Evolution Part II
THE EVOLUTION OF THE URBAN BIKER SET:
Have Motorcycle Clubs Changed Their Focus?
PART II
A NEW HORIZON
While there may be a downside to the expansion of the bike set, there are many good things that are developing as well. “Clubs today are larger and potentially better because of diversity,” Swag believes. “More women riders and more ethnicities riding together puts a smile on my face whenever I see them, when I am apart of them, or when I just imagine it in my mind!”
With thousands of bike clubs being focused on charity, many people and organizations are receiving attention and help from perhaps an unexpected source. “Many clubs are doing great things for the public community, as well give great support for issues of other organizations, such as breast cancer awareness, food for the homeless and the recently started H.I.V Awareness drive started by Mocha of T~N~T MC,” says Teflon, P.R.O. of the 2000 born NeX Level South Jer~Z MC. “Today’s clubs focus on unity, maintaining as well as elevating the image of bikers as a whole.”
Bike clubs and members are increasingly going into business as well. The North Carolina chapter of the #1 Stunnas benefits from Whipz & Chainz, a Durham bike shop owned by #1 Stunna Carlos “Overkill” Brown. He provides in-demand customization and maintenance service to all bikers in the area and beyond and he keeps his Stunna family involved. It is managed by #1 Stunna, Rodney “Big Spoon” Whitherspoon. Like this, many clubs are becoming small business by producing and selling mass-market merchandise as well as putting on and promoting entertainment events.
“Right before our eyes we became a business, with budgets, timelines, monthly bills, etc.,” says Deuce Riders’ Glenn Edwards. “It continues to outgrow the dues your members pay, so you need a outside source of income. The sad thing is we can never go back to being a local club, just hanging out within the city limits, we now have national obligations.” And there seems to be a new competition with some clubs to be the biggest, the flashiest, the most popular and to have the most assets. Little Dragon commented that the old clubs were comprised of road warriors that did events. A shared belief is that some of today’s clubs are comprised of event promoters that occasionally ride. He and many others believe that we are in the midst of fad or of masses following a popular trend and that this too shall pass and, when it does, the true road warriors will remain. Still riding.
Positive changes in society provided benefits to the bike club members. Technology has allowed them to connect in ways that couldn’t be done in the past. Got an annual event? Today, members can reach more than the bikers that are in their own city or state. The Internet, Yahoogroups, and Myspace are examples of tools that has given the urban biker power to instantly make other bikers aware of a charity event, trophy party, bike sales, or to send fallen biker alerts. The entire world can be informed about a club’s happenings in a matter of minutes. Text messaging affords bikers the ability to get information out within or across clubs, to signal for help, or to notify others of a sudden change in plans. In the right hands, these tools tend to unite riders, creating a new worldwide brotherhood of bikers.
“For the most part the change in the biker community has been for the better. The old school riders will always say ‘Things aren't like they use to be,’ which is true, but we are making great progress on what was started many years ago,” said Teflon. Swag also added, “With the number of riders today due to the love of “two,” with high gas prices turning more people on to two wheels, and with those who are the weekend warriors, the bike scene, if united, can be a large force for good or bad at anytime.
A LOOK TO THE FUTURE
As with anything, there is always room for improvement, and this includes the urban biker set. While tradition is important to cultures, families, and organization for remaining true to their core, self-evaluation for betterment is equally just as important. “Every thing that has a function should change,” Teflon said. “Many clubs should sit down every two years and look at where they are and where they are headed and use current events to benchmark how they can impact their community.”
One of the things that Swag feels can get better in the biker community is the improvement the biker and MC image. “Sport bike MC’s (when in a group) are often viewed as loud, rowdy, and runners from the cops. Cruisers/Choppers are looked at as troublemakers and almost always associated with the Hells Angels. The numerous community service, charity and family events are overshadowed by one accident, death, or arrest covered by the media. Are you likely to see an article or media coverage titled ‘Ride for Autism’ or ‘Ride from Hell: Man Runs from Cop and Dies?’ We need the media to help reverse the negative image bikers have. MC’s need to get the media more involved on all the events and community service projects going on every weekend all around the nation.”
Another area commonly touted as in need of improvement is in safety. Swag stated, “MC’s need to make safety a rule, create penalties and make it unacceptable to take safety for granted. Newbies need to be embraced and not isolated because of the type of ride they have or how long they have been riding because the Vets like us need to take them under our wing and keep them from making those newbie and sometimes deadly mistakes.” Previously, Little Dragon quoted the three areas of focus for clubs back in the day as camaraderie, the iron, and the road. Today, Swag offers that, “Family, safety, and community should be the first three primary focuses and anything else falls after.”
So as with anything with the passing of time, changes abound. Some for the better. Some for worse. But worse with the opportunity for improvement. And in looking to further improvements in the future, we must look at and learn from the past. Little Dragon offers this to the younger and newer riders: “Take a moment out of your time to talk to an older club. One that has been around anywhere from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. And ask them, ‘What did it take for you to achieve longevity?’ Nit-pick with them. Get the old school stories. Listen and learn.”
