路行狂飙机车族

　　Preceded by a growling engine note as they approach,
　　clad in distinctive decorated motorcycle leathers,
　　 bikers are a widespread subculture anywhere with roads to take them.
　　Sometimes rowdy and excessive,
　　they are united by their love of travel on two wheels,
　　 though the biker culture can does have its darker side.
　　隆隆的引擎声先人而至、身穿花哨机车皮衣的机车族，
　　是一个分布广泛、有路在就有他们在的亚文化群。
　　时而嘈杂极端的他们，因其热爱驾驶两轮车旅行而聚到了一起，
　　不过这种机车族文化可能的确有其更为阴暗的一面。
　　
　　While many people throughout Europe, North America and elsewhere are motorcycle enthusiasts, the term "biker" - or in Australia, "bikie" - usually refers to a particular kind of motorcyclist. Bikers are often members of a motorcycle club or gang, wearing insignia called "colours" to identify themselves as members. They almost always wear leather and denim - this practical choice of clothing (in case of accidents) has also been taken up as part of rock and heavy metal fashion, styles of music that are both popular with bikers. They do not much like modern style racing bikes, but instead ride heavy cruiser-type bikes. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are particularly popular. The bikes are frequently customised in the "chopper" style to make long distance riding more comfortable, and decorated with accessories, chrome or custom paint jobs. Dedicated bikers may ride thousands of miles each year, so their bikes are treated as prized companions on the road.
　　Although most people in the West are not bikers themselves, the image of the biker has attained iconic status. Motorcycles, and by extension their riders, are seen as symbolic of freedom and individuality, of travel without being ①tied down.
　　虽然在欧洲和北美各地以及其它地方，许多人都是摩托车爱好者，但“biker（机车族）”这个词（在澳大利亚被称为“bikie”）常常是指某一类摩托车手。机车族通常是一个摩托车俱乐部或团伙的成员，佩带着被称为“colours”的徽章来辨别其成员身份。他们几乎始终都在穿着皮革和斜纹粗棉布质地的衣服——这种（用以防范意外事故的）实用型着装也已被纳入到摇滚和重金属服饰之列，而那两种音乐都是受到机车族欢迎的类型。他们不太喜欢现代风格的摩托跑车，反而去驾驶笨重的巡航型摩托车。哈雷-戴维森公司的摩托车尤其受欢迎。这些摩托车经常会被按照“前轮伸出且车把高拱”的方式进行改造，以便使长途驾驶变得更为舒适，并且会被点缀以饰物、铬合金或是特制的喷漆图案。铁杆机车族每年可能会驾车行驶数千英里，因而他们的摩托车被当成了路途伴侣，备受珍爱。
　　虽然西方大部分人本身并不是机车族，但机车族的形象已经获得了一种形象认同。摩托车，并推及至骑乘之人，被视为了自由与个性的象征以及无牵无挂进行旅行的象征。
　　
　　The Bad Element
　　
　　However, in the public consciousness, bikers are often associated only with members of "outlaw gangs". These bikers have ②dropped out of society, instead dedicating their lives to their club, and enjoy getting into trouble, including violence and involvement in serious crime, such as drug running and sometimes even murder.
　　After an incident in the California town of Hollister in 1947, the president of the American Motorcyclist Association made a statement that only one percent of bikers ever caused anyone any trouble. As a result some bikers embraced this idea and began referring to themselves as "one percenters".
　　
　　负面影响
　　
　　然而，在公众意识当中，机车族通常只是会被与“非法团伙”成员论为一谈。这些机车族已经遁出了社会，转而将其一生奉献给他们的俱乐部，并喜欢招惹事端，其中就包括暴力活动和参与恶性犯罪，如贩卖毒品以及有时程度更甚的谋杀。
　　在加利福尼亚州豪利斯特镇于1947年发生了一次事件之后，“美国摩托车手协会”的主席发表了一份声明，称只有1%的机车族曾经给他人制造过事端。因此，有些机车族就接纳了这一说法，开始将他们自己称为“百里挑一者”。
　　
　　Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
　　
　　Every year the small town of Sturgis in South Dakota is swamped by bikers from all over the U.S. and beyond. The town itself has a population of only 6,442, yet the rally routinely attracts crowds of over 500,000. The first Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was held on the 14th of August 1938.