Biker Patches Are A Part Of Biker Life

Motorcycles and biker patches are a natural combination. Leather jackets, denim vests lend themselves to patches to make a statement. Whether that statement is about politics, humor, religion or a declaration of club membership, biker patches can make it succinctly.



Biker patches aren’t new. They’ve been around almost as long as motorcycles themselves. It’s all part of the biker ethos of individuality. Biker patches give riders a means of expression of their beliefs.



Most people are familiar with the classic large biker patches attached to the back of riders’ jackets or vests. They’re not often aware of distinctions between the styles of the patches, and they are sometimes unaware of other styles of biker patches that also are available.



The appeal of biker patches extends to most riders. Motorcycle club members, riders’ clubs, police officers, military units and others commonly sport biker patches on the backs of their riding gear.



The large biker patches that identify members of organizations are specific to their individual organizations. For example, the Patriot Guard Riders, who provide funeral escorts for military veterans, have their own specific biker patches. So do groups such as law enforcement officers’ rider clubs, veterans’ rider clubs and other such groups.



While the large back patches are the most common, smaller biker patches also are quite popular. Some riders wear flag patches to denote their patriotism. Others wear memorial patches to commemorate lost friends and fellow riders. In many cases, riders choose humorous patches to make a statement or political point. Whatever the reason, any good supplier can produce biker patches to fit these styles.



Of course, the style most people associate with biker patches is the classic three-piece patch design that motorcycle club members traditionally wear. This is the style that is most commonly used to indicate that a motorcycle club is a so-called "outlaw" club, meaning one that is not officially sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.



Traditional three-piece biker patches feature a large center piece on the back of a jacket or vest that is the club’s specific design. The center patch is flanked by two rockers, one above and one below. The top rocker usually indicates the name of the club and the bottom one shows the club’s home city or state. Occasionally, a small "MC" also appears on the centerpiece of the biker patches.



One-piece biker patches, consisting only of the center design, usually indicate the wearer is a member of a riders’ club such as those linked to various motorcycle manufacturers. Unlike clubs that wear three-piece biker patches, groups such as Harley-Davidson’s Harley Owners Group (HOG) have no specific membership requirements other than owning a motorcycle of the club-specific make.



Some clubs have a two-piece patch, although these are less common than the single-piece or three-piece designs. These are most often clubs that are affiliated with a local outlaw club, and many times are in the process of becoming a club that wears full three-piece biker patches.



For traditional outlaw clubs, the three-piece biker patches are a badge of honor, a hard-won symbol of membership. These biker patches are worn only by "full patch" club members after successfully completing an apprenticeship process that can last for several years.