Sweatnbullets said:
Hey guys, there is a big difference between "outlaw biker" and a biker. My past experience is with outlaw bikers.
Yes, there is. But it is not as clear cut as turning one of these guys upside down to look at the union label.
Here goes.
By definition, an "outlaw" is a motorcycle contest entrant who is not a member of the American Motorcycle Association.
Because some bikers were supposedly causing the sport problems, one official assured the public that "99% of the motorcyclist were good citizens." Hence, we have two biker slang terms.
One biker laughed that he was now a "1%er," and the overall term for non-riding people as "citizens."
Now is where it gets murky. I do not believe that any club actually formed to be outlaw from the first meeting. Most of these clubs have roots from the 1940's and 1950's before our terms were even coined. My club was formed in 1968, deliberately as a non-outlaw club, primarily as a riding and touring association. Yikes, it gets even murkier.
While three members of my club were AMA members for the purposes of participating in sanctioned events, my club does
not hold an AMA franchise. I never participated in AMA sanctioned events, nor am I a member of the AMA at large.
On paper,
on paper,
on paper, a member of the AMA would and could point his bony, anal, holier than thou finger in my direction and gasp, "Chico is an outlaw! Hide the women!"
In truth, my club organizes Red Cross blood drives, St. Vincent de Paul clothing rides, we are part of Harley's MDA drives to raise funds for medical causes, and several of our members are veterans.
I would be highly insulted if you accused me of being an outlaw or a RUB.
To my way of thinking, the overall concept to describe the function and direction of a cycle club by terming them "outlaw" is outdated and subject to the wrong interpretation.
There are numerous members of my cycle club who are more honest, giving, helpful and committed to their families
than the gossipping members of my church. And that's a fact.
If you doubt so much as one word I have stated here, come meet me in person to have a knife sharpened. I'm not hiding, don't worry about your safety, I have never been "a warrior."
Edit:
This is very important. Due to another matter (very similar to this) the club officers have reminded me that in discussing overall club issues that I am to remind the citizens that I am not a club spokesman nor do I represent the club in any way. No problem there. I was never a club officer, nor do I want that headache.