-Author Unknown
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 clubs 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% is outlaw. This then, began what is today known
as Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs and one percenter 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, and they would drink, and do
other wild things.
Such is history.
The term colors is used in referring to a motorcycle clubs patch set up. In the case of a 3 piece ..... One
is placed over the top of the middle large graphic patch and one placed underneath it. The rockers are
usually curved bars withthe 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 differfrom 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 club.Most club colors will also have M/C
printed on the rocker or a separate "cube" patch with MC on it 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 one piece 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 normally signifies a family club or social motorcycle club when it’s done with respect
to the area clubs.
•A two-piece patch can have many different meanings as long as it’s done with respect
to the area clubs.
•A three-piece patch normally means that the club is a traditional MC club with the top rocker being the
club name, the middle being their patch and the bottom being the territory they exist in. There are also
a few 3pc patch clubs where the bottom rocker has something other than territory, such as a saying.
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 dominant is not a 1% club, but those are few.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 as a prospect he may wear the lower rocker that only says "Prospect". In some areas, the
prospect wears the "Prospect" rocker at the top of the vest. Some clubs even allow the lower rocker saying
prospect and the upper rocker with the club name but notthe main patch. Different clubs do things
differently across the country. Different rocker combinations of what a prospect might wear differs
depending on each club.If he is approved after his prospect time has been determined to be over and the
vote goes in his favor, he then is allowed to have the full colors and is considered to be a full member,
having all three pieces if that club uses the 3 piece patch.
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
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 clubs 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% is outlaw. This then, began what is today known
as Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs and one percenter 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, and they would drink, and do
other wild things.
Such is history.
The term colors is used in referring to a motorcycle clubs patch set up. In the case of a 3 piece ..... One
is placed over the top of the middle large graphic patch and one placed underneath it. The rockers are
usually curved bars withthe 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 differfrom 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 club.Most club colors will also have M/C
printed on the rocker or a separate "cube" patch with MC on it 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 one piece 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 normally signifies a family club or social motorcycle club when it’s done with respect
to the area clubs.
•A two-piece patch can have many different meanings as long as it’s done with respect
to the area clubs.
•A three-piece patch normally means that the club is a traditional MC club with the top rocker being the
club name, the middle being their patch and the bottom being the territory they exist in. There are also
a few 3pc patch clubs where the bottom rocker has something other than territory, such as a saying.
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 dominant is not a 1% club, but those are few.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 as a prospect he may wear the lower rocker that only says "Prospect". In some areas, the
prospect wears the "Prospect" rocker at the top of the vest. Some clubs even allow the lower rocker saying
prospect and the upper rocker with the club name but notthe main patch. Different clubs do things
differently across the country. Different rocker combinations of what a prospect might wear differs
depending on each club.If he is approved after his prospect time has been determined to be over and the
vote goes in his favor, he then is allowed to have the full colors and is considered to be a full member,
having all three pieces if that club uses the 3 piece patch.
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
© Top Hatters Motorcycle Club
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