Are You a Biker Grandpa? 10 Signs (And the Shirts That Prove It)

A biker grandpa is the grandfather who still rides, and who would rather show up to the birthday party on two wheels than in a minivan. You know you are one if your grandkids can name more motorcycle parts than vegetables, your "retirement plan" has a V-twin, and your idea of babysitting includes a stop at the bike shop. Some grandpas play bingo. Real grandpas ride motorcycles. Below are the 10 signs you have earned the title, plus the Skull Society shirts that say it for you, so you can save your breath for the next story about the time you rode through a hailstorm in 1987.

What Is a Biker Grandpa, Exactly?

It is not complicated. A biker grandpa is any grandfather who rides, has ridden for decades, or still considers himself a rider even if the bike has been on a trickle charger since Labor Day. He is equal parts storyteller, mechanic, safety lecturer, and bad influence. He has opinions about oil, opinions about helmets, and very strong opinions about whoever is dating his granddaughter.

Most importantly, he did not stop riding just because the birthday cakes started needing more candles. That is the whole point.

What Are the Signs You're a Biker Grandpa?

Count how many of these hit home. Five or more and it is official.

1. Your grandkids learned "vroom" before "grandpa." And you counted it as their first word.
2. Your garage is off-limits to adults but open to anyone under 10. The grandkids get to sit on the bike. Your son-in-law does not get to touch the bike.
3. You own more t-shirts with motorcycles on them than without. The "without" pile is mostly funeral and wedding clothes.
4. Your bedtime stories all start with "So there I was on Highway 16..." And none of them are appropriate until the kids are at least 14.
5. You have opinions about the grandkids' first bike. Pedal bike, dirt bike, whatever. You have already researched it more than their parents have.
6. You wave at every motorcycle you pass, even in the car. The grandkids have started doing it too. Your work here is done.
7. Your doctor tells you to "take it easy" and you hear "take the long way." Same thing, really.
8. You have a "grandpa's chair" at the biker bar. The bartender pours your usual before you get your helmet off.
9. Your gray hair is not gray. It is chrome. Bikers don't go gray. Everybody knows this.
10. The only thing you love more than motorcycles is being a grandpa. It is close. But it is true.

Biker Grandpa vs. Regular Grandpa: What's the Difference?

Situation	Regular Grandpa	Biker Grandpa
Weekend plans	Bingo night	A 300-mile loop and a diner breakfast
Retirement plan	Golf and a 401(k)	Go riding
Favorite smell	Fresh-cut grass	Hot exhaust and leather
Hair situation	Combed over	Helmet hair, don't care
Advice to grandkids	"Eat your vegetables."	"Eat your vegetables, then check your tire pressure."
Shows up to the recital in	A sweater vest	A leather vest

What Shirts Should a Biker Grandpa Wear?

Ones that start conversations, end arguments, and make the grandkids brag about you at school. These are the Skull Society designs that biker grandpas (and the families who shop for them) keep coming back to. All printed in the USA.

How Do You Pass Motorcycles Down to the Grandkids?

The best thing a biker grandpa can hand down is not the bike. It is the respect for the ride. A few ways riders we know do it:

• Garage time. Let them hand you wrenches, wipe down chrome, and learn what a spark plug looks like. Kids remember the smell of a garage forever.
• Teach the wave. Riding in the car with grandpa and waving at bikers is a gateway activity.
• Tell the stories. The good rides, the breakdowns, the friends you lost and the ones you still ride with. That is the history.
• Model the gear. If they see grandpa suit up every single time, they will grow up thinking that is just what riders do. Because it is.
• Leave the passenger lessons to the parents. Every family has its own rules about kids on bikes, and state laws vary. Respect both, and you'll keep getting invited to Thanksgiving.

Biker Grandpa FAQ

What is a good gift for a biker grandpa?

Something he'll actually use or wear: a funny biker t-shirt, a hoodie for cold morning rides, a coffee mug for the garage, or a decal for the toolbox. Shirts that mention the grandkids are always a hit, because he gets to brag about the bike and the family at the same time.

Can you still ride a motorcycle as a grandpa?

Plenty of riders do, well into their 60s, 70s and beyond. The keys are staying honest about your health, vision and reflexes, keeping your skills fresh, and choosing a bike that fits your body today. Talk to your doctor if anything changes.

What does "Real Grandpas Ride Motorcycles" mean?

It is a tongue-in-cheek way of saying riding grandpas are the cool ones. The full saying is "Some grandpas play bingo, real grandpas ride motorcycles." No offense to bingo.

Do you have biker shirts for grandmas too?

Yes. Several of our grandpa designs have a grandma version, because biker grandmas ride just as hard and usually have better taste in shirts.

Gear Up, Grandpa

The holidays are coming, and the grandkids need gift ideas. Do everyone a favor and point them toward something you'll actually wear. Browse the full lineup of Skull Society biker shirts, printed in the USA for riders who are not slowing down anytime soon. Some grandpas knit. You ride. Dress like it.