• A one-piece patch signifies a family club, riding club, AMA-
sanctioned motorcycle club or political action/biker rights
organization. Some require little more than filling out an
application (which is actually a release of liability) and mailing a
check.
>
> • A two-piece patch signifies a motorcycle club in transition,
awaiting approval from the dominant club(s) to become a three-piece
patch. These clubs are sometimes, not always, in the process of
becoming an associate or support club. The hierarchy and traditions
in the MC community are complex but not without purpose. They are
valuable for maintaining order and avoiding trouble.
>
> • A three-piece patch signifies that the club is an "outlaw club,"
but not necessarily a 1% club. With very few exceptions, the club has
been approved by the dominant club in the state or area. The three-
piece patch is awarded in three parts as a prospective member earns
the privilege to wear the full patch. A "hangaround" is someone who
is eligible for membership and has been invited to attend club events
and runs, but wears no part of the patch. If he is sponsored by a
full member and approved by the club members he may wear the bottom
rocker and is considered a "prospect" or "probate". If he
successfully completes the training period and is approved by 100% of
the members, he is allowed to have the top rocker and the "center
patch" or club insignia. His colors are then complete and he is
considered to be a full member or "patch holder." The traditional,
or "old school," three-piece patch MC is one that adheres to
established protocols, traditions and a code of conduct.
>
> The term colors is used when referring to a motorcycle clubs' patch
with two rockers. One is placed over the top of the middle large
graphic patch and one placed underneath it. The rockers are usually
curved bars with the top bar designating the club name and the lower
bar designating the location of the club. The two rockers are
separate from the middle, larger graphic type patch, hence the term
three-piece patch. Motorcycle clubs differ from riding clubs or other
types of motorcycle organizations as they traditionally
have "prospecting" time (a probationary training period) required
before the club members decide to accept the individual into the
group and allow him to wear or "fly" the colors of the group. Most
club colors will also have MC printed on the rocker or as an
additional small, rectangular patch, sometimes referred to as
a "cube," to further clarify it as a motorcycle club rather than
another type of organization.
>
> The grey area gets wider (and weirder)
>
> A dramatic increase in the number of recreational motorcyclists in
recent years has clouded the issue of what differentiates a
motorcycle club from a riding club. Some military or veteran's
motorcycle clubs (VMC) which are actually AMA-sanctioned, non-outlaw
clubs, wear three-piece patches while not engaging in the established
MC tradition of prospecting. These clubs may simply require evidence
of prior or current military service and ownership of a motorcycle
for membership. While the wisdom of this practice in the larger
context of the MC community could certainly be questioned, VMCs
provide a viable alternative for many riders. It gets hazy when you
consider that the territorial 1% motorcycle clubs seldom know which
VMCs prospect their members, thereby educating them in established
customs and courtesies, and which do not. All too often, they find
out when a VMC patch holder violates a point of protocol and creates
a situation impacting the entire club or chapter's
> ability to ride free.
>
> Law enforcement motorcycle clubs (LEMC) often DO engage in the
practice of prospecting, providing them with the knowledge and
understanding of protocol necessary to become functioning entities in
the MC community. They pretty much do their own thing while
maintaining a code of ethics consistent with their profession.
Strangely enough, LEMCs seem to experience considerably more
rejection from individuals among their own ranks than from other
bikers.
>
> Several national organizations have wisely decided to unite their
rockers with their patch to create the appearance of a one piece
patch and avoid sending the wrong message to the MC community. H.O.G.
(Harley Owners Group), among others. Some veterans advocacy groups
wear colors and ride motorcycles (or not) yet they are quick to point
out that they are not a motorcycle club (Rolling Thunder and American
Legion Riders are two such examples). These groups, more often than
not, earn respect by showing respect and typically function well in
the greater community context.
>
> History of the three-piece patch
>
> The AMA was founded in 1924 as an organizing arm of Motorcycle
Manufacturers and mainly supported by the Motorcycle Manufacturers to
promote motorcycle riding in America. They sanctioned groups of
riders from the same area that rode together as motorcycle clubs.
