BRITAIN's bikers have a bit of a persecution complex according to motorcycle insurance specialist, Bennetts, which has found that 67 per cent of riders feel that the general public is prejudiced against them.

This insecurity is fuelled by the fact that 24 per cent have been sent packing by a pub or restaurant simply because they are a biker and 22 per cent have had their bike nicked at least once. Around 14 per cent have also had their dream machine vandalised three or more times.

Despite this, Britain's bikers are determined to keep on wheeling, with 70 per cent saying that they intend to carry on biking after retirement age.

And a core of die-hard bikers will keep on going whatever the public thinks, with 28 per cent saying that their main reason for loving biking is the image that goes with it - regardless of whether that gets up the landlord's nose, or not!

Story date: Wednesday 13 October

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