Outlaw motorcycle club

Lore & Background

The typical internal organization of an outlaw motorcycle club consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, road captain, and sergeant-at-arms (sometimes called enforcer). Localized groups of a single prominent MC are called charters or chapters, with the first chapter established referred to as the mother chapter, which serves as the ruling body. The president of the mother chapter may serve as president of the entire MC, or a National President may be elected or appointed. Larger clubs often acquire fortified clubhouses with sophisticated security systems, funding them through membership dues, fines, item sales, club shares, parties, and motorcycle trips; some maintain a legal defense fund.

Membership typically involves stages such as 'friend of the club', 'hang-around', and 'prospect' before becoming a full-patch member. Hazing may occur, ranging from menial labor to sophomoric pranks and, in rare cases, acts of violence. Prospects may wear the club name but not the full logo. Full membership requires a vote, often more than a simple majority, and a formal induction where the new member affirms loyalty. Full members are called 'full patch members' or 'patchholders'. The majority of members have no serious criminal record, equating 'outlaw' with disregard for AMA rules, not government laws. However, a subculture of outlaw activity involves outrageous acts, denigration of women, macho image, and heavy drug and alcohol use.

Reader's Guide

Outlaw motorcycle clubs have had a significant and contested legacy. They emerged in the late 1940s in the United States as a rejection of mainstream motorcycling norms, specifically those of the American Motorcyclist Association. Their organizational structure—with presidents, charters, and a staged membership process—has been widely adopted by both outlaw and non-outlaw clubs, making visual identification difficult for outsiders. The three-piece patch, including rockers and a club logo, is a key identifier, though not exclusive to outlaw clubs. The '1%' patch, referencing an alleged AMA comment about 99% of motorcyclists being law-abiding, is worn only by clubs characterized by criminality, though the AMA denies making such a statement. Outlaw clubs are prominent at charity events like toy runs, which they cite as evidence against their negative media image, but authorities and the AMA have criticized their presence, citing violence and reduced donations. Law enforcement has confiscated colors and paraphernalia, though courts have sometimes found such items unfairly prejudicial. The clubs' mystique and unwritten rules have influenced many non-outlaw clubs, and their dual nature—as social fraternities and, for some, criminal conduits—continues to shape public perception and legal scrutiny.

Did You Know?

• The U.S. Department of Justice defines outlaw motorcycle gangs as organizations whose members use their clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises.
• The three-piece patch consists of the club logo and top and bottom crescent-shaped patches called rockers.
• The '1%' patch is said to refer to a 1960 comment by former AMA president William Berry that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding, though the AMA denies making such a statement.
• Club patches always remain the property of the club, not the members, and allowing one's colors to fall into an outsider's hands may result in loss of membership.