One percenter MCs and coalition clubs
Discussion
CAPP0 said:
Not so long ago he dealt with a particular issue in a way which the local chapter didn't approve of, as a result of which he was summoned to appear in front of them and told that if he did that again they'd give him a proper kicking.
Seems like a fabulous way to enjoy biking!
Exactly. Seems like a fabulous way to enjoy biking!
Crazysteve uk said:
'kin'ell. I know 'dissing' (is that the term the young cool kids use these days?) someone's bike as akin to telling them their penis is only 3 inches long, so I don't think I've ever done it. But come on - a Yamaha, the type that might be the answer to 'I've just passed my test, what cheap cruiser do you recommend?' - even with tacky mods is never going to cut it as an outlaw bike.
I gather the proper US Hells Angels have a rule that it's Harleys or nothing (although Sonny Barger was last seen in an Indian), and whether you love or hate Harleys there is something quite impressive about a group of HDs rumbling by in formation. A bit like a pipe band - love or have bagpipes, a pipe band marching by in full swing is a thing of wonder.
And re the 'loud bikes' thread - what's with the straight through pipes? At least the Harley potato note is nicely sonorous at idle (albeit still waaay too loud on open pipes), but of the many things the Japanese have mastered, what's always escaped them is to make a v-twin with a decent exhaust note. They all sound s
te...at least to me. And now we'll be subjected to ste at 110db. And what's with the exhaust wrap? I can understand the bit on the downtube under what would be the riders left knee (although a heat shield would be better), but why lag the header on the front cylinder? Apart from looking crap (again, IMHO) this stuff is a bugger for breeding rust underneath.Anyway - enjoy the club...and buy a Harley.
BobSaunders said:
https://www.localprayers.com/GB/Kingston-upon-Hull/882838935162961/Demons-MC-EAST-Yorkshire
I have never been an MC member, but have worked at some events with serious 1% clubs.
From my experience, it is a bit like joining the military :
Uniforms with signs of hierarchy, even if you never met that guy before you know his position and rank,
just by having a glance at his vest or "color" showing the region / position / special awards / honorary badges.
Strict hierarchy orders, there are lower and higher ranks, orders must be obeyed or can be given.
A strong bond of being together in "hostile country", which is everywhere but your clubhouse, your MC bar/pub,
the club workshop, or a club event, always cover your back and the backs of other members.
If you see another of "your side" in a confrontation against "the others", you are obliged to help / jump in,
even if you never had contact with the other guy from "your side" or if he was right or wrong in starting the confrontation.
This could mean that a "10 on 1" situation turns into a "10 on 2" where the result may me painful or lethal.
Esprit de corps is very strong there, again not unlike in the forces, or police.
You will never see a real member drunk / wasted in public, they drink or get high, but not all-out ,
because this would give the club a bad image, and of course, "loose talk can cost lives" , or cause trouble.
I have seen members who had one too many being escorted to backstage to sober out.
Persons joining a club, especially at the 1%er level, have to give up some of their individual rights,
but know that they are in a self-proclaimed "elite" with own values, beliefs, rules and rituals.
If a person likes that, and can commit to the brotherhood, and is accepted by them, this may be for life,
some guys are fascinated by that lifestyle and want to be part of it.
Others join a monastry, or the free masons, or any uniformed force, or their local firm,
for that spirit and feeling of togetherness and "doing the right thing" and "being on the right side",
with like-minded people surrounding and supporting the same goal.
I do not wear rose-tinted glasses and know that some members have incomes from dubious sources,
but many are self-empolyed, powerfully-built company directors, maybe not in a bank but in all sorts
of trades, construction companies, the motorcycle/custom bike/parts business, tattoo studios, etc etc.
Few are fully employed workers, as club life with runs, meetings, and events takes a great chunk of time and money,
and the monthly member fees have to be paid.
This is not easy if you are relying on your monthly paycheck and have to ask for holidays or long weekends.
On the other side : members who are in the "Big House" with barred windows get support, lawyers,
and if they have family those get supported for the time a member is "inside".
In Germany, some of the 1%er clubs made descisions they now regret, years ago,
when they thought "the more the better", and other clubs and even non-bikers were given the colors,
which led to in-club fights between the traditional old-timers and uprising "young turks",
( not neccessarily with migrant background ) , but often pumped up by body-building, steroids and the color.
They were more in it for the feeling of power and intimidation and not so much for a rideout in convoy.
But let´s face it, real big criminals don´t wear clothig that marks them from a mile away,
they rather want to stay under the radar, wear plainclothes, trainers or Saville Row suits.
I like my personal freedom of choice more, make my own mistakes, but respect other lifestyles.