"Have we lost our purpose?" Glenn ponders the question I proposed to him. “Naw, as I said, we just upgraded the purpose.”
Back to Part I
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.
Have Motorcycle Clubs Changed Their Focus?
PART II
A NEW HORIZON
While there may be a downside to the expansion of the bike set, there are many good things that are developing as well. “Clubs today are larger and potentially better because of diversity,” Swag believes. “More women riders and more ethnicities riding together puts a smile on my face whenever I see them, when I am apart of them, or when I just imagine it in my mind!”
With thousands of bike clubs being focused on charity, many people and organizations are receiving attention and help from perhaps an unexpected source. “Many clubs are doing great things for the public community, as well give great support for issues of other organizations, such as breast cancer awareness, food for the homeless and the recently started H.I.V Awareness drive started by Mocha of T~N~T MC,” says Teflon, P.R.O. of the 2000 born NeX Level South Jer~Z MC. “Today’s clubs focus on unity, maintaining as well as elevating the image of bikers as a whole.”
Bike clubs and members are increasingly going into business as well. The North Carolina chapter of the #1 Stunnas benefits from Whipz & Chainz, a Durham bike shop owned by #1 Stunna Carlos “Overkill” Brown. He provides in-demand customization and maintenance service to all bikers in the area and beyond and he keeps his Stunna family involved. It is managed by #1 Stunna, Rodney “Big Spoon” Whitherspoon. Like this, many clubs are becoming small business by producing and selling mass-market merchandise as well as putting on and promoting entertainment events.
Positive changes in society provided benefits to the bike club members. Technology has allowed them to connect in ways that couldn’t be done in the past. Got an annual event? Today, members can reach more than the bikers that are in their own city or state. The Internet, Yahoogroups, and Myspace are examples of tools that has given the urban biker power to instantly make other bikers aware of a charity event, trophy party, bike sales, or to send fallen biker alerts. The entire world can be informed about a club’s happenings in a matter of minutes. Text messaging affords bikers the ability to get information out within or across clubs, to signal for help, or to notify others of a sudden change in plans. In the right hands, these tools tend to unite riders, creating a new worldwide brotherhood of bikers.
“For the most part the change in the biker community has been for the better. The old school riders will always say ‘Things aren't like they use to be,’ which is true, but we are making great progress on what was started many years ago,” said Teflon. Swag also added, “With the number of riders today due to the love of “two,” with high gas prices turning more people on to two wheels, and with those who are the weekend warriors, the bike scene, if united, can be a large force for good or bad at anytime.
A LOOK TO THE FUTUREAs with anything, there is always room for improvement, and this includes the urban biker set. While tradition is important to cultures, families, and organization for remaining true to their core, self-evaluation for betterment is equally just as important. “Every thing that has a function should change,” Teflon said. “Many clubs should sit down every two years and look at where they are and where they are headed and use current events to benchmark how they can impact their community.”
One of the things that Swag feels can get better in the biker community is the improvement the biker and MC image. “Sport bike MC’s (when in a group) are often viewed as loud, rowdy, and runners from the cops. Cruisers/Choppers are looked at as troublemakers and almost always associated with the Hells Angels. The numerous community service, charity and family events are overshadowed by one accident, death, or arrest covered by the media. Are you likely to see an article or media coverage titled ‘Ride for Autism’ or ‘Ride from Hell: Man Runs from Cop and Dies?’ We need the media to help reverse the negative image bikers have. MC’s need to get the media more involved on all the events and community service projects going on every weekend all around the nation.”
Another area commonly touted as in need of improvement is in safety. Swag stated, “MC’s need to make safety a rule, create penalties and make it unacceptable to take safety for granted. Newbies need to be embraced and not isolated because of the type of ride they have or how long they have been riding because the Vets like us need to take them under our wing and keep them from making those newbie and sometimes deadly mistakes.” Previously, Little Dragon quoted the three areas of focus for clubs back in the day as camaraderie, the iron, and the road. Today, Swag offers that, “Family, safety, and community should be the first three primary focuses and anything else falls after.”
So as with anything with the passing of time, changes abound. Some for the better. Some for worse. But worse with the opportunity for improvement. And in looking to further improvements in the future, we must look at and learn from the past. Little Dragon offers this to the younger and newer riders: “Take a moment out of your time to talk to an older club. One that has been around anywhere from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. And ask them, ‘What did it take for you to achieve longevity?’ Nit-pick with them. Get the old school stories. Listen and learn.”
"Have we lost our purpose?" Glenn ponders the question I proposed to him. “Naw, as I said, we just upgraded the purpose.”
Back to Part I
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.
ABOUT THE FEATURE WRITER
Cherlyn "2Spicy" Michaels is a member of the St. Louis #1 Stunnas Motorsports Club and the author of two novels, including her latest, First Fridays. Visit her online at www.myspace.com/cherlynmichaels or email her at 2Spicy@urbanburnout.com.
