I am a member of a motorcycle CLUB down here in California, however, it seems like whenever we have a get together, we are characterized as a GANG... we are NOT a gang, nobody is criminal, and just because we ride bikes and have leather jackets does not make us associated with crime.

Does this piss off anybody else? such a bad stereotype. There IS A DIFFERENCE between a club and a gang.

two friends and myself started a m/c club some time ago and i am the only one that is not a member. there is just something about conforming that i don't like, too many rules. i just wanna go ride

As a former GWRRA member I can say they are a great group to hang with. Rules, Sure, they have rules. Things like Ware a helmet, Gloves, ride in a staggered formation, Leave plenty of room between bikes, and things like don't drink and ride. But The GWRRA is all about promoting bike safety. (FYI I left them only because my bike broke and I couldn't get it fixed for a few years. Hard time. It's not fun to be the only one in a Group without a bike to ride.)

Now to answer your question. And please don't take this to offense, but know matter how good you are on the inside, what you are judged by, is what people see on the outside. If you look the part, then you will be associated with the part, IE bad element. It doesn't mean you are bad, just to others you look that way.

And I know the difference between gangs and clubs or Groups. Here in the south, we have the Hells Angles, The Tribe, and The Road Bearons. All are associated with crime whether they are, or not. Now also here a gang and a club isn't much different. GWRRA, Blue Nights, and Retreads or all MC Groups. They all focus on bike safety. I know there are more here I just cant think of any right now. Some times rules will give you a better chance to ride and live to talk about it.

Interesting topic. I belong to the Southern Cruisers Riding Club Chapter 270, and was a member of the VentureRider.org when I owned my Venture. The Venturerider club is web based, but the SCRC has a local chapter that has regular rides and brunches etc. Their focus is on safe riding, particularly while in formation. In our chapter you must first qualify with a one day safe riding instruction before you can ride in the group. Proper safety equipment is mandatory. I enjoy belonging to these groups but as a former LEO I tend to steer away from the leather vest covered with patches and pins...not into that look or the unfortunate steretyping that goes with that look. It is a sad fact that people will judge you by that look.
Guess I'm rambling on now so.....I'm done....

... Good Posts Guy's ... Well Done ... Happy Trails ...

I'm with Buzzard - I just wanna ride. I'm a GWRRA member but have never rode with the local chapter. Those organized rides are BORING. You spend half your day waiting for 50 bikes to fuel up. As far as I'm concerned, there are 2 kinds of bikers. One kind loves TO RIDE while the other group likes to hang around coffee shops and admire their bikes on the parking lot. Too scared to get a little dirt on the bikes. As for the bad reputation, most of the meanest looking bikers I've met are accountants.

My wife took a trip to Myrtle Beach a few years back with a group of women. This was before I got back into riding. The first night they were there, she called me to tell me they hadn't done much of anything the first day, because of all the bikers that were there (they went during bike week), and they were afraid to go out.

I assured her that she was in no danger, and if they did meet up with any trouble, that the bikers would be the first ones to their rescue. After that, they went out every night, and had no trouble out of anyone.

Now that I'm riding again, and she's riding with me, she's meeting some of these "bad" biker guys personally. She now understands why bikers get stereotyped, and get the bad rap. Everyone we've met has been kind, courteous, and helpful.

I have ridden over 50 years. Grew up in a bike shop. I have been in the company of some really bad bikers and discoverd that if you show them respect and stay out of their business, you are going to be just fine. I now belong to GWRRA. Enjoy the rides and fellowship. If you want to join a club just know this, By the time you patch in to a club, you will know if you belong or not.

REMEMBERING BACK TO THE LATE 70S. A bunch of us pulled into a rest stop where a CB club hadset up a coffee stop for travellers. They saw a dozen bikes pull in and radiod the local sheriff. He didn't get the call because he was with us. Along were 2 city counselmen, 4 police officers, 1 bike shop owner, a few farmers and family members.

