The opinion that motorcycle clubs are built solely around bikes, genuine interest in them and nothing else is not entirely true. Of course, the motorcycle community is impossible to imagine without motorcycles, but it should be understood that a motorcycle is just a tool. Much more important is how bikers express themselves through motorcycles, what ideals and images they show to other people. Unfortunately, their ideals were not always positive.
A BRIEF EXCURSION INTO THE HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITIES
Motorcycle clubs appeared relatively recently by historical standards, and this is not surprising, because the patent for the first motorcycle was filed in 1885. The motorcycles of those times were very imperfect, could not reach high speed, so people were not very interested.
The first full-fledged motorcycle communities were born only after the end of World War II in the United States of America. This country at that time had a developed production of motorcycles, they were available due to the relatively low price.
The bikers were former US Army soldiers who learned to ride motorcycles during the war. They turned to bikers not at the behest of their hearts, like modern people, but out of necessity. Veterans got used to violence, and it was difficult for them to adapt to normal life. So they got together, restless and useless, and used their skills in criminal activities.
In our country, motorcycles began to be massively distributed only in the 70-80s. 20th century, when the country was already accustomed to peaceful life and relative prosperity. For this reason, motorcyclists or “rockers” (as they were called because of their external resemblance to rock singers) did not engage in criminal activity, but in fact burned their time, frolicking on bikes and frightening passers-by with a roar of their powerful engines. They did not seek to unite into a club, and they did not want to carry any message to the masses. The Rockers just had fun spending time with each other.
Therefore, in my opinion, the development of the motorcycle communities of the CIS began, in fact, with the desire of a single “rocker”, now known to us as the Surgeon. It was he who gathered scattered parties of “rockers” from Moscow and created in 1989 a group now known as “Night Wolves”. The club to this day occupies a leading position in the CIS due to such indicators as:
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Number of 5000 members. There is no more numerous motorcycle community in our territory.
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Extensive branch network, including in Europe.
Due to the extended spaces, motorcycle clubs of the local or regional level have taken root: this makes it easier for members of the community to keep in touch with each other. There are also common groups that gather on the principle of owning a certain brand or even a model of a bike. In Ukraine and Russia, the largest communities of this type are clubs of Harley-Davidson owners.
TRADITIONS
Since the first bikers came from the former military, part of the biker tradition has army roots. In this case, we are talking about stripes sewn onto the back of vests. By the way, this tradition is very similar to the military custom of sewing chevrons with the emblem of the military branch on the sleeve.
The most commonly used type of patch is the three-part patch. There are also two-part variants, as a rule, in the States or among “one percent”, i.e. criminal motorcycle gangs that do not want to “shine” their place of deployment in front of the police. Structurally, the patch consists of:
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Top rocker. It displays the name of the motorcycle club.
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The central element where the emblem is depicted.
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Lower rocker with city name.
Bikers, sparing no effort, protect their stripes from various kinds of encroachment, because they do not want to be “embroidered”. “Stitching” refers to the forced removal of a patch, and is the most humiliating thing that can happen in the life of a motorcyclist. The most shameful situations are considered when a biker is “embroidered” by a hostile motorcycle group or teammates before being expelled.
There are motorcycle communities that use patches not only to identify their members, but also to build hierarchical relationships in the motorcycle club with their help. The goal is achieved simply: new members of the community are not given all the elements of the patch upon joining, but are given out gradually, as a reward or confirmation of the transition to a step higher in the hierarchy.
As they say, if you like to ride, love and fix your bike!
TIPS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BECOME BIKERS
The tips below do not guarantee 100% acceptance into a biker club, because in each case there will be individual characteristics that cannot be fully predicted. But, at the same time, a biker candidate needs to consider that:
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They won’t take you to a motorcycle club without a bike. This is an axiom that cannot be disputed. It is also advisable to take care of purchasing equipment and a set of protection, including a helmet.
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It is necessary to study the “inner kitchen” of the motorcycle community that you aspire to. Those. you need to find out about the relationship of club members, who communicates with whom and who is at enmity, etc. The easiest option is to chat with someone from the club.
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It is required to evaluate whether you are satisfied with the values that the community adheres to.
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It is wise to prepare for what you will be assessed and tested upon entry. This is normal: the leaders of the club want to make sure that they are accepting a loyal person into their ranks, and not a potential traitor.
BRIEF FORECAST FOR CIS MOTORCYCLE CLUBS FOR 2023
Let’s start with positive news. I am sure that the situation will be relatively stable throughout the CIS, with the exception of Russia and Ukraine. By relative stability I mean the absence of problems that can prevent motorcycle clubs from functioning in the same way as they did last year. Unless prices can rise a little for motorcycle products, but no more.
Russia, on the other hand, has fallen into a period of severe turbulence in the motorcycle market. Foreign brands fled our country, and after that, the supply of both bikes and spare parts was covered. Dealers selling imported motorcycles will close in the summer of 2023. Information about this has already appeared on the pages of official news publications. So, long live gray supply chains, or, as they are politically correct called in the press, “parallel imports”.
If there are difficulties with “parallel imports”, bikers should be ready. Surely there will be a wave of foreign motorcycle thefts, perhaps even with the murders of bikers. In this way, enterprising “black” businessmen will try to solve the problems with the lack of spare parts for bikes.
The situation is such that now it would be better to stop and freeze in place to look around you and assess the further development of the situation, but for now not to waste the precious resources of motorcycle clubs and ordinary members on holding events.
In Ukraine, the problem of a shortage of gasoline rises to its full potential, which led to its rationing, and a drop in income in the future is inevitable due to the devastation in the economy. The only thing that pleases: there are no obstacles to the purchase of motorcycle products, they are both in stock and on order. For motorcycle clubs, I think the smartest thing to do in the current situation would be to cancel events due to the high cost and shortage of gasoline, and bikers, perhaps, should save their savings for a rainy day and refuse to repair, which can wait until better times, or to purchase bike decorations.