Biker culture is one of the most misunderstood subcultures. Mainstream society and the media often portray bikers as rebels and outlaws. They are mostly seen as a dangerous group that should be avoided at all costs. Social media is allowing an insight into biker culture that can better educate outsiders and get rid of their prejudiced opinions.
Podcasts
Motorcycling-related podcasts are recently gaining popularity, and there are many of them to choose from. You can easily start your own with a microphone and a little bit of editing. SpotifyStorm can help you popularize your podcast by providing real subscribers and listeners.
Many people are curious about owning a motorcycle but are hesitant to join the biker community. Podcasts are not as heavily edited as other types of social media, so they offer a more realistic insight into biker culture. When people see that most bikers aren’t part of a gang and that riding can give them the freedom they never dreamed of, they might be more receptive to the subculture as a whole.
Podcasters often host guests from other podcasts, as well as other social media. This is a marketing strategy, but it helps other people discover biker culture as well. When the host of a motorcycling podcast is a guest on another, the listeners of the latter are introduced to the former. Inevitably there will be some outsiders visiting their podcast, where they will be introduced to biker culture.
Motovlogging
Vlogging is finding its way to every part of today’s society, and biking is no exception. There are many motovlogs that can be found on YouTube, and they are gaining followers worldwide. Many of the followers are outsiders to the biker culture but might watch these videos as a form of entertainment.
Additionally, when celebrities and other well-known people (unrelated to biking) film their rides, viewers might have visited the page in search of the celebrity, not due to any interest in biking. Nonetheless, motovlogging helps mainstream society experience part of what bikers love about riding – the open road. The feeling of freedom might not be transferred, but it is portrayed well.
Biking is Influential
Despite the mainstream view of bikers, fashion is often inspired by biker culture. This is true for even high fashion. Leather jackets, in particular, are taken from motorcyclists. This influence probably started in the 80s and continues to this day. Instagram influencers that are also bikers can further popularize this trend.
Social Media Brings Bikers Together
In the past, biking was such a closed-off subculture that it was not easy to get in. Bars and motorcycle garages were often the only places you can look for a fellow biker. There is also a language that they use among themselves, as biker slang. What about newbies? They might be nervous to get a leg in, despite the friendly invitations from bikers.
Nowadays, social media has infiltrated the biker culture so there are several Facebook groups, Reddit subthreads, and Twitter hashtags dedicated to biking and everything related. A newcomer can easily join in on the discussion from any of these avenues. There are even a few biking social media networks, even though they don’t get as much traffic as the mainstream sites.
Owning a motorcycle is not the entirety of the definition of a biker. A biker is part of the biker subculture, which is not a bad thing. They emphasize freedom, without the need for rebellion. They are a diverse group of people brought together by the love of riding and are as varied as any other community. In time, the hope is that they are no longer seen in such a stereotypical manner.
