Bikers in Belgium

If there's one down side in riding motorcycles in this country, it would be the stereo-types you have to put up with. If you ride a Chopper, people will think that you're a satanist while riding a Cruiser makes you a D.O.M. Ride a Moped or an Underbone and you will be branded as unemployed (especially when you ride wearing shorts and slippers while having a pillion in SM saleslady uniform), or worse, involved in the micro-financing business(5-6). Riding a Dual-Purpose bike will give you hassles in check points because the police will suspect you as a gun for hire. Riding a BIG and FAST Sportbike means you're actually compensating for something SMALL (how else can you ride in that kind of position) and QUICK. Scooters are for girlies and stardard bikes are pantra (pangtraysikel).
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Belgium and i immediately noticed the difference of their motorcycle culture from our own. Since motorcyclists help in the global warming situation by consuming less fuel, Belgians show their appreciation by letting riders park their bikes in the sidewalks for convenience. Special lanes are also provided for small displacement bikes. Riders return the favor by giving priority to pedestrians and by riding like civilized persons. All of them wore helmets and most riders i saw were wearing full leathers or some form acceptable riding gear so that in the event of a spill, some poor guy wont have to clean up the mess on the pavement. I guess the formula is simple. Ride like a human being and you'll treated like one.