The Easy Ride

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 5:01 am

In 1885, when the first motorcycle was ratcheted together, you can be sure there weren't any concerns about liability or collision insurance. There were no mandatory helmet laws, no learner's permits, no special licenses. There were certainly no motorcycle injury lawyers or legal statutes to worry about. At that time, motorcycles were little more than motorized bicycles, capable of speeds of 10 mph, tops. In fact, the first motorcycle ever produced, by Daimler-Maybach, didn't even have a proper set of handlebars to steer with.

The largest producer of motorcycles before World War I, was Indian, out of Springfield, Massachusetts. Nothing compared to an Indian and their Scout and Chief models were extremely popular. During World War I, and for decades afterward, the distinction of being the most popular motorcycle went to their only major rival, Harley-Davidson, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

War drives demand, and it certainly drove the demand for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. By 1920, it was the single largest manufacturer of motorcycles worldwide. Initially used as scouting and messenger vehicles, Harleys were quickly adopted by law enforcement agencies and civilians alike. Civilian racing clubs began to spread among enthusiasts and certainly during and after World War II, these became very attractive to ex-servicemen.

The motorcycle club transformed into our modern-day gang after World War II, evolving (if that is the right word) into a more and more violent entity. By the Sixties, the Hells Angels, Outlaws, and Pagans took hold of our collective imagination, thanks in no small part to the dozens of biker exploitation movies and Hunter S. Thompson's seminal novel, Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.

It should be made clear that motorcycling is now relatively free of an overt gang stigma. This is a testament to the millions of worldwide enthusiasts who enjoy their weekend rides to points far and wide. Indeed, you would be hard-pressed to actually witness a gang ride, unless you happen to be en route to Sturgis, South Dakota -- and even then, most are on their best behavior.

If you find yourself having to put your hog or rice burner down, the very first thing you should do is contact a reputable motorcycle injury lawyer. Everything else can wait.