Misplaced Pages

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19-562: The purpose of the club was to ride and enjoy the new black biker set in Los Angeles & Oakland California. Two Names were placed on the table as to what the club was going to be called. "The Patriots Of Iron & Steel" was one, the "Chosen Few " the other. After choosing the latter, The Chosen Few MC was born. The same name is used by dozens of other unrelated motorcycle clubs in Iowa, New York, Texas, and other areas. The Chosen Few MC

38-538: A "no colors" policy, to reduce conflict. Claiming STATE territory by wearing a bottom STATE rocker can lead to violent conflict with a rival club, such as in the 2015 Waco shootout , which was partially caused by a club wearing a "Texas" bottom rocker. Many motorcyclists wearing colors are from "family oriented" motorcycling clubs chartered by the American Motorcyclist Association and wear one-piece patches to differentiate themselves from

57-776: A biker ministry, charities such as Freewheelers EVS , which use motorcycles to provide an out-of-hours emergency medical courier service, and clubs which attract membership from specific groups, such as the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, for law enforcement personnel. In the United Kingdom, two charities (the Institute of Advanced Motorists and RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders) have significant-sized motorcycle clubs with trained volunteers to promote roadcraft and help riders pass an advanced driving test . One of

76-461: A three-piece patch called colors , on the back of their jacket or riding vest. Outlaw or one percenter can mean merely that the club is not chartered under the auspices of the American Motorcyclist Association , implying a radical rejection of authority and embracing of the "biker" lifestyle as defined and popularized since the 1950s and represented by such media as Easyriders magazine, the work of painter David Mann and others. In many contexts

95-612: Is based in the South Central California area with additional chapters nationwide and in the Philippines. This motorcycle, scooter or moped-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Motorcycle clubs A motorcycle club is a group of individuals whose primary interest and activities involve motorcycles . A motorcycle group can range as clubbed groups of different bikes or bikers who own same model of vehicle like

114-687: The Armed Forces Bikers Veterans Charity are also popular. Many affiliate with an umbrella organization, such as the British Motorcyclists Federation in the UK, or FEMA in Europe. Producing national and local branch club magazines and events are typical activities of such clubs. Other organizations whose activities primarily involve motorcycles exist for specific purposes or social causes such as

133-767: The Harley Owners Group . There are a great many brand clubs, i.e. clubs dedicated to a particular marque, including those sponsored by various manufacturers, modeled on the original brand club, the Harley Owners Group. There are also large national independent motorcycle clubs, for example, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America , and the Dominar Owners Club (DOC), an exclusive motorcycle group for Bajaj Dominar bikes only. There are also specific clubs for women, such as

152-583: The Patriot Guard Riders , who provide funeral escorts for military veterans, and Rolling Thunder , which advocates for troops missing in action and prisoners of war. While neither of the latter two groups require a motorcycle for membership, they are motorcycling-oriented and much of their activity involves rides. There are numerous religiously oriented clubs such as the Christian Motorcyclists Association ,

171-614: The Women's International Motorcycle Association , and clubs for lesbians and gays , such as Dykes on Bikes . Clubs catering for those interested in vintage machines such as the Vintage Motor Cycle Club are also popular as well as those centered on particular venues. Clubs catering for riders' rights such as the Motorcycle Action Group, and charities like The Royal British Legion Riders Branch and

190-473: The AMA had over 200,000 members and over 1,200 chartered clubs. The abbreviations MC and MCC are both used to mean "motorcycle club" but have a special social meaning from the point of view of the outlaw or one percenter motorcycling subculture. MC is generally reserved for those clubs that are mutually recognized by other MC or outlaw motorcycle clubs. This is indicated by a motorcyclist wearing an MC patch, or

209-867: The first motorcycle clubs was the New York Motorcycle Club, which in 1903 merged with the Alpha Motorcycle Club of Brooklyn to become the Federation of American Motorcyclists. Later, the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA) formed a Rider Division which spun off into the American Motorcyclist Association. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is the largest American motorcyclist organization. It serves as an umbrella organization for local clubs and sporting events. As of 2015,

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228-475: The initials "MC" standing for " motorcycle club ". Female clubs spell out “motorcycle club” on their vests. The badges are used to create a social bond and boundaries and, generally, belong to the clubs involved rather than the individual wearing them. Although, bikers perform community service and give away thousands of dollars to charity, the wearing of them can often lead individuals to be refused service at related businesses and bars, and some biker bars have

247-514: The initials MC in their name or insignia. Colors (motorcycling) Colors are the insignia, or "patches", worn by motorcycle club members on cut-off vests to identify membership of their club and territorial location. Club patches have been worn by many different groups since the 1960s. They are regarded by many to symbolize an elite amongst motorcyclists and the style has been widely copied by other subcultures and commercialized. Colors are considered to represent "significant markers of

266-416: The middle of the back of a vest or jacket. The patches may contain a club logo, the name of the club and other chapter identification. In most motorcycle clubs, the patch representing membership in the organization is often referred to as "the club colors" or simply "the colors". Each club has rules on how the colors are treated and when it is proper to wear them. Well structured clubs have bylaws dictating

285-411: The most commonly displayed patches on motorcycle club colors is the patch of the letters "M C" which typically accompany the club name. There are several variations on this format with different letters that designate a specific type of club or group. In the case of outlaw motorcycle clubs, visual identification of a member is indicated by a specific large club patch or set of patches, usually located in

304-404: The rank of members within clubs from new members, to "prospects" to full members known as "patch-holders", and usually consist of a top and bottom circumferential badge called a rocker , due to the curved shape, with the top rocker stating the club name, the bottom rocker stating the location or territory, and a central logo of the club's insignia, with a fourth, smaller badge carrying

323-490: The socialization" of new members to clubs, rank and present a dominant symbol of identity and are marked with related symbolism. They can be embroidered patches sewn onto clothing or stenciled in paint, the primary symbol being the back patch of the club's insignia or logo and generally remain the property of the club. Wearing such clothing is referred to as "flying one's colors". The term has its roots in military history, originating with regimental colours . Colors identify

342-627: The terms overlap with the usual meaning of "outlaw" because some of these clubs, or some of their members, are recognized by law enforcement agencies as taking part in organized crime . Outside of the outlaw motorcyclist subculture, the words " motorcycle club " carry no pejorative meaning beyond the everyday English definition of the words – a club involving motorcycles, whose members come from every walk of life. Thus, there are clubs that are culturally and stylistically nothing like outlaw or one percenter clubs, and whose activities and goals not similar to them at all, but still use three-part patches or

361-409: The three piece patches of 1% & outlaw bikers. These generally do not state a territorial location and can be any format other than a three piece patch. Coed clubs also break up the M and C to denote a difference. Cubes also denote a traditional MC. The motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson notably adopted the style in its branding and community-building effort, the Harley Owners Group . One of

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