The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) was founded in 1924 as an organizing arm to promote motorcycling riding in America. They sanctioned groups of riders from the same area that rode together as clubs. Some wore complete matching outfits with the name of their club stitched on the back of their shirts and/or jackets.
At events the AMA would give out awards for the best dressed clubs. This was the start of the motorcycle clubs patches.
During an event in Hollister, California in 1947, an exaggerated news story that was later made into a movie called "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando. The AMA wrote an article in their magazines stating that 99% of their members were law-abiding citizens and only "1%" are outlaws. This then began what today is known as Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs (OMG) and 1%'ers. These clubs were then banned from all AMA events and functions.
In order to designate themselves as outlaw clubs to all other clubs, the 1%'ers cut their club patches into 3 seperate pieces. The top rocker identified the club name, the centre identified the emblem or crest of the club, and the bottom rocker identified the city, town, or geographical location from which the club was located.
The term colours is used in referring to a motorcycle club's patch setup. Rockers on top and bottom, patch in the centre. Because all three parts are seperate, the term three-piece-patch is used.
Motorcycle clubs differ from motorcycling organizations as they have a probationary "Prospecting" or "Striker" time required before the club members (namely "officers" of the respective club) decide whether the individual (Prospect/Striker) will be accepted into the group and allowed to wear, or to "Fly" the colours of the club. A seperate "cube" with the letters "MC" on it clarify and distinguishes them as a club and not an organization.
RECOGNIZING CLUB PATCHES
- A one piece patch is a family or social club.
- A 2-Piece patch has many different meanings and variations as long as it's done with "respect" to other clubs.
- The 3-Piece patch normally identifies the club is a traditional motorcycle club (MC).
- The diamond patch with the 1% or 13 worn with the 3-Piece Patch is a 1% or support club.
- Nomad rocker is worn only when a member continues to live a lifestyle within the definition of the word "Nomad"... A person with no fixed address.
- Many national organizations in the 1980's joined their rockers in with their patch to avoid any designation or confusion within the bikingcommunity. An example of this would be the "Harley Owners Group" (HOG) or the Blue Knights.
A Few Points To Remember!
Never, under any circumstances, ever touch a members colours. Members take extreme pride in their colours and rightly so. They have gone through a rigorous and time honoured tradition to "earn" their colours and therefore they treat their colours with the utmost respect and will protect and defend their colours at any and all costs.
Never ask a member to borrow or wear his jacket with their colours on it as you'll likely get a swat up the side of your head. The only time a non-member is permitted to wear the club's colours (and this varies from club to club) is ONLY when worn by a FEMALE passenger riding with the club member.
Always ask to take a photograph of a club member and/or of their bikes. If granted permission (and you usually will providing you asked first) NEVER take a picture of the licence plate area.
In the event you do start taking pictures of a "biker" on the road, do not be offended if he "flips you the bird" or gives you the "solo finger salute" as this is actually a common friendly gesture in the biker world.
