| When it comes to motorcycles and | | | | motorcyclists and their club patches are cut |
| motorcyclists, patches and emblems are one | | | | into three pieces. The top piece features |
| way to both set yourself apart and define | | | | the name of the club, the middle section |
| yourself as part of a group. Many motorcycle | | | | features the club's emblem and the lower |
| clubs, both formal and informal, use patches | | | | piece designates the chapter that the member |
| and emblems to identify themselves. You can | | | | hails from. |
| use these patches to locate other chapters of | | | | |
| your motorcycle club, express your interests | | | | As time has gone on, the distinction of a |
| and proclaim your allegiances and lifestyle | | | | one, two or three piece motorcycle patch |
| decisions. Motorcycle patches are most | | | | emblem has come to signify certain things. A |
| popularly placed on jackets and they are | | | | single, whole patch states that the wearer is |
| great way to locate other people who are "in | | | | in a law abiding motorcycle group, while a |
| the know." | | | | three piece patch indicates active service in |
| | | | Outlaw Motorcycle club. On the other hand, a |
| Many motorcycle clubs have unique patches and | | | | two piece patch can indicate that the |
| emblems that are used exclusively by their | | | | motorcycle club one belongs to is being |
| members. These patches are often custom-made | | | | considered for acceptance into the Outlaw |
| and commissioned from embroidery shops. Then | | | | Motorcycle Club. |
| they are distributed among the members. Some | | | | |
| clubs use ceremony or hazing techniques while | | | | A complete discussion of motorcycle patches |
| other clubs are a great deal more casual. | | | | might prove to be impossible; every year, the |
| While some clubs have uniforms, for other | | | | club change, the emblems change and the |
| clubs, the motorcycle patches are the only | | | | meanings are in a constant state of flux. No |
| way to denote membership. | | | | matter what a person is wearing, remember |
| | | | that making assumptions regarding their |
| It is difficult to discuss the use of | | | | status in a motorcycle club or their |
| motorcycle patches without discussing the | | | | participation is not only unrealistic, it can |
| "one percenters." After a rash of unfriendly | | | | also be considered rude. |
| and unflattering media regarding the | | | | |
| motorcycling lifestyle was produce, the | | | | Whether you are designing a motorcycle patch |
| American Motorcycle Association declared that | | | | or you have recently become a full fledged |
| 99 percent of all motorcyclists were law | | | | member of one, it is important to take a look |
| abiding citizens; only 1 percent participated | | | | around and see what motorcycle patches mean |
| in any sort of criminal or antisocial | | | | to your club. Find out the local language is |
| activity. Individuals and groups began to | | | | in terms of motorcycle patches and make sure |
| adopt the moniker "One percenters" to | | | | you are fluent! |
| separate themselves from the mainstream | | | | |