Quote:
Originally Posted by gumby
'Were they a gang like the Hells Angels or Banditos or was it a bunch of rich middle aged guys on bikes out for a ride'
Nope,they were were wearing some sort of 'rockers..patches' I didnt pay too much attenion to but defintely not wanna be posers
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It can be hard to tell who is who in their zoo from the outside looking in. Especially now in the post
Sons of Anarchy era, far too many casual riders and riding clubs are starting to wear outlaw club regalia.
I probably know too much about this (maybe I paid more attention than I thought), having flown too close to this flame when I was an angry, misguided kid. This is the one area in which this world definitely has rules. This is the one area where violation of those rules can have some very serious consequences.
The classic outlaw club "patch" has three components. The central patch with the club's insignia (death's head for the HA, fat little frito bandido dude for the Bandidos, a Mongol warrior for the Mongols, etc.), the "top rocker" with the club's name, and the "bottom rocker" with the particular chapter's claimed "territory".
This "three piece" patch is the sole province of the "1%er" clubs, otherwise known as "diamond clubs" owing to a diamond shaped patch that says "1%". Show up with a diamond 1% patch if you are not a member of a diamond club and it will get removed. How forcibly is up to you. Show up with the lower, third rocker on your vest if you are not a member of a diamond club, and the same applies. Guys have gotten severely beaten over this.
Form your own club with a three piece patch and the diamond patch and you will absolutely get to meet representatives of the "dominant" club in your area. Other clubs forming in their area are a major, major affront to them. You can go to the dominant club, hat in hand, and ask "permission" to form your own club, but the answer is almost always "no". Do it anyway, because you are all tough guys and no one tells you what to do, and you'll find out... People have been killed over this. They take it that seriously.
I was kind of surprised, though, that even if you are clearly not a part of their dysfunctional little world, that merely passing them on the road could lead to trouble. That's a bridge too far.