Fitting in at a Biker Bar

Depending on who you are, fitting in at a biker bar can be difficult. If you’re stocky, bearded and tattooed, you have a better chance than a thin, baby-faced Irishman. But fear not. Follow the ensuing advice and guidelines and you may just fit in.

It’s important not to act like a hard man. Trying to pull the wool over the eyes and adopting a persona that isn’t even close to your own is likely to be picked up on, particularly if you aren’t naturally a ‘tough guy.’ Acting tough will only do two things: They’ll rival you, in which case you’ve attracted the exact attention you hoped to repel, or else they’ll realize you’re acting and try to get a rise out of you. This will more than likely be playful, but playful is a subjective term in biker bars.

This is not to assume bikers are all aggressive thugs. They’re not. That is the second piece of advice: Assuming someone is going to hurt you is more than likely going to get you hurt. No one likes to be on the receiving end of prejudice, and bikers are no different.

Ask permission to use the jukebox. In fact, don’t go near the jukebox. Or if you do, make sure you’ve been given permission and made the firm decision not to play rap, pop or classic hits. If you’re going to make the bold decision to alter the atmosphere of a biker bar, go for something like “Motorcycle Mama” by Neil Young or “Ezy Ryder” by Hendrix.

Lastly, and possibly most seriously, do not discuss politics in a biker bar. Many bikers are veterans and have firm political views, depending on your perspective.