There is no single answer to what a motorcycle community is. Organizations that are too different, often even opposite in purpose, can operate under the guise of a motorcycle community: from peaceful motorcyclists who want to relax on the weekends with a glass of beer while talking about bikes, and ending with an openly gangster group using motorcycles to commit crimes. The only thing that can be said with absolute certainty is that the motorcycle community is mainly an association of people.
History of motorcycle communities
To date, a significant part of the motorcycle party is not aware that bikers have come from a criminal environment. Actually, the legacy of the criminal past is the notorious rebellious spirit of bikers and a demonstrative challenge to the system.
Yes, American bikers after World War II were commonplace criminals. In their defense, it should be said that they were engaged in crimes not from a good life, but, in most cases, solely for the purpose of survival. The U.S. government basically dumped World War II veterans and left them face to face with the problems they had in civilian life. Therefore, veterans, realizing this fact, remembered their ability to ride motorcycles and kill. And so the first motorcycle clubs were born, which were actually criminal organizations.
In our country, the development of the motorcycle movement was initially based on a different principle – a genuine interest in motorcycles. The motorcyclists of the 80s, in fact, for this reason, gathered together. Those who had a motorcycle met other people with motorcycles, stopped, talked, and later began to spend leisure time together. The methods of rest were simple: give speed to turn the engine red, scare the townsfolk with a wild roar and listen to music at a deafening volume.
The first motorcycle club with written rules and hierarchy was the Moscow “Night Wolves” in 1989. They actively spread their branches throughout the CIS, including European countries. As a result, they became the largest motorcycle community in our territory. In addition, this is one of the few motorcycle clubs that is officially registered as a legal entity.
In general, in the CIS, bikers are very actively united in communities. Almost every major city has at least one motorcycle club. Well, if not for the city, then for the region, as a rule, for sure. In general, the whole mass of clubs can be classified into:
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Hangouts united by common interests. This also includes the so-called “weekend motorcycle clubs”.
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A community of owners of a particular brand, less often a model, a bike. Of course, most of these clubs are founded by the owners of Harleys, as the most popular motorcycles among bikers.
Symbolism
Any self-respecting motorcycle club first of all designs its own patch, which members of the community place on the back of their vests. This is the most important element in the identification of bikers, belonging to an influential and authoritative club is highly valued in the motorcycle community. Structurally, the patch is divided into the upper rocker, which usually indicates the name of the motorcycle club, the emblem is located in the central part, and the club’s location is located in the lower rocker.
As for the indication on the patch of the region where the club operates, in the States this nuance is very jealous. The right to prescribe the city of deployment can only be the motorcycle community that occupies a dominant position in this city. In the CIS, however, they do not pay attention to this, moreover, they do not start conflicts over such a trifle.
The second obligatory symbol of a biker, without which it is impossible to imagine him, is a leather jacket with an oblique zipper or, in a simple way, a leather jacket. Motorcyclists adored biker jackets for protection from the wind while riding, for protection from serious injuries that could occur when falling off a bike, but they never considered it as a must-have attribute of their culture.
Cinematography influenced the change in attitude to leather jackets. The brash and plucky biker gang leader played by Marlon Brando in The Savage One has given it a cult status among bikers.
Tips for future bikers
Of course, giving advice is a thankless task, but at the same time, I think that I have no right to leave readers without information that will help them join the motorcycle community. Of course, each motorcycle club will have its own rules and relationships between members, but some general points can still be called:
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Bike needed. Definitely. Without it, the path to the motorcycle party is closed. Tightly. And don’t forget the helmet.
Participation in any biker club is unthinkable without the presence of a motorcycle. Also take care of purchasing a helmet, because hitting your head on the asphalt when falling at high speed can end tragically for you
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Be a fan of motorcycles in the positive sense of the word.
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Learn to ride a bike well.
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Carefully study the principles of the motorcycle club you join. Follow them strictly or you will be politely asked to leave at best.
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Respect the symbols of your motorcycle community.
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Do not miss the events of your club, take part in other activities.
How will we live after February 24, 2022?
As you probably understood, we will talk about sanctions and what they can eventually lead to. For convenience, the information is presented separately for Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the CIS.
So, Russia. The tinny has begun, but as of May 2022, it is not yet fully felt, because there is still the opportunity to “ride” on stocks and unsold balances. It is not known whether there will be enough motorcycles at all after the departure of foreign brands. Maybe the politicians will somehow come to an agreement and solve the problems, and the sanctions will eventually be lifted, although this is hard to believe. There remains hope for gray schemes with the delivery of motorcycles and spare parts, but it is already clear that all this happiness will cost prohibitively expensive. Or you can switch to Russian analogues, but this option, of course, will not work for principled lovers of a certain brand.
It is also worth starting to fear theft, as well as attacks in order to deprive the owner of his bike. To understand whether it is worth starting to have in mind the possibility of motorcycle theft, it is necessary to monitor the situation in the spare parts market. As soon as there is a serious shortage there, there will be criminal gangs dealing with illegal motorcycle parts.
Next in line is Ukraine. Motorcycles will be, spare parts will be. The main question is how much they will cost and whether Ukrainian bikers will pull these prices, since in a country in which hostilities are taking place, the economy will inevitably collapse, which means people’s incomes will fall. In addition, under the whistle of bullets, hardly anyone will dare to hold biker events. Motoseason 2022 may not take place.
the rest of the CIS. Motorcycles will be, as well as spare parts for them in sufficient quantities. I predict that price tags may rise for some bikes and parts. Unfortunately, now the economy is in a storm, uninterrupted supplies are in doubt, the number of intermediaries may grow, and after all, each intermediary wants his own percentage. Therefore, some motorcycle products can rise in price up to 50%.
Source: cryptomoto.org