Biker Patches Are Available In Styles To Match The Lifestyle

For many people, motorcycles are the epitome of freedom and the romance of the open road. The riders are those who can’t be tamed, the black sheep, the ones who won’t be tied to a desk or a time clock. Members of this independent breed have adopted custom biker patches as a way to make their point of view known.



Biker patches are a motorcycling tradition, one that’s been around almost from the time Harley met Davidson. Just as motorcycles themselves have evolved over the decades, so have the machines that make embroidered biker patches. Just as the bikes have become high-tech marvels with advances such as antilock brakes, dual overhead cams and electronic fuel injection, so have embroidery machines become computer controlled high production wonders that can crank out biker patches by the thousands.



Just like motorcycles, biker patches come in a variety of styles and shapes. Different styles fit different purposes. From small to large, one-piece to three, biker patches carry a message.



Let’s start with small biker patches. These are often worn on the front of riders’ jackets or vests, or on jacket sleeves. These patches can contain flags, political statements or humorous sayings. Some riders like to commemorate special rides or events with patches. Some wear memorial biker patches to commemorate lost friends.



For most people, the term "biker patches" refers to the large patches worn on the back of riders’ leather or denim jackets or vests. These classic biker patches are the symbols of motorcycle riders to much of the American public.



The back patches come in three basic styles, with each generally representing a different rider group. Single-piece biker patches most often represent a riders’ club, frequently one affiliated with a specific motorcycle manufacturer. This includes groups such as Harley-Davidson’s Harley Owners Group (HOG) that have no specific membership requirements to wear the biker patches beyond owning a bike of the designated make.



Although relatively uncommon, some motorcycle clubs use two-piece biker patches. These are usually clubs affiliated with a local "outlaw" club, one that wears the most common three-piece biker patches. In many cases, the clubs with two-piece patches are in transition to becoming a full-on outlaw club that wears three-piece biker patches.



The style of biker patches most familiar to many people is the classic three-piece back patch worn by so-called outlaw motorcycle clubs. In this instance, "outlaw" means clubs not sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.



Traditionally, three-piece biker patches feature a large center piece with a design specific to the particular club. The center piece is flanked above and below by two rockers. The top rocker states the name of the club, and the bottom one indicates the club’s home city or state.



Three-piece biker patches signify a true commitment to a club. Earning all three pieces requires undergoing an apprenticeship process that often lasts for years. The wearers of three-piece biker patches are referred to as "full patch" members, and often wear the patches, known as "colors," for life.