They wouldn´t let me in with a ST 70 anyway....8-)
From my experience, it is a bit like joining the military :
Uniforms with signs of hierarchy, even if you never met that guy before you know his position and rank,
just by having a glance at his vest or "color" showing the region / position / special awards / honorary badges.
Strict hierarchy orders, there are lower and higher ranks, orders must be obeyed or can be given.
A strong bond of being together in "hostile country", which is everywhere but your clubhouse, your MC bar/pub,
the club workshop, or a club event, always cover your back and the backs of other members.
If you see another of "your side" in a confrontation against "the others", you are obliged to help / jump in,
even if you never had contact with the other guy from "your side" or if he was right or wrong in starting the confrontation.
This could mean that a "10 on 1" situation turns into a "10 on 2" where the result may me painful or lethal.
Esprit de corps is very strong there, again not unlike in the forces, or police.
You will never see a real member drunk / wasted in public, they drink or get high, but not all-out ,
because this would give the club a bad image, and of course, "loose talk can cost lives" , or cause trouble.
I have seen members who had one too many being escorted to backstage to sober out.
Persons joining a club, especially at the 1%er level, have to give up some of their individual rights,
but know that they are in a self-proclaimed "elite" with own values, beliefs, rules and rituals.
If a person likes that, and can commit to the brotherhood, and is accepted by them, this may be for life,
some guys are fascinated by that lifestyle and want to be part of it.
Others join a monastry, or the free masons, or any uniformed force, or their local firm,
for that spirit and feeling of togetherness and "doing the right thing" and "being on the right side",
with like-minded people surrounding and supporting the same goal.
I do not wear rose-tinted glasses and know that some members have incomes from dubious sources,
but many are self-empolyed, powerfully-built company directors, maybe not in a bank but in all sorts
of trades, construction companies, the motorcycle/custom bike/parts business, tattoo studios, etc etc.
Few are fully employed workers, as club life with runs, meetings, and events takes a great chunk of time and money,
and the monthly member fees have to be paid.
This is not easy if you are relying on your monthly paycheck and have to ask for holidays or long weekends.
On the other side : members who are in the "Big House" with barred windows get support, lawyers,
and if they have family those get supported for the time a member is "inside".
In Germany, some of the 1%er clubs made descisions they now regret, years ago,
when they thought "the more the better", and other clubs and even non-bikers were given the colors,
which led to in-club fights between the traditional old-timers and uprising "young turks",
( not neccessarily with migrant background ) , but often pumped up by body-building, steroids and the color.
They were more in it for the feeling of power and intimidation and not so much for a rideout in convoy.
But let´s face it, real big criminals don´t wear clothig that marks them from a mile away,
they rather want to stay under the radar, wear plainclothes, trainers or Saville Row suits.
I like my personal freedom of choice more, make my own mistakes, but respect other lifestyles.
They wouldn´t let me in with a ST 70 anyway....8-)
Benni said:
A strong bond of being together in "hostile country", which is everywhere but your clubhouse, your MC bar/pub,
the club workshop, or a club event, always cover your back and the backs of other members.
Sounds more like an agoraphobics' club to me.the club workshop, or a club event, always cover your back and the backs of other members.
Surely these places wouldn't be 'hostile' if the bikers hadn't made them so?
If members of a Porsche or Ferrari owners' club went for a drive together (and I simply cannot fathom why they would), I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be on high alert when stopping at a tea room for an iced bun or a butterfly cake.
I met a guy from a biker club group thing before. He was all into it, had the harely with all the bells, wistles and tassles, had the jacket with the matches etc etc.
He was an older gentleman, rotund of profile, you know the sort.
He was realyl ecited about the weekend rally or whatever it was that he was going to, I think he was oping for some sort of promotion or whatever.
He jus kept going on and on and on about it, really engaged in it and everything, good on him.
But fk i was bored. At the time i rode and SV650s, with a topbox and handlebar muffs which I regularly got stick for but didnt really care about. I was probably the complete opposite sort of motorcyclist that he was and I dont know why he kept talking at me even when I started reading a magazine and drinking my tea (I met this guy at my friend workshop, he had a parasistic electrical drain and was getting it fixed while I was...I dunno, having done whatever that bike was due for that time).
He didnt come across as a scary type, just boring.
The whole thing seems really regimented, really restricted, really serious and really no-fun.
He was an older gentleman, rotund of profile, you know the sort.
He was realyl ecited about the weekend rally or whatever it was that he was going to, I think he was oping for some sort of promotion or whatever.
He jus kept going on and on and on about it, really engaged in it and everything, good on him.
But f
k i was bored. At the time i rode and SV650s, with a topbox and handlebar muffs which I regularly got stick for but didnt really care about. I was probably the complete opposite sort of motorcyclist that he was and I dont know why he kept talking at me even when I started reading a magazine and drinking my tea (I met this guy at my friend workshop, he had a parasistic electrical drain and was getting it fixed while I was...I dunno, having done whatever that bike was due for that time). He didnt come across as a scary type, just boring.
