A biker is someone who rides a motorcycle, especially someone for whom riding is an important part of their life and identity. While anyone riding a motorcycle could technically be called a biker, the word usually suggests someone deeply involved in motorcycle culture and the riding lifestyle.

Some bikers join motorcycle clubs and ride together in groups, wearing leather jackets with patches that show which club they belong to. Others prefer riding solo on long road trips across the country. Many bikers are passionate about the mechanical side too, spending weekends tuning their engines or customizing their bikes in the garage.

The word can also mean someone who rides a bicycle, though this meaning is less common. When you hear someone say “I saw a group of bikers on the highway,” they almost certainly mean motorcyclists, not people on bicycles. For bicycles, people more often say cyclist or bike rider to avoid confusion.