Motorcycle communities: what is it, traditions, development forecast in the CIS and Russia

Any community is built on rallying people around one or more of their core values. Motorcycle clubs in this case are no exception, they stand on the postulate that the motorcycle is the center of the world of bikers, or at least one of the most important attributes of the life of a motorcyclist.

Below, in general terms, I will tell you how the first motorcycle clubs were born, what traditions they adhere to, how you can get into them, as well as what changes and difficulties await the CIS motorcycle community in 2023.

A Brief History of Motorcycle Clubs

When I first learned how exactly the first bike clubs began, my reverence for foreign countries was significantly reduced. You know, it usually seems that it is always better abroad and the grass is greener, that people are more humane, and the state is more caring. But the reality is much harsher.

The point is. The history of the organized biker movement begins after the end of World War II. The American state made it clear to the veterans of this war that they would be left without social assistance and support for the period of adaptation to the post-war world. In short, they told them that you can spin as you like, we don’t care about your problems.

And how can a veteran spin if he is not a great specialist in a peaceful profession and therefore cannot get a job anywhere? So they came to the conclusion that the habit of violence and the skill of riding a motorcycle, acquired in the war zone, will be useful to them for survival. This is how the prototypes of modern motorcycle communities appeared: they came out of the treacherous behavior of the government and the need of people to survive, even with the help of criminal methods.

On the territory of our homeland, things were different, and, in my opinion, much more humane. “Rockers” (the original name of bikers because of their resemblance to rock singers) did not have to engage in criminal trade, they rallied into parties on the basis of a sincere passion for motorcycles. They did what they call the words “hooliganism” and “sloppiness”: they loved to remove mufflers from motorcycles and rode them with a wild roar, bringing the townsfolk to the jitters, and also got high from ear-rending musical compositions.

All these fun unorganized rides continued until 1989. Until Zaldostanov (Surgeon), with his authority, gathered some of the “rockers” from Moscow around him and invited them to unite in the Night Wolves motorcycle community, which became known later, including including outside of Russia.

As the leaders of the biker movement in the CIS, the Night Wolves certainly get most of the media attention. The above does not mean that the motorcycle movement in the CIS is not developed. Rather the opposite. If you carefully study the topic, you can find that in the same Russia, in most regional centers, there are various biker communities.

The motorcycle is the center of the biker worldview, so some motorcyclists rally into a community on the principle of owning a particular brand of bike. Considering that Harley-Davidson is the most popular motorcycle in the biker environment, the communities of its owners are most often found in the CIS.

Traditions

In my opinion, 2 items play a special role in the self-identification of bikers: stripes and leather jackets.

Stripes. They identify the biker’s belonging to a particular motorcycle community, they are a visible indication of the values ​​​​and beliefs of which club the motorcyclist shares.

Considering that the first motorcycle clubs consisted mostly of former soldiers, the origins of some biker traditions can be found in the army. For example, in the armed forces, the most humiliating thing is the public deprivation of shoulder straps. It’s the same with bikers: there is nothing worse than being “embroidered” against your will, i.e. lose your stripes. A particularly strong blow to dignity is the “embroidery” by bikers belonging to a different motorcycle community. Therefore, bikers take care of their stripes no less than military personnel – the banner of the unit in which they serve.

In the table below, I have noted the names of the various parts of the patches and what they stand for.

Biker jacket. It was elevated to the rank of a cult biker wardrobe item on the wave of adoration for Marlon Brando, or rather, the bright film image that he embodied. We are talking about a movie called “The Savage”, which tells about the activities of a criminal gang of motorcyclists, led by a brave hero played by Brando.

Before the release of the film, the attitude towards leather jackets was the same as, for example, we have towards an ordinary windbreaker. The windbreaker protects us from the piercing wind and rain, and thanks for that. The jacket simply fulfills its function, and no one makes it an object of religious worship. The same thing happened with the biker jacket: bikers empirically found that the biker jacket protects against injuries more reliably than other jackets. If a biker crashed off a motorcycle in a leather jacket, he was less likely to break his ribs or rip off his skin.

Forecast for 2023

In Russia, the situation is the most unfavorable, and so much so that, imagine, our motorcycle manufacturers are moving their factories abroad. A striking example is the Ural. He has already agreed with the Kazakh government to move production facilities to Petropavlovsk. The reason is not hidden: we need imported components, but they cannot be obtained due to sanctions. So we have to take such radical and costly steps.

It is clear that motorcycles of Russian origin will be available in our country, but this cannot be said about our most popular bikes from the States, Japan and Europe. Refusal of deliveries has already led to a significant increase in prices for everything, in any way related to motorcycles. But this is not the worst.

The worst will begin when a total shortage of motorcycle parts comes. I predict that during this period (sometime in the fall of 2022) it is better not to ride a motorcycle anywhere at all. Okay, if only you lose the bike, but stay alive, but what if not?

In Ukraine, the difficulties will be associated, of course, with hostilities and, possibly, with a serious shortage of fuel. It turns out that motorcycles and spare parts will be available, but problems with bike maintenance (motor services may simply not work due to hostilities) and a lack of fuel put an end to the normal functioning of Ukrainian motorcycle communities. I do not think that there is a leader who will hold any events, thereby disregarding the life and health of his fellows and risking exposing them to shelling or missile attack.

The rest of the CIS is an island of stability compared to Ukraine or Russia. Most likely, unless something unforeseen happens, plans for the 2022 season will be implemented. Of the possible troubles, I admit a slight increase in the cost of motorcycle products.

How to become a member of a motorcycle club: general tips

I will give you some universal life hacks that will suit any environment:

• First of all, membership in a motorcycle club requires a bike and appropriate equipment.

• You need to understand that in the biker environment, mutual assistance and brotherhood are very much appreciated. If you don’t want to live up to these values, don’t waste your time networking with club members.

• Get acquainted with one of the bikers from the club you are interested in. Perhaps in the future he will put in a good word for you.

• Find out about the rules of the motorcycle community and how newbies are treated.

• Prepare for beginner initiation i.e. moral and physical tests when joining the club.

Source: cryptomoto.org