Have something w/one? An Iron Cross Discussion

[SleekStreak]

This is kind of a two-parter regarding Iron Cross items for bikers.

First, what items (if any) do you own for your bike and/or apparel that have the iron cross (or maltese cross) on it?

Second, what are your opinions on the iron cross for bikes? Who should display it? Why? When? There's a lot of feeling among some bikers that the iron cross is for old school bikers, or for people who build or do real work on their bikes (not just bolt on stuff, etc). For that reason, I've kind of shied away from any items displaying the iron cross in the past. Might hear the word "poser" thrown out there. And there's always the association of the emblem with neo-nazism in today's culture that gives bikers a bad rap sometimes to those who simply have no clue about the emblems real history.

Well, I've chosen to hazard the wrath of the old school and the uninformed and get a iron cross emblemed key fob. Hahaha, ok, so it's probably something nobody will ever notice anyway, but hey I thought it looked cool and was a nice replacement for the plastic "dealer" key fob I've had forever.

[Xlr8n]

If the 'old-schoolers' don't like seeing them on newer (read-metric) bikes, that's all the more reason to use those accesories on your ride! I think the Meanie done by Mortons Customs had a cross headlamp. Looked pretty good on that bike. Yep, here it is: http://www.thundertoys.com/cool_cust...ls_temptation/ probably a little too 'custom' for my bike though.
The guys that would call you a poser for using the cross stuff are the same guys that would call your bike a "look-a-like harley" anyway, so no harm done.

[ppark]

Maltese cross has nothing to do with Nazi: http://www2.prestel.co.uk/church/oosj/cross.htm
If you like the design or it means something special to you, there is nothing wrong with using it (forget what others say).
Since it has no meaning to me and I don’t particularly care for the design, I don’t use it.

[cudaosix]

Other then the 2m maltese cross Metric Mafia logo which I think looks cool, I dont really like iron crosses or skulls, things like that on my bike or clothing. If you like em then go for it.

[CowboyBob]

I Like em, I have an Iron Cross on my jacket collar that has been on it since I got the jacket back in about 85 or 86! I was considering a new taillight which has 2 small maltese crosses side by side.....still might sooner or later. Its a free country...I like what I like and you like what you like...Live and let live. But try to make me conform to your rules and if I don't like it you may have well stuck your arm in a nest of angry rattlesnakes!!!!

[jnk]

i don't like them but to each his own

[trikebubble]

It's not really my thing, but I don't see a problem with them either. If we were all the same, dressed the same, wore the same patches, rode the same bikes, we'd be just like.....well you know.

[rbentnail]

Not my thing but if you like it, go for it. Life's too short to care what most people think, and it's your choice you who matters and who doesn't in your life. Live and let live.

[KawaChop]

I have a Maltese Cross tail light on a bracket that I made. Why? I like it. Also, look around, there's $50,000 billet laden trailer queens that have maltese crosses on it. Those things barely are riden. I ride the hell out of my bike and to me it represents a few things (not neo-nazism and stupid extremes like that).

Then again, I also have Z-bars and a wire sissy bar on my bike, no front fender, etc.

[Mr_Lycos]

You could always say it expresses your rich firefighter heritage. Or maybe you captured a whole bunch of POWs during the Great war. As an Irish/German I like my crosses colored green.

[SilverEagle]

Yeah, alot of symbols are predated waaaaaaaay before as we know them.....the Maltese Cross was 1st used by the The Knights of the Templar fighting in the holy land to free it from the arab invasion in the early mediaval ages 1200 i 1400something.

Even the swastika that was used by the nazis.......was long before then used as a symbold for the spinning sun by the south american indians predating up to 1500 years before the 1st encounter with Cortez's soldiers in the 1500's.

[Spok]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

Yeah, alot of symbols are predated waaaaaaaay before as we know them.....the Maltese Cross was 1st used by the The Knights of the Templar fighting in the holy land to free it from the arab invasion in the early mediaval ages 1200 i 1400something.

Even the swastika that was used by the nazis.......was long before then used as a symbold for the spiniing sun by the south american indians.

I believe it was either the Navajo or Hopi Indians that used it

[SleekStreak]

The swastika was never used with the Maltese Cross to my knowledge. It was superposed on the Iron Cross during WWII. The Iron Cross and Maltese Cross are distinctly different emblems with distinctly different histories, although they look almost the same. They are used interchangeably in bikerdom, which I think somehow happened over time as people mistook one for the other and vice versa.

Some good info located here:
http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...ad.php?t=15246

[Scruffy]

My Savage has 2 Kubota orange centered, chrome edges Maltese Cross valve caps... They were free.

I don't use them on my Kawi for one simple reason, they are too common these days.

I do have a Knights Cross (real one), which is the Nazi Eagle and Swastika super imposed on a Maltese Cross, with a diamond chip border. It's in storage some place, I don't go in for that stuff. Just a trinket. You can buy them at the gunshows all day long (replicas).
-Scruffy