The Antitheses to the Poser or Big Bad Biker T-Shirt! And right out of the gate I want to say this is not a sales pitch... I don't sell this shirt just thought it was an interesting message I wrote back when I drew this. I love this design and the feelings behind it.
I’ve had this design around for about two years now. I built a couple for myself and enjoy the hell out of wearing this design.
This design was born of conversations I had 10 over years ago.**
To back up a little I met my wife decades ago and at that time I was riding a 1960 Matchless 650. While we were dating my future wife expressed a desire to go for a ride.*
I thought it a great idea but being a realist I had to give her the same warning I got from the excellent friend who taught me to ride, and I mean really ride, Paul Burval. His advise? Motorcycling is an inherently dangerous sport.
And with that bit of wisdom…30 years ago he taught me about panic breaking, counter steering, how to avoid high siding and much more, I was lucky, in 1968 there just wasn’t that much of a knowledge base about for those wanting to know about the art of motorcycling.
Paul had the credentials, after a stint in the Navy in Korea as a diver (this guy had guts) and while still in his youth he raced motorcycles and had learned an abundance of knowledge, not just in winning races but in the knowledge that gives you the ability to win… and survive.
*So! Getting back to my original story when my future wife with her desire to ride I felt inclined to share with her what Paul had told me, Motorcycling is an inherently dangerous sport and if she wanted to ride she’d have to wear all the protective stuff available in those times.
When later we got married, my now wife remembered Paul’s advise, Motorcycling is an inherently dangerous sport and asked me to stop riding when we had our first child.
Fast forward… As my first kid was graduating college and with my daughter in college I began “Jonesing” (wanting) to ride again.
The friends I had grown up with were ahead of me. Without exception they all went out and bought Harleys, beautiful bikes! I had bought a beater motorcycle to see if I really still wanted to ride before entering into any large purchases.
That bike was a Honda PC (Pacific Coast) and really a nice bike. All six of us would ride and when we got in the twisties or even sweepers I’d find myself having to hold up for them to catch up with me. They be literally dragging hard parts on the ground if they took my pace through the turns.
So there it was, turns out I still loved riding and it was time to upgrade my machine. In discussions with my riding buddies (all Harley guys) I was asking them what Harley I should get, after all if it ain’t a Harley it’s just a poser.
I came down to the Road King Classic, one of the things I didn’t like about the Honda PC was I could really feel it lose performance when riding two up, but being just an 800cc I figured the Road King would have the stuff to eliminate that problem.
So while I’m shopping my best deal and believe me at that time Harley was holding folks up price wise, I also started reading the motorcycle magazines. That’s when I read about the Valkyrie!
In the review in Motorcycle Cruiser they raved about the power and handling of this machine. Stated that it just might be the best “all around” bike available. A trip to the nearest Honda dealership and when I saw her I was in love.
Honda, what are you going to do with those folks, they wouldn’t even let me sit on the bike, it had just come out and was in back-order. Every bike on the floor was sold!
I bought my first Valkyrie having never rode one!
Getting on with my missive here, the weeks went by and finally my Valkyrie arrived at the dealership. I watched them cut it lose from the palette and do the initial set-up. They rolled it out for me I threw my leg over, fire her up and immediately panic, a little.
At slow speed this monster was nothing like my 800cc Honda PC it was a bit of a handful at parking lot speeds. My hesitation disappeared upon getting her on the road, what a fantastic handling motorcycle in both power and handling.
Overjoyed with my new purchase I couldn’t wait for the next weekend ride with my buddies!
They were all gathered when I rode up on my Valkyrie. The greeting was not what I expected, they were really crestfallen and disappointed I hadn’t bought a Harley. Names like Jap Crap and Rice Burner were slung my way???
“Hey guys, look at the back of the seat, “Made in the USA” got no traction with them! There question was “why or Lord why did you do a traitorous thing like not buy a Harley?”
“Well, really good reviews in the magazines I read, more power, more handling capabilities, more reliability, I don’t know call me deranged”
“Yes, but it’s not a Harley, what are you thinking?”
My bike after a few alterations.
**This is the conversation I mentioned at the beginning of the story. Seems I was kind of an outcast for not buying a Harley. Don’t get me wrong I thought there bikes were very cool and I considered myself lucky that they still let me ride with them, all be it with a lot of mockery and side shots.
Anyway here we are 10 years later. Out of 5 of them only one still rides, maybe the Harley thing was a fad. Valkyrie sure didn’t hurt Harley’s sales.
Now back to this shirt design. Years later here I am when I ride with a group I ride with the VRCC. There is no mockery and side shots when I’m with these people. AND riding a Valkyrie doesn’t seem to be a fashion statement!
Now I’ve been drawing Valkyrie designs for years now and this particular design came to me in thinking about all the above.
How about a design that breaks with the traditional, expected style motorcycle shirt. Like Valkyrie riders I wanted a design that could get as far away from the Expected Fashionable Bad Biker image as possible.
Now I know this design will not be everyone’s cup of tea and maybe I’m a strange puppy! But the tag line on the bottom of the shirt says it all for me. No matter what one may prefer to ride from my club to you, I still wish them… Have a Nice Ride!
I like my Valkyrie so much I bought a second, go figure?
Some photo remarks may be out of order. 