I to belong to GWTA chapter "T" Goldwing Touring Association, Toronto chapter. http://www.gwta.org/index-main.htm Some how I don't think to many people are intimidated by a bunch of older people riding around with GW with patches that say Destionation Friendship. We do some group riding, but a few of us ride by ourselves being stronger riders. A matter of fact 3-4 of us created a secondary club for ourselves called the EOM club. This is because I get every other Monday off and hence the name "every other Monday" EOM. Any way you cut it, it's all about riding the twistys and having a good time.
BR

Up here in the "Great White North" (and it is white right now beleive me) there are no clubs.I'm in a club of one "ME" I like to ride with my sons and we have a ball,thats it.

There is a stereotype issue I like to educate people about though, I wear a leather jacket and sometimes leather Chaps, Yep, along with riding boots. The black leather is a heat sync on a cold day and it saves my butt from road rash (from experience)and stays put on my old carcus when I ride, unlike cloth clothing which makes me resemble the "Michelin Man" all blown up like a balloon at speed.The boots help steady the load and won't wear out after 40,000 shifts with my toe on a long trip,unlike running shoes or air jordans where the laces get caught on a peg. So let people think and say what they will...we know why we dress a certain way and it sure is'nt to look like "A BIKER" :) Hope you had a smile or two.

-Robert-

Also, almost every one who rides will get along with other people who ride. The ones who I find a bother are those who hang in the biker bar and no bikes in the parking lot. These, I simply move on. I rarely go to bars but now and then as part of an organized ride a bar is a featured starting place or end place, why Im not sure.
I was on a cold, rainy ride a couple years ago. Temp was about 40F and moderate, persistent rain falling. About 8 people rode the course. When we got back off the 125 miler there were about 150 "bikers" in the bar (5 bikes in the parking lot) downing their limit and talking about the ride they didn't go on. These folks bother me. I left.

because of my previous contributions my old club has made me an honorary member as of nov. 2008

Everybody (almost) wants to be a "bad boy"....it's bike week down here and they are probably 99% pretenders....mostly dental hygenists or something...black leather, loud pipes, do rags, chains on their wallets....pretty comical at times....I don't wear a costume to ride my bike....there are a few true gangs that no one messes with but their appearances are few and far between.....

Everybody (almost) wants to be a "bad boy"....it's bike week down here and they are probably 99% pretenders....mostly dental hygenists or something...black leather, loud pipes, do rags, chains on their wallets....pretty comical at times....I don't wear a costume to ride my bike....there are a few true gangs that no one messes with but their appearances are few and far between.....

Kinda like the movie "Wild Hogs" ay LOL I agree, and on a Goldwing hmmm.... I figure I am what I am and thats that.
At 65 those things are so far behind me they're historic now,LOL,
Hey I'm happy to be vertical every morning and still throw my leg over the saddle, walking and breathing is good,and to ride my wing when I want,even better.:D

Bikes, Blues, and B.B.Q. in Fayettville,AR every year has become the 3rd largest ralley in the US of A. You will find bikes of all kinds and riders of all kinds to go with them. Some real and some not so real. But one thread bonds this group together for that 4 days every year. Riding. The truly tough BIKER image loves to be played out. Yet you will see them riding along side a group of sportbikes. I've gone the last 6 years in a row and see no reason not to go again.
RULE 1 Treat others like you yourself want to treated......
RULE 2 Never say anything bad about another persons bike.

There is a huge difference between a motorcycle 'club' and a riding association. You can get your ass kicked if you ignore the difference. This stuff is covered in the 'Bikers Handbook' also but is available free here.

Note: The GWRRA is not a club, it is an Association - hence the name goldwing road riders association.

http://www.rcvsmc.net/id3.html

What a MC club is:

http://www.rcvsmc.net/id2.html

If you want the general overview and the table of contents, you can look here:

http://www.rcvsmc.net/index.html

Enjoy!

As i said in previous posts, i wear what i want, ride where i want and conform to only the laws i have to!! Call me a lone wolf, or scooter trash if it suits you. I love to ride and do it any chance i get. My clothes are only an extension of my bike, to make me more comfortable riding. As far as clubbing i like to choose who i ride with and adhere to the basic rider etiquette and have respect for all riders at all times! The only one i have to please is me.