Some wore complete matching outfits with the name of their motorcycle
club stitched on the back of their shirts and jackets. At events, the
AMA gave awards for the best-dressed club so this was the start of
motorcycle club patches. During an event in 1947 in Hollister, CA
members of the Booze Fighters MC and Pissed Off Bastards of
Bloomington (POBOB) made the headlines with a sensational news story.
The AMA wrote an article in their magazine shortly after the episode
denouncing the offensive bikers stating, "99% of all of their members
are law-abiding citizens and only 1% are outlaws". Thus began what
are today referred to as outlaw motorcycle clubs and "one
percenters." These clubs were not sanctioned by the AMA
> and were banned from attending AMA events.
>
> In order to designate themselves as an outlaw club to all other
clubs, the one percenters cut their club patches into three separate
pieces. The top rocker was the name of the club, the center was the
emblem of the club, and the bottom rocker was their locale. The
outlaw motorcycle clubs organized their own events and parties and
did the opposite of what the AMA had been doing: There were no Best
Dressed awards, they modified ("chopped") down their bikes leaner and
meaner, to go faster and look different, scrapped the mufflers,
guzzled beer, and did other "wild" things which, with the help of a
willing press and Hollywood character studies, created the cultural
icon of the rebellious outlaw biker.
>
> A fictionalized version of the Hollister "raid" later became the
storyline for a movie called "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando as
leader of the fictional Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, and Lee Marvin
as the Booze Fighters' infamous Wino Willie. And so it went. More
movies, more bikers, more fear, more headlines.
>
> The Diamond Patch
>
> The diamond patch with "1%" worn on the front of a "cut" (vest)
with the three-piece back patch signifies the club is either a 1% or
1% support club. They may not be the dominant club in the area but
will almost certainly be sanctioned by the local dominant. There have
been situations where the dominant is not a 1% club but those are
rare and, quite possibly, extinct. The number "13" is also sometimes
worn in a diamond patch. It is alleged to represent the thirteenth
letter of the alphabet, "M" which stands for marijuana. Or maybe it's
just a cool number.
>
> Rightly or wrongly, law enforcement organizations (LEO) regard the
diamond patch as an outward, visible indicator of criminal activity
within the motorcycle riding community. While the best propaganda
usually contains some element of truth, the distortions are often so
outrageous that if they weren't oriented towards spreading fear, they
would be comical.
>
>
> Nomad Rocker
> Some MC members have earned the right to wear a "NOMAD" bottom
rocker. This is only when that member maintains a lifestyle within
the common definition of the word nomad.
> (no·mad) A member of a group of people who have
no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place
in search of food, water, and grazing land. A person with no fixed
residence who roams about; a wanderer. It is a valued distinction of
lifestyle that only a few can truly live up to, and as such, causes
unfavorable notice when seen used by those most obviously not living
up to the common meaning. By definition a "NOMAD", more often than
not, will be traveling alone and needs an ability to represent,
maintain & otherwise survive under circumstances unusual from the
norm.
>
> Summary
> A little common sense goes a long way in the motorcycle club
community. Be honest with yourself and others. If you are not
prepared to fully accept the responsibility of wearing an MC patch,
explore other alternatives for a group riding experience.
> Being a motorcycle enthusiast or having prior military service
does not, in itself, prepare an individual for wearing a three-piece
patch. The trial and error method of learning MC customs and protocol
is not recommended.
> Consider very carefully any ideas that you and your pals might
have about starting a motorcycle club. In all probability, a group
already exists that would suit your style and the important work has
already been done. Please, for God's sake, do NOT buy fake rockers on
eBay or at the flea market and sport 'em around town. It's just not
worth it.
> Questions that could be interpreted as intelligence-gathering
will not be well-received ("So, how many guys are in your chapter?"
isn't a good question under any circumstances. "Hey. Does that '13'
on your vest mean that you guys smoke pot?" probably isn't a good one
either). Never, ever interrupt patch holders while they are
conversing with one another and stand at a respectable distance while
waiting to be acknowledged. You may be surprised at how much some
basic courtesy is appreciated.
> MC members understand the meaning and importance of respect.
They demand it for themselves and their club brothers, they provide
it to patch holders outside of their own club until given a reason to
do otherwise. Regardless of what's on your back, or how you got it,
it is of the utmost importance to show an appropriate degree of
respect to those who earned their colors in the old-school tradition.
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