Just occasionally it dawns on you how much is right with the world. While out on a recent ride the staff of Clutch and Chrome started throwing around some of the things in the motorcycle world that left a smile on our collectives faces. Sit back and enjoy the 10 things we think bikers should give a thankful thumbs up to.

Complaining is easy, second nature to some while giving a compliment or quick thank you appears to be downright torturous. It could have been the perfect weather making for an amazing ride or maybe the road fumes made it further into our brains than we realized, but a simple comment led to a discussion by the gang of Online Motorcycle Magazine during a stop and we all came up with a list of things to be proud of in the world of motorcycles.

Here is our list, in no particular order of things bikers the country over should give a nod and thanks to as the good stuff that's done right.
 
Bikers that wave regardless of what they ride.
The mystery of the motorcycle wave has been discussed, debated and argued probably since the first pair of pioneer bikers started passing each other on the road. Not only does the meaning of the wave create some heated conversations, but who, when and to whom it should be made clouds discussions even more.

Some feel that only riders of similar styles of motorcycle should wave to each other, while a more extreme group prefer to wave to riders who are riding the same brand of bike.

While the different viewpoints argue and justify their opinions, there are a segment of riders who not only wave to any other biker on two wheels, regardless of the style or which corporate name is on the gas tank, some take their camaraderie as far as waving to scooter riders!

Online Motorcycle Magazine applauds the bikers who realize riding is about the experience of being on two wheels with a powerhouse between your legs, roaring down the open road. Let the rest of the world divide themselves in special interest groups and bicker about who is better, smarter or even ‘right’. Bikers should enjoy the ride and revel in its brotherhood.

Military leaders enforcing motorcycle safety training
While the brave men and women in the United State military served in Afghanistan and Iraq, their pay built up in the bank, and along with the generous re-enlistment bonuses being offered by the military, many of the service personnel have found themselves ‘cash-rich’ when returning home.

Unfortunately, the returning service personnel who decided to use their hard-earned money to buy a ‘dream motorcycle’ faced tragedy with many dying on American roads in numbers that rivaled the death toll of the beginning of the most recent war in Iraq. It wasn’t long before the different arms of the military quickly took notice, each creating their own motorcycle safety program.

New regulations, which carried the same weight as those meant for the battlefield ranged from mandatory helmet laws to compulsory safety training in order to ride their bikes.

It was heartwarming to read and learn of generals taking as much interest in the safety and lives of America’s brave service personnel at home as well as during dangerous tours of duty in foreign countries.

States that make an effort to raise motorcycle awareness and safety to other road-users.
Every year the month of May is designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month, but depending on where a biker lives, people would be hard-pressed to know about it.

It is a little confusing how States such as Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Oregon and New Hampshire who've either had motorcycle riding politicians or annually schedule grand unveilings of the awareness month seem to let the motorcycle awareness campaign get swept to one side along with plastic dinnerware and deflating balloons the end of the announcement celebrations.

A round of applause as well as a heartfelt thanks certainly goes to States such as Minnesota and Georgia who not only use precious budget dollars to print bumper stickers, posters and produce commercials year after year for the safety month, but also manage to support consistent round motorcycle safety awareness programs to keep other road users alert to the two-wheeled red-headed step children.

More states are becoming concerned over the disproportionately growing number of motorcycle fatalities among the highway accident statistics. Also, local legislatures singling out the bike for ordinances and fines has become the latest state and municipal trend. So bikers have to wonder why we can't get the same attention when it comes to safety campaigns and official support for our right to have a piece of road.

It would be great to write about more States supporting Motorcycle Awareness Month but there's the sneaking feeling it’ll be up the everyday biker to ‘remind’ local politicians how loud their voices can really be and the importance of the ‘biker vote’.

Motorcycle advocacy groups
Whether it’s the grandfather of motorcycle groups such as the American Motorcycle Association or the grassroots organization of ABATE (which stands for either American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education, or American Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments depending on who you ask), advocacy groups are the unspoken heroes of riding.

From keeping an eye on governmental bodies to lobbying for legal changes, advocacy groups protect the individual rights and freedoms of the everyday biker.

