The myth behind motorcycle clubs?

Trollheart · 04-27-2013, 08:25 AM

Here's one for anyone who owns a motorbike or is in, or has been asked to join, a motorcycle club. I get all my information from TV admittedly, mostly through documentaries on crime and gangs, but it seems (and this could of course be totally wrong, a deliberately skewed view) that when you either have or get a motorbike of any appreciable size, or move to a new town with your bike, the local motorcycle club takes notice and usually asks you to join. These clubs invariably seem to dabble in a lot of crime (I know: I watch too much "Sons of Anarchy"!)

and the impression I get is that you're kind of expected to join, and if you don't there's a kind of unspoken hostility between you and the club members.

But if you are law-abiding and have no wish to commit a crime, why should you feel obliged to join? And do you? Do they make you feel that way? I mean, sure, it's a great idea: guys getting together talking about bikes, racing them, comparing them, upgrading/repairing them and going to shows etc, but if in order to get that sense of camaraderie and belonging you have to expect to engage in criminality, is it worth it?

Have I got this completely wrong? The docus I watched seemed to indicate that a new guy in town or guy with a new bike was usually automatically targeted for membership, and the offer couched in such a way as to advise if might be a bad idea to refuse. Is this correct, or fantasy? Can a guy with let's say a Harley be allowed lead his life and enjoy his bike on his own, or is he expected to join a club, and if so, is he expected then to run with them in their criminal ventures?

Anyone own a bike (in the US I would guess) and either in a club/gang or been approached by one? Or on the other side, anyone happily ridin' without ever being approached by a club? Any truth to the rumours about their always being on the wrong side of the law?

I'd be interested to know.
Thanks
TH

XtremeEclectic · 04-27-2013, 08:30 AM

It actually swings both ways, depends on where you live. Here in SC we have a few smaller clubs, and of course major players like the H/A however there is not a ton of "recruiting" so to speak. I ride a small older harley and have never had an issue. Now I will not go to Rivals for a drink without a buddy that is "In" with me but there has never been an issue personally for me, or other friends who ride. It really depends where you live and the type of clubs and people that you are around. The t.v shows will always make it seem more glamourous and dangerous than it is. The bars here that I have been to are never really a problem, I know a lot of guys with 1% on those leathers and have yet to have some sort of negative issue arise.

neardeathexperience · 04-28-2013, 11:54 AM

I think that you will find there are motorcycle clubs surrounding one's social and work related interests. I know that there are groups of accountants that through conversations find out they own bikes which at some point the suggestion to ride together comes up. They are not in a club they just ride together. There are Cristian bike clubs who have found their members through embracing God. There are thousands of these groups who ride together, but are not in clubs.
Then there are the bikers like the Hell's Angels who finance their enterprises by crime and investing in strip clubs etc. I think most of their members ask to join the club as oppose to the other way around.
Then you have clubs because you ride a certain kind of bike and so on.....

XtremeEclectic · 04-28-2013, 01:09 PM

Personally I wouldnt be so quick to judge H/A they may have a stigma and a reputation surrounding them but a lot of the organization is straight and clean these days and funded through legit enterprises (7-11 and whatnot) Along with being about the only group or organization with enough balls to stand up to the westboro baptist dirtbags

Trollheart · 04-28-2013, 06:56 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys. I know it can be distorted by the media of course, but I have a lot of respect for Kurt Sutter and this was on his "Outlaw empires" that I heard these stories mostly.

04-27-2013, 08:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	The myth behind motorcycle clubs? Here's one for anyone who owns a motorbike or is in, or has been asked to join, a motorcycle club. I get all my information from TV admittedly, mostly through documentaries on crime and gangs, but it seems (and this could of course be totally wrong, a deliberately skewed view) that when you either have or get a motorbike of any appreciable size, or move to a new town with your bike, the local motorcycle club takes notice and usually asks you to join. These clubs invariably seem to dabble in a lot of crime (I know: I watch too much "Sons of Anarchy"!) and the impression I get is that you're kind of expected to join, and if you don't there's a kind of unspoken hostility between you and the club members. But if you are law-abiding and have no wish to commit a crime, why should you feel obliged to join? And do you? Do they make you feel that way? I mean, sure, it's a great idea: guys getting together talking about bikes, racing them, comparing them, upgrading/repairing them and going to shows etc, but if in order to get that sense of camaraderie and belonging you have to expect to engage in criminality, is it worth it? Have I got this completely wrong? The docus I watched seemed to indicate that a new guy in town or guy with a new bike was usually automatically targeted for membership, and the offer couched in such a way as to advise if might be a bad idea to refuse. Is this correct, or fantasy? Can a guy with let's say a Harley be allowed lead his life and enjoy his bike on his own, or is he expected to join a club, and if so, is he expected then to run with them in their criminal ventures? Anyone own a bike (in the US I would guess) and either in a club/gang or been approached by one? Or on the other side, anyone happily ridin' without ever being approached by a club? Any truth to the rumours about their always being on the wrong side of the law? I'd be interested to know. Thanks TH __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-28-2013, 06:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Thanks for the feedback guys. I know it can be distorted by the media of course, but I have a lot of respect for Kurt Sutter and this was on his "Outlaw empires" that I heard these stories mostly. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-27-2013, 08:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
XtremeEclectic Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SC Posts: 67	It actually swings both ways, depends on where you live. Here in SC we have a few smaller clubs, and of course major players like the H/A however there is not a ton of "recruiting" so to speak. I ride a small older harley and have never had an issue. Now I will not go to Rivals for a drink without a buddy that is "In" with me but there has never been an issue personally for me, or other friends who ride. It really depends where you live and the type of clubs and people that you are around. The t.v shows will always make it seem more glamourous and dangerous than it is. The bars here that I have been to are never really a problem, I know a lot of guys with 1% on those leathers and have yet to have some sort of negative issue arise.

04-28-2013, 11:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
neardeathexperience Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 531	I think that you will find there are motorcycle clubs surrounding one's social and work related interests. I know that there are groups of accountants that through conversations find out they own bikes which at some point the suggestion to ride together comes up. They are not in a club they just ride together. There are Cristian bike clubs who have found their members through embracing God. There are thousands of these groups who ride together, but are not in clubs. Then there are the bikers like the Hell's Angels who finance their enterprises by crime and investing in strip clubs etc. I think most of their members ask to join the club as oppose to the other way around. Then you have clubs because you ride a certain kind of bike and so on.....

04-28-2013, 01:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
XtremeEclectic Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SC Posts: 67	Personally I wouldnt be so quick to judge H/A they may have a stigma and a reputation surrounding them but a lot of the organization is straight and clean these days and funded through legit enterprises (7-11 and whatnot) Along with being about the only group or organization with enough balls to stand up to the westboro baptist dirtbags