The whole thing seems really regimented, really restricted, really serious and really no-fun.
thatdude said:
I met a guy from a biker club group thing before. He was all into it, had the harely with all the bells, wistles and tassles, had the jacket with the matches etc etc.
He was an older gentleman, rotund of profile, you know the sort.
He was realyl ecited about the weekend rally or whatever it was that he was going to, I think he was oping for some sort of promotion or whatever.
He jus kept going on and on and on about it, really engaged in it and everything, good on him.
But fk i was bored. At the time i rode and SV650s, with a topbox and handlebar muffs which I regularly got stick for but didnt really care about. I was probably the complete opposite sort of motorcyclist that he was and I dont know why he kept talking at me even when I started reading a magazine and drinking my tea (I met this guy at my friend workshop, he had a parasistic electrical drain and was getting it fixed while I was...I dunno, having done whatever that bike was due for that time).
He didnt come across as a scary type, just boring.
The whole thing seems really regimented, really restricted, really serious and really no-fun.
Cool story, non-bro.He was an older gentleman, rotund of profile, you know the sort.
He was realyl ecited about the weekend rally or whatever it was that he was going to, I think he was oping for some sort of promotion or whatever.
He jus kept going on and on and on about it, really engaged in it and everything, good on him.
But f
k i was bored. At the time i rode and SV650s, with a topbox and handlebar muffs which I regularly got stick for but didnt really care about. I was probably the complete opposite sort of motorcyclist that he was and I dont know why he kept talking at me even when I started reading a magazine and drinking my tea (I met this guy at my friend workshop, he had a parasistic electrical drain and was getting it fixed while I was...I dunno, having done whatever that bike was due for that time). He didnt come across as a scary type, just boring.
The whole thing seems really regimented, really restricted, really serious and really no-fun.
Benni said:
Uniforms with signs of hierarchy, even if you never met that guy before you know his position and rank,
just by having a glance at his vest or "color" showing the region / position / special awards / honorary badges.
Strict hierarchy orders, there are lower and higher ranks, orders must be obeyed or can be given.
A strong bond of being together in "hostile country", which is everywhere but your clubhouse, your MC bar/pub,
the club workshop, or a club event, always cover your back and the backs of other members.
If you see another of "your side" in a confrontation against "the others", you are obliged to help / jump in,
even if you never had contact with the other guy from "your side" or if he was right or wrong in starting the confrontation.
This could mean that a "10 on 1" situation turns into a "10 on 2" where the result may me painful or lethal.
Esprit de corps is very strong there, again not unlike in the forces, or police.
Sounds a bit like the MG Owners Club to me.just by having a glance at his vest or "color" showing the region / position / special awards / honorary badges.
Strict hierarchy orders, there are lower and higher ranks, orders must be obeyed or can be given.
A strong bond of being together in "hostile country", which is everywhere but your clubhouse, your MC bar/pub,
the club workshop, or a club event, always cover your back and the backs of other members.
If you see another of "your side" in a confrontation against "the others", you are obliged to help / jump in,
even if you never had contact with the other guy from "your side" or if he was right or wrong in starting the confrontation.
This could mean that a "10 on 1" situation turns into a "10 on 2" where the result may me painful or lethal.
Esprit de corps is very strong there, again not unlike in the forces, or police.
Thatdude´s biker "friend" reads like being in the Harley Owners Group, a clever move from the company creating this,
for the born again bikers in the 40s or 50s who have "all the gear, but no idea" where to drive to and hang around with.
From a glance, they optically resemble an MC, but it´s like the Disney Version, all clean, bright, and with best intentions,
often uniting their manpower and financial wealth for charity rides, events with disabled persons/children or other good stuff.
They often have "christmas-tree bikes" with "Live to ride, ride to live" accessories and do not ride them too hard,
although some do long trips with their group, not camping rough but staying in hotels with garages overnight.
But hey, they are on a bike, enjoying what they do, and at some events share the same grounds as 1%ers.
for the born again bikers in the 40s or 50s who have "all the gear, but no idea" where to drive to and hang around with.
From a glance, they optically resemble an MC, but it´s like the Disney Version, all clean, bright, and with best intentions,
often uniting their manpower and financial wealth for charity rides, events with disabled persons/children or other good stuff.
They often have "christmas-tree bikes" with "Live to ride, ride to live" accessories and do not ride them too hard,
although some do long trips with their group, not camping rough but staying in hotels with garages overnight.
But hey, they are on a bike, enjoying what they do, and at some events share the same grounds as 1%ers.
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