Joining a motorcycle club isn't something you do because you're bored! It takes commitment and dedication - lots of it!
You have probably watched multiple Motorcycle Club TV shows like Sons of Anarchy, and you feel like, yeah, it is about time I tried this life. It is one thing to fantasize about a motorcycle club life, and it is another thing to live it. What you see on TV shows is totally different from what really happens in real life Motorcycle Clubs – the most challenging part is becoming a member. Being a motorcycle enthusiast is a big plus. Knowing your way around cruisers and massive road beasts, and being able to install some good sound on your ride without vising a mechanic is another big bonus.
But that is not all; what you need to ask yourself is, do I have what it takes to last the test of time. One fact with MCs is that once you're in, the door slams shut behind you – there is no way out. So, before you jump in with all the excitement, read this—a few things you probably need to know before joining a motorcycle club.
10Don’t Bother Sending An Application
Joining a motorcycle club is not like getting hired in some high-end company with a fancy corner office; you do not send an application. If you had drafted one, burn it before someone sees it. What you need to do is to identify a full patch MC member and get to know him. The best way is to look for a member in your own locality, within your area of residence or where you hang out. This way, you can be considered.
9Be Ready To Wait
Becoming a motorcycle club full member is not a walk in the park. You must prove yourself worthy dying for. You can wait for months, and even years before you receive the patch. And there is no guarantee that you will ever receive it. You can either quit all by yourself or be sent away by the club.
During your time of waiting, you are in a club, but you are basically on your own. If you get in trouble whether through the club or by yourself, you will work your way out, the members cannot come into your rescue. Do you still want to join?
8The MC Language
Are you ready to learn a new language? And hey, it is not Chinese or Arabic, you can manage if you are committed. Motorcycle clubs have their unique way of communicating with each other – a code that is unique to every club. There is also the general biker club language like 1%, which refers to clubs that are less concerned with following the law, and there are the 99% clubs that apply to the “good citizens” biker clubs.
There are the hand signals they use while on the road and many secret codes of communication. Unless you want to be smiling in discussions while others are conversing and laughing, you must learn the MCs language.
7The MC’s Money Raising Hacks
For motorcycle clubs to keep moving and conducting their activities, there must be an account that can cough out cash when needed. One of the ways for MCs to raise money is through member contributions. And there is no joke in this. You must pay your dues when they are due. And not just member contribution, there are other ways of getting money out of members.
You must obey all the rules of the club because when you break one, you are not given a warning; you must cough out some more cash as a penalty. You can even be fined for not riding with the club for a certain period – if your bike breaks down, you must have it fixed real soon.
6You Must Earn Your Uniform
Joining a motorcycle club is not getting a job in some executive cleaning company where you get your uniform on your first day at work. Motorcycle club attires are a point of pride, for you to get one you must have proved yourself by going through all the stages, and have been voted in by the existing members.
5Know Your Heritage
This is not a written-down rule, but everyone with eyes that see can tell that many motorcycle clubs are not all-inclusive. It is quite rare to find a Latino in white man MC or a white man in an African-American motorcycle club.
There are MCs that, in the recent past, have tried to include all ethnicities in their clubs, but it still not easy – you have to know your origin while you are looking to join a motorcycle club.
4Integrity Is A Must-Have
To make it to the last stage of becoming a full-patch MC member, you must be a man of your word. Motorcycle clubs are built on the foundation of honor and respect, and you must live by that code.
Once you start the process of joining an MC, you must know that you have met a new family – loyalty if what will keep you there. And during your wait time, you will get a lot of opportunities to prove your integrity.
3Looking For Women? They Are Not Here
If your goal of joining an MC is to meet some hot ladies, you might just have to look for another hood to hang out. Motorcycle clubs are no-go zones for women. They can build their own women MCs or hangout with male motorcycle clubs, but that is as far as they can go. When it comes to the serious business of the club, women are not allowed. This is true for 99% of the prominent MCs.
2Bring Your Bike – Not A Scooter
You might not even ever get another chance to come close to an MC if you try to go with your scooter. If you really want to see your motorcycle club dream come true, at least start with the right foot – get a motorcycle, a cruiser that other members will feel proud riding alongside you. Get a Harley-Davidson!
1RCs Are Not MCs
You must know the difference between a riding club and a motorcycle club. Motorcycle clubs are much more committed to what they do as compared to riding clubs. In an MC, you are more of pledging your allegiance than your time.
We can simply say that riding clubs consist of people who love motorcycles and want to expand their riding hobbies. If you are afraid of commitment, you better look for a riding club, a motorcycle club might not be your thing.
Sources: Ceoworld Magazine, Coverhound, Harley liberty, Weirdomatic, military times
