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| What is a 1%er? |
Motorcyclists have made great strides in the past years to break free from the "Outlaw Biker" stereotype that has been attached since "The Wild One", a movie supposedly recounting the July 4th "Biker Blowout" in Hollister, California, aired in the early 1950's. In a way, Marlon Brando's portrayal of the hot headed leader of the "outlaw" motorcycle club, the "Black Rebels M/C", became something of a benchmark for all of the other souls out there looking for an identity.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), all of the separate ABATE's and Confederation of Clubs organized throughout the country have taken active roles in seeking parity for those of us who call ourselves Bikers. Traditionally, the equality sought by these organizations has centered around legislative issues such as helmet law proposals, bike bans from certain roads, and the relatively new topic of insurance discrimination. An issue that has been "sidestepped" to a degree is the issue concerning parity...equality...extended to motorcyclists for some of the simplest things that non-riders take for granted.
For those not familiar with such policies, "no colors" clauses are typically enacted by bars or taverns to limit the types and numbers of motorcycle riders converging on the establishment. "Colors" refer to the specific back patch worn by the motorcyclist. Most of these policies are enacted by owners in an attempt to control, in their minds, a "negative" element. In other words, to control those "Hell raising Bikers"...
Now, where would these owners gather such slanderous perceptions of motorcyclists? Most certainly, the media, and films such as "The Wild One" have had their effect on the public's perceptions of us, but in all honesty, we have to accept that our own actions over the years have done more, and continuing, damage to our reputations (as motorcyclists) than the media or films could ever do.
1 Percenter Patch
So what constitutes a "Club"? The AMA once defined the number of "outlaw" clubs in America as consisting of approximately 1% of the total motorcyclist population. It didn't take long for the targeted clubs to adopt the 1% designation as a symbol of pride...Today, the so called "outlaw" club members are know as "1 percenters". The AMA considered an "outlaw" club to be one composed primarily to engage in organized crime. Today, even that moniker of distinction is contested by the 1%er clubs who have matured and become more organized. Many of the identified 1%er clubs today profess to have "cleaned up their act".
So what has become of the other 99% of motorcyclists in America? Certainly, a large percentage are just your normal everyday, shine on Saturday, and ride on Sunday motorcycle enthusiasts who profess no club participation, "outlaw" or otherwise. The remaining portion of motorcyclists DO belong to clubs, however, you will be hard pressed to lump their type of club into the "outlaw" club classification.
My perception is that a club is just that...A group of people who share similar interests, and come together to enjoy each others' company. To declare that this definition applies to motorcyclists ONLY would be way off the mark. So why do "no colors" policies target motorcyclists?
I see motorcyclists targeted for a number of reasons. Most notably, the old adage of "strength in numbers" probably kicks in. Put yourself in the place of the local pub owner...You've probably got your life savings wrapped up in your bar. You may be to the point that you're actually taking a few bucks home at the end of the week... All is peaches and cream. AND THEN, from outside your window, you see fully a dozen of the biggest, meanest, dudes EVER come rolling into your parking lot, their scooters kicking up dust, and their pipes vibrating the windows. You don't know about motorcycling...Hell, all you've ever heard about Bikers has been how they rape, pillage, and plunder. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA' DO?
More than likely, you're gonna' react with great hesitation. Hopefully, you'll let the Bikers shake off the road dust and amble on into your bar...Maybe then, you can get a GOOD look at their "colors"... Maybe then you'll find out that they're just a group of riders looking for a cold one and a burger at the end of the day... And, hey, they were damn nice fellas...Not to mention that they tipped well!
If everything were that easy! Shop owners, regardless of the shop, have the legal right to bar entry to anyone that they feel may cause them or their establishment harm**. That's the law, and it's a valid one. Our task as motorcyclists is to attempt to change the standard "outlaw" biker mentality that has been applied to anyone wearing leather and looking "different". We need to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge the parts that we play in keeping the stereotype alive, and we AT THE LEAST do not need to act in a way to reinforce the stereotype...
So what are YOU gonna' do the next time YOU'RE asked to remove YOUR colors or leave?
