Story by CAYDEN SANDERS Photos by DYLAN LU Video by ALYSSA MARLEY
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State Motorcycle Club met at Good Times Motorcycle in Hays for their second meeting of the year on Tuesday. During the meeting, the club met with Good Times Owner BJ Rupp while learning about an outlet for their lifestyle.
“Our part of what we do in the club is we like to go over the maintenance of them, so they understand the basic maintenance of a bike,” Club Co-Sponsor Cory Funk said. “We like to go over safety features, wearing a helmet, stuff like that, the kind of gear that we would recommend getting people in contact with.”
The inside of Good Times Motorcycle Sales and Service 
Good Times Motorcycle Sales and Service 
Tiger Motorcycle Club members’ bikes parked outside of Good Times. 
Dennis King introduction about the club 
Tiger Motorcycle club shirt 
“We’ve got some new face are coming to join. And we have a training day at this Sunday Sep.14th,” King said. 
Interior of Good Times 
King speaks to the attendees 
I really love motorcycles,” Good Times Owner BJ Rupp said. “Sitting behind the two-wheeler and traveling around the United States or the world is a completely different experience.” 
Rupp talks to the club about the store history 
“When riding a motorcycle, you should wear appropriate jeans, boots, a helmet and gloves. This can protect you. It can protect you in case of a car accident,” Rupp said. 
Showing the space inside Good Times 
The service space of Good Times 
A decorative flag inside Good TImes 
A bike in the service section
Funk said being around people like Rupp at Good Times and other motorcycle enthusiasts helps interested individuals “learn as you do.”
According to Funk, the club is about helping students find an outlet for their interests while keeping them safe on the road. While at Good Times, students met Rupp. During the meeting, Rupp ran through what Good Times does for students, and how the business can be beneficial to fixing minor to major issues.
“It was just talking to BJ and showing what he offers for a lot of the new people that don’t have a bike yet. Like mine, I got it from BJ. I know (Co-Sponsor) Dennis King has bought from BJ. Several of the other guys have bought him here from BJ or even at the Doerflers,” Funk said. “It’s just a matter of knowing that he’s there. He’s got your back, and Good Times will do what they can to help you and get you back out on the road.”
The club offers a similar course to the standard Motorcycle Safety Foundation course: Motorcycle Rider University. This course helps riders learn the mechanics and the physical side of riding.
Rupp said it is an honor to work with the club in providing bikes and helping with the course.
“It’s that stepping stone, that initial step closer, going through a course is so educational and valuable to beginners,” Rupp said. “This is our first experience. So having that at your disposal, somebody like Dennis (King) and Cory (Funk) teaching, because they are just as passionate about this as I am, and everybody else. I smile when I get to see Dennis make those posts on Sundays, and students are holding their diplomas.”
The MRU course is like driver’s ed for motorcycles. It teaches the skills necessary to ride a motorcycle legally. Courses like MRU and MSF are also a way to lower insurance costs for riders. There is also a $50 discount for FHSU students who take the course.
“A $300 class now just became a $250 class, which I know can sound like a lot to a student, but at the same time, you didn’t have to go through a two week training class or any of that you’re doing it two days in our backyard right here, and boom, you’re certified, as long as you can pass the test,” Funk said. “Once you have passed that course, you are a fully certified motorcycle rider.
Rupp and Good Times sponsored the club, leasing 10 motorcycles to club members to help new riders learn without having to purchase their own bike.
“For me, it’s everything. It means so much to me to be blessed to be in this situation and to help new riders. I’m so serious about getting the youth on two wheels, whether it’s Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Etc. It doesn’t matter; it’s something that drives me every day, and it excites me when I have high school kids who walk through this shop,” Rupp said. “I have college kids who come to this shop who have their sights set on putting their leg over a two-wheeler and traveling. I started fresh out of college. I was 22 years old when I got my first Harley. It just means so much to me.”
This year, the FHSU Motorcycle club has roughly 44 members and the group wants to help the next riders at Fort Hays.
“It’s great. I love seeing new bikes, new people out on the road. I just hope that everyone’s responsible for it and that they’re able to lead themselves forward and progress with it and not be scared of the bike culture, not even the biker culture, just for them knowing that freedom is there, it’s just great for this club,” Funk said.
Not only is the club about the safety of riding, but also being community role models and supporters. The club talked about having meetings at the Handlebar in Plainville and also the Southbound Bar and Grill in Schoenchen.
The FHSU Motorcycle Club will be a part of the homecoming parade to show that there is a club, along with taking part in Trunk or Treat.
“Riding the parade is a good way to show that we are out there, because a lot of people don’t even realize that we exist, that the Fort Hays Motorcycle Club is a thing. We rev our engines going down the parade, and the little kids, their eyes just light up,” Funk said. “And one of the things we’re looking at is trunk or treat as part of the McMindes trick or treating that they do every year. That way, the kids can enjoy seeing the bikes. Some of us will be in costumes that night.”
Funk wanted to touch on the stereotypes and thoughts about motorcyclists or the riders.
“If you want to use the term bikers, we’re not all these big, burly guys. We’re in it for the community. We’re in it to help people understand that bikes are a good way to get around, and they’re not dangerous if you take the proper precautions,” he said.
Funk said those interested in joining the club should send an inite on TigerLink. The club will accept the invite and send information about upcoming meetings and events.
“We also have it on our social media, the Tiger motorcycle club, on Facebook, there’s an Instagram page that we have, as well as our GroupMe page that we use, and that’s how we try to communicate with the local community as well as our own riders,” Funk said.
This weekend, the club is hosting “Training Day,” where students can sit on a bike if they are wearing proper gear and get a taste of what riding a motorcycle is like. The goal is for the motorcycle club students to help other Tigers who like the thought of a motorcycle.
“We’ll have a couple of bikes out there that you’ll be able to let your feet hang and just kind of walk and give the engine some throttle and let it go and just kind of see what it’s like, try to shift,” Funk said. “And if you have any experience, then you can take it a little further than that.”
The event will be from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday in the parking lot behind Stroup Hall.