I am a member of three different groups. A small group of friends, the Roadrunners and two MRO's, AMA and ABATE of IL. I have met all types from all walks of life and enjoyed everyone of them. I have hung around the campfire with the Christian M/C and been on poker runs with 99%'s. I just don't judge them for the way think/live and have never had any issues.

I ride with a club that mostly is Harleys and of course , no helmets and leather vests. Nice people, but I still wear full face helmet, mesh jacket, full finger gloves and over the ankle leather boots on my GL1800. They wonder in the summer about how hot I must be. Like I told them, "its also too hot to stop at a red light, but is highly recommend." If you dress like a bad ass don't expect the general public to think of you as anything else.

.....not into that look or the unfortunate steretyping that goes with that look. It is a sad fact that people will judge you by that look.
Guess I'm rambling on now so.....I'm done....
__________________
ReinyRooster

Reiny, my grandma used to say "clothes make the man". It's about true. Another old timey saying is " birds of a feather, etc". In many instances we are who we look like we are and we are about the direction we are headed. (.02 worth)

This subject has gotten tiresome! I am a nonconformist!! I wear what i wear because i like it not because it makes me a bad ass! People will judge but just remember take the stick out of your eye before you try someone else's!

I will echo some of what DaveO said back in September... you have to be careful what you call your group.

Based on my experience... for the most part, there are four types of bikers out there: Associations (GWRRA... "A" for association... very important). There are motorcycle ministries. There are social ride groups. And, then there are just folks that have motorcycles that want to get out and ride.

I have been part of the biker culture for a long time... for the past 10 years I have been involved in biker ministry, so I have learned a few things being around some of the "clubs" out there.

First, you don't want to call your group a m/c or "club" if you are not officially one. Some may think this is silly or insignificant, but DaveO is right... this will get you hurt.

There is a Confederation of Clubs in every state, whether you know of it or not. They say who can be a m/c or "club" and who can't. They also approve or disapprove all "Three Piece" patches. As far as I know, the biggest "club" in the United States is the Bandidos. Some of the nicest guys you might meet, but don't mess with them or these rules.

In motorcycle ministry, the biggest out there is the Christian Motorcyclist Association. Several others out there: FAITH Riders, Tribe of Judah, Soldiers for Christ,.... A few of these have three piece patches with the letters m/m (motorcycle ministry). The Confederation of Clubs approves the "three piece" patches of the m/m's. The COC also keeps tabs on other ministry groups that wear a patch... they just kinda want to know what is going on and what their patch looks like (better not be a "three piece") In the biker culture, it is a good idea to know of the COC and keep them informed... especially about the patch stuff.

Regarding the GWRRA and other such groups, as far as I know, the COC is probably not real concerned. They know about the GWRRA, who they are, and that they are, for the most part, just a social ride group.

Then there are all the other folks that ride. Don't belong to any club, group, or association... they just ride. The clubs are not much concerned with these folks, unless they dream up their own "three piece" patch... especially a patch with the name of a state, town, or any other piece of real estate, even a church... or a patch that resembles a "three piece" from a distance. If they see you, they will come over to talk with you about your patch. Probably ask you nicely to remove... to start with. If you don't comply, they will become insistent.

If you think this is silly or insignificant, you are naive. For the most part, you can roll up to a gas station or restaurant and meet a "club" member and have a good conversation... or they will just be polite and you pass. Mess with them... and things could get bad for you.

Club members are very serious about their patches. Many would die for their "colors" or patch. Just show them a little respect and be friendly, just as you would be to any other biker and you might develop fair rapport with some of these guys. And believe me, if these guys like you, you don't have to worry about your back.

A bunch of us here in town have a group we formed 11 years ago called Hawg Flatts. We are incorporated and duly registered with the Societies branch due to GST and taxation reasons incurred from our annual rally. Most of the guys ride HD's, but it's a m/c that gets you in, not what kind. Yes we've had many enquiries as to whether we are "affiliates" of the red & white group, but most of it was in jest. We donate to the local schools and community groups out of the funds we collect from the rally and have a pretty good rep going. We do a Toy Run each year for Santa's Annonymous, and are a part of Alberta Tourism. Yup, we are badass alright.