Illustrative image. Not a photo of a specific event.
Are bikers really community people?
Yes. Riding runs on trust, because you watch out for the rider beside you and stop for the one on the shoulder. That same habit shows up in toy runs, charity rides and neighborhood help. The stereotype points at the leather and the noise, but the culture is about showing up for each other.
Leather. Loud pipes. A look that makes some people cross the street. Bikers get labeled as trouble before they have said a word. We think the label has it backwards.
Why do bikers get a bad reputation?
Part of it is how bikers look. Leather, patches, tattoos and a group of motorcycles rolling in together can read as a threat to someone who has never ridden. Part of it is movies and headlines, which spend a lot more time on trouble than on kindness. And part of it is simple distance: most people do not know a rider personally, so the picture they have comes from somewhere else.
A look is not a character. The person under the helmet is usually somebody's neighbor, coworker, parent or kid.
What makes riders a community?
Riding is not a solo sport, even when you ride alone. You depend on other riders to notice you, wave, flag down help and slow down for the pothole they just hit. Riders tend to pull over for a stranded rider, because every one of them knows how they would want to be treated in that spot.
That habit of looking out for one another travels. It shows up at the diner after a ride, at a friend's garage, and at fundraisers that start in a parking lot at sunrise.
What is a toy run?
A toy run is a group ride where riders bring new toys to donate to children, usually in the weeks before the holidays. Everyone meets, rides together to a drop-off location, and the toys go to families who could use them. Toy runs and charity rides are a long-standing part of riding culture across the country, run by clubs, groups and friends.
We are not naming specific events here. If you want to join one, ask at a local shop, a riding group or a club near you. They are easy to find and always glad to have another bike.
Why did Joe Prah start FJP?
Joe built F Joe Prah to shatter the stigma that bikers have bad attitudes, cause trouble and are mean-spirited. He pictured a community where riders are seen as free thinkers and nomads who ride for a cause, spread kindness and embrace individuality.
The gear is the loud part, and it is meant to be. The designs have a sense of humor, and some of them are plain irreverent. The heart underneath is serious. That is why 10% of each purchase goes to a local charity for kids. Joe shares which charity the club supports each quarter.
How can you be part of the community, even without a bike?
You do not need a motorcycle to be on the right side of this. Wave back when a rider waves. Give a rider room on the road. Bring a toy or a coat to a drive in your area. Say hello at the diner. If you are a rider, stop for the next person on the shoulder, ride considerately through neighborhoods, and say yes when someone asks you to take part in something that helps.
The stereotype will not change in a day. It changes one wave, one donation and one ride at a time.
Want to wear the mission? Browse the gear, or read the story behind FJP.