**The Federal Definition is This:
"Any person whose exercise or enjoyment of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States has been interfered with, or attempted to be interfered with may institute and prosecute a civil action for injunctive and other appropriate equitable relief including the award of compensatory monetary damages. The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Cohen V. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971) that individuals have the constitutional right under the First Amendment to wear clothing which displays writings or designs. In addition, the right of an individual to freedom of association has long been recognized and protected by the United States Supreme Court. Thus, a person's right to wear the clothing of his choice, as well as his right to belong to any club or organization of his choice is constitutionally protected, and persons or establishments who discriminate on the basis of clothing or club membership are subject to lawsuit."
(This ruling applies to all jurisdictions in the United States.)
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| What is the difference between a one, two or three-piece patch? |
The AMA was founded in 1924 as an organizing arm of Motorcycle Manufacturers and mainly supported by the
Motorcycle Manufacturers to promote motorcycle riding in America. They sanctioned groups of riders from the
same area that rode together as motorcycle “clubs”. Some wore complete matching dress outfits with the name of
their motorcycle club stitched on the back of their shirts and jackets.
At events, the AMA gave awards for the best-dressed club so this was the start of motorcycle club’s patches.
During an event in 1947 in Hollister, CA when a member of the Booze Fighters Motorcycle Club made the
headlines with an exaggerated news story that was later made into a movie called "The Wild Ones".
The AMA wrote an article in their magazine, shortly after this stating, “99% of all of their members are law-abiding
citizens and only 1% are “outlaw””. This then, began what is today known as Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs and one
percenters. Clubs that were not sanctioned by the AMA and non-members of the AMA were banned from attending
AMA events.
In order to designate themselves as an outlaw club to all other clubs, the one percenters cut their club patches into three separate pieces. The top rocker was the name of the club, the center was the emblem of the club, and the
bottom rocker was the local from which they came These outlaw motorcycle clubs put on their own events and
parties and did the opposite of what the AMA had been doing. There were no Best Dressed awards, they
“chopped” down their bikes to go faster and look different, rode with no mufflers, they would drink, and do other
“wild” things. Such is history.
The term “colors” is used in referring to a motorcycle clubs’ patch with two “rockers”. One is placed over the top of the middle large graphic patch and one placed underneath it. The “rockers” are usually curved bars with the top bar designating the club name and the lower bar designating the location of the club. The two rockers are separate
from the middle, larger graphic type patch, hence the term three-piece patch. Motorcycle clubs differ from
motorcycling organizations as they traditionally have “prospecting” time required before the club members decide
whether the individual will be accepted into the group and allowed to wear or “fly” the “colors” of the group. Most
club “colors” will also have M/C printed on the “rocker” to further clarify it as a club rather than an organization.
Many national organizations in the early 1980’s set policy to unite their “rockers” with their patch to make it onepiece to avoid any designation or confusion within the motorcycling club community. H.O.G. (Harley Owners
Group) and the Blue Knights (police officers) are an example
As motorcycle club patches are recognized today:
• A one-piece patch signifies a family club or law abiding motorcycle club.
• A two-piece patch signifies a motorcycle club in transition to an outlaw club, awaiting approval from the outlaw
motorcycle clubs to become a three-piece patch.
• A three-piece patch signifies that the club is an outlaw club. The three-piece patch is given out in three parts
as a prospective member earns the privilege to wear the full three-piece patch. When one is just is hanging
around, he has no part of the patch. Then when he is sponsored by a full member and approved by the
club he may wear the lower rocker and he is considered a “prospect” for the club. If he is approved then
he is allowed to have the upper rocker and the insignia and is considered to be a full member. The traditional MC is one that adheres to the protocols and traditions established. There are few exceptions, but, traditional clubs are approved by the local dominant. The traditional 3pc patch club is not necessarily a 1% club or even the dominant club.
The Diamond patch with "1%" or "13" worn with the 3pc back patch signifies the club is a 1% or 1% support club.
While rare, they may not be the dominant club for the area but will be sanctioned by the local dominant. There are also a few areas where the domiant is not a 1% club, but those are few.
Nomad Rocker…..
Some MCs entitle a Member to wear a "NOMAD" bottom rocker. This is only when that member continues to exhibit a lifestyle within the common definition of the word nomad.
(no·mad)
A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land.
A person with no fixed residence who roams about; a wanderer.
It is a valued distinction of lifestyle that only a few can truly live up to, and as such, causes unfavorable notice when seen used by those most obviously not living up to the common meaning. By definition a "NOMAD", more often than not, will be traveling alone and needs an ability to represent, maintain & otherwise survive under circumstances unusual from the norm. |
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