Why do motorcycles have ropes hanging off their handlebars?

Why do motorcycles have ropes hanging off their handlebars?

Mostly a biker tradition, the 3-4 foot braided cord you see hanging from the ends of handlebars on some bikes is called a “get-back whip” or a “dog whip,” and is a tradition going back to the motorcycle gangs of the 1970s who used them ostensibly as a way to keep aggressive dogs at bay while riding at low speeds. May 4, 2018