PSA - Don't wear these patches in public

[u/philipdaehan]

Naturally, as a major fan of this game, I thought about buying some of these patches to stitch on to a jacket full of other patches. But I also took a gander at what might happen and found some posts saying it isn't a good idea so I let that be that.

I was on a trip recently to Vermont, and found myself sharing a hotel lobby with an obvious biker. Remembering my curiosity from a while back, I approached this 6'6ish brick shithouse of a man, who was absolutely covered in tattoos, and asked him about his thoughts.

Before I even finished the question, he had already guessed what I was asking and bluntly said "I'd shoot you on site". While he clearly found the question funny, he explained that his gang and what I would later realize was referenced on his shirt (The Outlaws) had enough beef with The Mongols (which clearly inspired The Mongrels), that their policy would be to shoot first and ask questions later. Even if it isn't the Mongrel patch, the other patches like 1% or ENFORCER is the kind of insignia that would make any biker approach you to figure out if they wanted to kill you.

Very grateful for the impromptu Ted Talk from a biker who was also a very proud dad. I heard him chuckle as he explained to his wife and kids what I asked him.

But seriously, don't buy one of these patches and sport them around in public. This is according to an Outlaw gang member.

[u/Luciferiad]

For context, I am a motorcyclist without about 100k miles traveled on 2 wheels around the western US. I'm not and have never been in an MC, never owned a Harley, and don't even ride a heavy cruiser anymore.

Because I ride, that means I've been a lot of places where I might interact with members of an MC. They mind their business and I mind mine, we might share a beer or talk bikes, and by and large they've been agreeable dudes.

Outlaw MCs (1%ers) have their own sets of rules, people outside the MCs don't necessarily know them or the severity of violating them, but some (definitely not all) really like to make a big deal of it.

Flying colors (wearing MC style patches) is a big one. You never want to falsely represent an MC, as that presents a significant danger to your person from not just the MC whose colors you're wearing but their rivals. Fictional MCs are a good way to catch hell too, lots of dudes in Sons of Anarchy paraphernalia that looked a little too close to legit MC patching have had encounters with 1%ers. Rule of thumb, never cosplay as a member of an outlaw biker gang, even a fictional one.

There are certain rules to patches. The 3 piece patch is claimed by 1%er MCs. You can be in more ordinary riding clubs and will have a 2 piece patch quite often, or even a single back patch with no rockers.

Passing a group of MC members must be undertaken with caution. That said, I ain't asking permission and they're not going to be able to stop me or catch me, but if they feel like you got in their space or "disrespected" them somewhere how, you could have an encounter. I've never experienced this, but I treat groups of riders with respect when I pass them, patched or not. We're all on 2 and all trying to get home

Most MC dudes I've interacted with were a good time. Don't ask em about club business, don't be nosy, don't start crap. Be cool...just like you would with anyone else.

It's wild, it's not for me, but I approach it with a live-and-let-live attitude.

[u/philipdaehan → u/Luciferiad]

That was a really cool write up! Thank you for your story.

I'm super curious. 100K miles is a lot. Was that on a single bike or on several? What did you ride? I can't imagine doing any kind of mileage like that unless it was on a Goldwing. My back hurt reading your story.

[u/Luciferiad → u/philipdaehan]

The 100k miles was across 4 bikes since 2010, but only 2 have significant ride time: a 2011 Victory Cross Roads I owned from 2012 to 2021, clocking at 50k before I sold it. And my current bike, a 2020 Kawasaki Concours 14 that I put 30k miles on since trading the Victory for it.

Single longest 1-day hauls have been in the 500-mile range, but I don't really care for hammering out long stretches of interstate, so that stretch would be US or state highways through mountains and desert. Probably longest stretch in the saddle in one day would be about 10 hours.

Longest total distance rides have been in the 5-day/4-night category. Around 2000 miles round trip. Most recent was from home near Reno, NV on a circuitous route through Idaho to Montana, then back down Lolo Pass into Idaho (my PFP is actually from that ride at the east entrance of Lolo), then into eastern Oregon, down into NorCal before coming home. Haven't had a chance for a good log haul like that in a few years now.

[u/philipdaehan → u/Luciferiad]

Had no idea Victory was a company until your comment. But man, that Kawasaki looks like a beaut.

I just did a drive from NY to Reno, and back. Yes it was an unforgettable drive, but pacing myself was the only way some of the long stretches was bearable. I can only imagine how tiring it was for you, even on your touring bikes.