Whether you agree with them or not, various ABATE chapters have strongly fought for choice in helmet laws across the country over the last few years. The AMA have lobbied to increase penalties for drivers who injure others on the road in their Justice for All campaign.

Cities who welcome riders with open arms
With the average age of bikers moving upward and their average income bracket growing in the same direction, it would be easy to assume that any city would welcome riders, and all the disposable income they may bring with open arms.

But this hasn’t been the case. Organizers of a major cross-country ride had a last minute scramble to re-organize the route when a town strongly opposed having the parade of fund-raising bikers come through their municipality. In Illinois a town council cancelled much needed permits due to 'police intelligence' of potential gang activity, leaving the organizers with no event to make money, bills to pay of scheduled talent and costs.

The ongoing battle between event planners and the city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over the Annual Spring Biker Rally is widely reported. Unfortunately it’s not just Carolinians that have an aversion to bikers, with other rallies across the United States facing local, usually illogical opposition.

From Sturgis, to Daytona and all the way out to Hollister, its with heartfelt thanks the Online Motorcycle Magazine hat is tipped to the different cities around the country that look forward and even cater to the roaming biker coming to visit their annual rallies and events. It’s even better when we get to report on yet another city or State looking into creating and holding their own local motorcycle rally!

The true biker bar
It felt as if some bar owners suddenly took notice of the numerous news stories about the growing number of older bikers who happened to have some disposable income. It wasn’t long before the calendar week was saturated with various bike nights, with many cities giving bikers three or four events in an evening to choose from.

Understanding that everyone has their own opinion of what a bike night should look like, plenty of riders have experienced the disappointment of arriving at a bar only to be greeted with two other motorcycles parked in front, the latest pop music playing inside and only the newest, trendiest beers available at the bar.

Since we are a tight knit community the word soon spreads about the bars that are more interested in your money rather than the fact that you ride. The ironic twist to be learned by bar-owners everywhere is that true biker bars tend to be an inexpensive place to hang out with your old, new and as yet undiscovered friends while you chow down that all types of food that’s eaten with your hands and obviously not good for you.

So congratulations to the bars that continue to be a meeting place for bikers to come hang out, talk motorcycles and enjoy the company of fellow riders.
 

Television shows that celebrate the passion of motorcycles instead of relying on stereotypes and gimmicks
When we were throwing around ideas for this edition of ‘10 things’, even the person who suggested this knew it was slightly controversial. But what the heck!

Online Motorcycle Magazine's article Motorcycles on the small screen touched on the recent boom in television shows about motorcycles. Speed TV even devotes an entire evenings worth of programming to our two-wheeled mistress. While we’re happy as bikers with this wide choice of shows it does tend to highlight the good and the bad of biker boob tube.

A show from the Food Network of all channels didn’t even have riding as its primary focus, but the riding adventures in Feasting on Asphalt were far more entertaining than another TV show which regularly features some goofy presenter trying to see what tricks he can perfect on his tweaked ‘Busa.

The classic Biker Build-Off, a show that pits well-known motorcycle customizers against each other is more intense and pure edge of the seat entertainment compared to other reality shows following building hosts obviously playing up conflict, drama or even design difficulty just for the camera.

Even the documentaries about the same biker rally can differ in quality. The subject matter in Sturgis: Hell on wheels covers the immense depth that make up the biking community as well as the heart of the event that makes it so popular. Other documentaries about the same rally only seem to further stereotype both the event and the rider.

Not only is the motorcycle being ridden by more leading men in movies and television shows, 2008 saw the debut of a gritty drama built around the family of a motorcycle gang. 'Sons of Anarchy' gained much popularity with riders and non-riders alike being picked up for a second season.

So we give kudos to the motorcycle shows that respect the passion, and hosts that truly love to ride rather than the presenters that are there just to look good, or worse, sensationalize for ratings.

The Honest Mechanic
Whether it’s because they do good work for a fair price or are simply honest about what needs to be done without any ‘up-selling’, these guys are the unspoken heroes of riding.

