A Bikers Hangout Heritage Post

Before the biker image became synonymous with leather and legends, a different kind of rider roamed the roads. In the dust-covered lanes of Depression-era America, on the muddy roads of wartime Europe, and under the oil-streaked hands of working-class dreamers, the motorcycle represented more than just a machine. It was survival, escape, and sometimes, defiance.

This is the story of the 1930s and 1940s motorcyclist. Not the outlaw. Not yet. This was the rider before rebellion, riding for something deeper.

How Much Did a Motorcycle Cost in the 1930s?

Let’s rewind to 1936.

That year, a brand new Harley Davidson EL “Knucklehead,” now an iconic bike, retailed for $380 USD. While this may sound like pocket change today, back then, it represented roughly a third of the average American's yearly income.

Still, motorcycles were far more affordable than cars. A Ford Model A cost over $500–$600. Additionally, motorcycles were cheaper to run. With gas prices around 10–15 cents per gallon and most motorcycles getting 45–60 miles per gallon, a full tank cost less than a loaf of bread. For many working-class Americans, especially single men, a motorcycle was their only means of personal transport.

The Lifeline for Harley Davidson

Did you know that during the Great Depression, Harley Davidson kept its doors open partly by selling motorcycles to police departments and the U.S. military? This was an early lifeline for the company.

What Kind of Person Rode in the 1930s?

The answer? Everyone who couldn’t afford a car, along with a few who simply didn’t want one.

You had:

• Postal carriers and delivery riders in rural towns using Harleys with sidecars to transport goods.

• Young blue-collar workers who saved pennies for years to buy used Indians or BSAs.

• Adventurous loners who sought something beyond their daily grind.

  
  

Then there were the early motorcycle clubs. These were not gangs but clubs. Organizations like the Motor Maids, founded in 1940, gave women a voice and a throttle in a male-dominated world. Riders often wore button-down shirts, flat caps, aviator goggles, and canvas jackets. They weren’t rebelling; they were navigating a broken world while trying to stay upright.

Motorcycles and the War Effort

When World War II hit, motorcycles became vital on a global scale. The U.S. Army ordered tens of thousands of Harley Davidson WLAs – tough, rugged, and utilitarian. Soldiers used these bikes for dispatch running, reconnaissance, and supply hauling.

And here’s what few people realize: many servicemen learned to ride for the first time in the military. For many, their first motorcycle wasn’t a gift or a purchase; it was an assignment. When the war ended, they returned home with an itch for the road, the rumble, and the freedom they’d tasted under fire.

The Birth of Veteran Clubs

As a result, veterans formed informal clubs to recapture that wartime bond. These weren’t the “outlaw bikers” you hear about today; they were battle-hardened men seeking peace in motion.

Running a Motorcycle: Costs and Culture

In the ‘30s and ‘40s, operating a motorcycle meant being your own mechanic. Parts were often scarce, especially during wartime. Riders learned how to strip, clean, and rebuild their bikes from scratch.

• Oil changes? You did it in your backyard.

• Tires? Most riders rode them thin. New ones cost only $5–$10, which was about a full day’s wage.

• Breakdowns? You didn’t call for help. You got greasy and fixed it on the roadside.

  
  

This culture of self-reliance continues among modern riders, even if they are riding new machines.

The Spirit of the Ride

Riders from this era didn’t have rally schedules or massive gatherings. Instead, they had the open road, county dirt tracks, and hill climbs organized by local clubs. One of the earliest was the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, started in 1938 as a dirt-track race and social event.

They didn’t ride for Instagram. They didn’t ride to be cool. They rode to feel alive.

In Their Own Words

“We’d ride out of town with a sleeping bag, a sack of bread, and a wrench. That was it. The road gave us all we needed.”

—Jack M., WWII Veteran and early California rider

Join the Conversation

Do you have a family member who rode in the ’30s or ’40s? Do you still own or ride vintage machines from this time? Share your stories and photos with @BikersHangout on Instagram or drop us a comment below.

This was the era that laid the foundation for everything we now call “biker culture.” No leather cuts. No patched clubs. Just man, machine, and meaning.

Next Up: The 1950s–1960s

From post-war brotherhood to the rise of the outlaw image, don’t miss the next chapter in our Motorcycling Through the Ages series.