, a beard and mustache. Helmets in the form of stylized German helmets from the Second World War. Symbolism: skull, number 13, iron cross and confederate flag.
About the first time
I got on a bike when I was 17 years old. The 1980 Olympics began in Moscow, and my parents decided to urgently take me out of the city and out of harm’s way. They sent me to Istra to visit my grandmother. And there are boys on motorcycles! "Java"! "Chezet"! A bright red, curly-haired guy, Yura, met me. It was with him that I got on a bike for the first time, albeit as a passenger. Every weekend he took me to a dance in a neighboring village in a Ceseta.
I landed on the ground and miraculously managed to dodge a bike flying at me
If the disco took place three kilometers from Istra, then the rural club was 15 kilometers away. We return back. Night, three motorcycles are flying along a country road. And then a hare jumps out. My Yura swerved the steering wheel, lost his balance, and we flew straight into the field. I landed on the ground and miraculously managed to crawl away from the bike flying towards me. "Chezet" - to shreds. He had a long repair ahead of him, and I had a long way to go to get back on a motorcycle.
I returned to Moscow. She graduated from school and entered university. Got married. At this point, my history with motorcycles was interrupted for 30 long years.
About Serbia and my new husband
My biker friend lives in Slovenia. She introduced me to her motorcycle friends through Facebook. One of them, Serbian Petar, interested me - all the photos on his page were taken from the back. I began to look in his profile for the answer to what the reason was. It turned out he was a widower. After losing his wife, he lost all desire to live. There was so much melancholy in his posts, heavy poems and songs. And I decided to write to him.
I tried to cheer me up, make me feel the taste for life again. She talked about her travels, about Russia. She invited me to visit her. He arrived.
I started taking him everywhere on my motorcycle. He was unaccustomed to our distances. All of Serbia is completely finished - like from Moscow to St. Petersburg. And the traffic on the roads was incomprehensible to him, there were too many cars, too much traffic.
Elena and Petar
Petar came regularly. My solo trips were over, I had to roll him in. We got married in 2022. I tried to adapt it to Russia, but it didn’t work. It’s hard for a European to live here. That's why I moved to Serbia four months ago.
We communicate in both Serbian and Russian. They are very similar to each other, so there are no special problems. In Serbia, Russian is taught in schools. Locals adore Russians and are ready to water, feed and entertain them with all their might. This is a warm, cozy country. Everyone lives here without looking around. As they say in Serbia, “polako” - take your time. Enjoying life.
About equipment
I'm an old-school biker. I didn’t bother with the topic of equipment; at first I generally rode in jeans and an oilskin leatherette jacket. Now I have a biker leather jacket, a second water- and dust-proof cordura jacket (thick nylon fabric with water-repellent impregnation and a polyurethane coating. - Ed.) with inserts on the shoulders, elbows and back, two helmets, Italian boots, a raincoat, two pairs of gloves - warm and summer, fingerless motorcycle gloves.
Considering that I am size 60, the same leather jacket would be very expensive in regular stores. That’s why I found guys on VKontakte who bring second-hand items from Europe. I bought everything I needed from them. It turned out much cheaper than buying in a store or having it sewn to order.
Biker outfit
About the benefits of knives
It is not always possible to find a warm welcome in roadside cafes. Quite often I came across slippery glances. Late one evening I stopped for gas and something to eat. I went in, took off my helmet and equipment. And some two-meter-tall guy came up to me with suggestions a la “Come on, baby, let’s coo.” I took out a knife, stuck it into the table and looked at him with an expression. The man smiled embarrassedly and turned away. I realized that I had the wrong address.
A similar situation occurred in one of the biker houses on New Year’s Eve. Some idiot burst into the hall. I prudently took out a knife and placed it next to me. A minute later, the largest of their group approached. He looked at me, then at the knife. He extended his hand and croaked: “Diesel, let’s get to know each other.” As he later admitted, he immediately respected him.
About roads
The main problem on long trips is the roads. That's for sure, there are no roads in Russia, only directions. For example, we were going to the balloon festival in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Along the way there are repairs and detours, and in some places pieces of asphalt have been dismantled. It turned out that we needed to cut around the lake along a road that had not been repaired since 1972. I remember climbing onto a hillock, hoping to take a break, but below I see a hole - I can’t stop. Need to gas! I jumped five kilometers in this way and somehow got to the place.
Already at the base, a woman approached me and offered to take a photo. It turned out that she was following me in an SUV with the thought: “Well, if this biker passed here, then I can too.” I practically dragged her there on my tail.
In the territories of country recreation centers, you should always ask in advance whether it is possible to ride a heavy motorcycle. Usually you get an honest answer - yes or no. But one day they answered me in the affirmative, and as a result I had to ride 15 km along the village’s off-road roads.
About choosing a “horse”
By spring we bought a motorcycle for me too. I chose a small 400cc 1997 Honda Steed. A biker's feet on a horse must reach the ground. At traffic lights, you need to stand completely on your feet, not on your tiptoes. I am short, so initially I wanted something compact. I even looked at the Italian Vespa scooter. But he refused to start under me.
The salespeople in the store said that they had a motorcycle “for little ones,” for which they could not find a buyer for a long time. And they rolled out the Honda. I got on the bike, pressed the button and felt - mine! The horse responded.
I learned for myself: if you sit down in the saddle and immediately feel the bike, then it’s yours
Objectively, the first motorcycle needs to be selected based on the driver’s dimensions and his plans for road adventures. Choose small bikes with an engine no larger than 400 cc. In the first couple of seasons, this will be enough for driving around the city for short distances. Sit on the horse. Take a comfortable position in the saddle, with your feet on the ground. If your feet don't reach, your body feels uncomfortable, then look for another motorcycle. Plus - the unit must be maneuverable.
About the second date, after 30 years
Then there was no time to think about motorcycles. Family Children…
In 2011, my second husband and I went to the Upper Volga to a boarding house. Our vacation coincided with a motorcycle rally. Hondas, Yamahas, BMWs, extraordinary homemade bikes - when I saw these motorcycles, I realized that I had never lived before! The days turned into anticipation: when will I be able to feel the freedom of the road under my wheels again?
Motor rally
I persuaded my husband to buy a bike. We sold the car and learned to get our category A license together in the winter. The picture, of course, was funny. February, -34, my legs are frozen to the tank. The motorcycle does not start even with the kickstarter. And then a completely gray-haired 48-year-old lady with a handbag comes to the site and declares that she wants to study. As you understand, it was me. But when the instructor put me on the bike, I experienced such a feeling of flying that I didn’t even feel the cold.