Usually the Honest Mechanic is known by one name, which isn’t anything like the one given at birth of course. Across the country, the Pops, Slims and Tinys of the mechanical world don’t have to buy any advertising or even carry around business cards. No, their business comes from spending decades working out of the same shop with the same bunch of guys giving the same reliable service.

Sure things are becoming a little more challenging with ‘engine downloads’ and new EPA standards, but half the joy of going to the honest motorcycle mechanic is watching the ingenuity as they work around these corporately imposed obstacles.

Thank you for keeping the nations bikers on the road through our mechanical mishaps.

Girlfriends or wives who love to ride
We know, we know, this should either be number one or number ten depending on which is the top or bottom of the list.

Firstly, the lists are in no order of preference or importance. If the truth were known, the list is more done round robin style, going around the Clutch and Chrome table just to keep everyone happy. After all, nothing looks uglier than a pouting biker. Or should that be funnier?

Either way, this is an important item that not only deserves a round of applause, but it should be given a stand ovation with enthusiastic whistles and high-fives.

Riding is simply a unique and incredible experience and most bikers want to share it with that special person in their lives. This is hard to do if that person is so scared or nervous about riding not only do they hurt your ears with concerns, complaints or general screams, but they draw blood as their nails dig into your side while hanging on.

But occasionally a biker’s better half will actually enjoy riding. Some have even been known to get their own motorcycle!

Its the biker with the most valued of accessories, the riding other half, who are the most envied in our two-wheeled world. Not just because they have fellow rider from the fairer sex, but having that someone special in their lives who understands and shares the passion riding has to offer.

Imagine what a true blessing it must be to look back or over at your partner in crime at the end of a long ride and have them ask to put down a few more miles before heading home.

Priceless.

Two wheels, an engine between the legs and an open road ahead
Forget chrome, paint jobs and accessories, this is what all riders live and breath for. The basics of some wind in the face, gas in the tank and miles of asphalt ahead.

As great as all the other stuff we could come up with is, including everything already written about, it's all for nothing without an open road to ride. Non-riders find it hard to understand the feeling of not only hearing your engine, but feeling the vibrations run through the both the motorcycle as well as your body.

Styles may change, engines will undoubtedly become larger and the roads are sure to get more crowded, but the joy of riding will always appeal to the inner soul in every modern rebel just looking for that spark.
 

What you think
As with every article, there is an open invitation to readers to make suggestions and share their own experiences. Well so many responses came in for the Online Motorcycle Magazine article '10 things riders do completely wrong' we wrote an additional article!

So its with great pleasure we give you two more things bikers should be thankful for;

Riding with such generous biker buddies
Just as there are no roads long enough, there is no size to a bikers heart. Toy and poker runs, charity rides and anything to raise money for those in need are all the inclination riders need to jump into a saddle and help out.

This nod came from Joker over at the blog Harley-Davidson Mystique who did his part riding for Breast Cancer as well as Domestic violence and sexual assault charities.

Knowing that its the right thing to do and never thinking twice about lending some kind of helping or financial hand leaves all riders with a comforting thought. Knowing that other riders on the road will be there for one of their own in a time of need makes our road bound bonds just that much stronger.

A smile and tip of the skullcap goes to all the bikers who never pass up the chance, regardless of the weather or financial inconvenience to do the right thing.

Welcoming women into the riding world
We weren't quite sure how to phrase this one. Whether to be thankful to all the bikers for letting women join the apparent boy's club, or to the women from wanting to ride with the men and make everything that much more enjoyable.

Never has there been such a revolution so strongly seen as the fairer sex flocking to ride their own. You would be hard-pressed to find a sight to raise a smile from the most hardened biker as that of a woman coming in on her own motorcycle. Never asking for any favors and certainly bringing a welcomed breath of fresh air to any ride or event, the female rider is a valued part of the riding world.

Liz over at Rippen-Kitten blogged a heartfelt opinion about the huge success of Harley-Davidson's all women ride into Daytona's Bike Week 2008.

So regardless what time of year it may be, we as riders should take the time to salute all the things that are good about motorcycles and the people who love them.

Once again, if there's any we missed, email the editor we’d love to hear them!