Boston Motorcycle Injury Lawyer Blog

Recently, the movie Wild Hogs illustrated a problem that happens in the biker community.  The movie was funny and entertaining but the underlying problem can be a serious one.

In this movie, 4 middle aged, middle class friends decide to take a road trip across the country on their Harley Davidson motorcycles. One of their wives created a patch for them and they were affectionately known as the Wild Hogs. During a stop for food, the Wild Hogs encounter a real outlaw motorcycle gang called the Del Fuegos who don’t appreciate their ‘fake gang’. At this point, a comedic conflict ensues between the Del Fuegos and the Wild Hogs.

Wearing a biker patch can draw the attention of outlaw motorcycle clubs.

Outlaw motorcycle clubs (sometimes called 1 percenters) are clubs embracing the motorcycle subculture popularized in the 1950-1960s. While not all of these clubs are violent or steeped in illegal activity, most outlaw clubs are at least territorial. Riding into an outlaw biker location wearing a biker patch could cause a conflict.

Outlaw motorcycle clubs are highly organized and most have an approved charter in order to exist. Within the charter are officers, rules of conduct, dues, scheduled meetings, and other formal requirements.

Membership to an outlaw motorcycle club usually requires dues to be paid and a trial period of observation to be completed. During this period the club ‘prospect’ has to prove himself worthy of membership. In the vast majority of outlaw motorcycle clubs, women cannot become full members.

Outlaw biker clubs are organized outside of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and governing bodies, and have syndicates of their own to valid clubs. Wearing a patch of a non-AMA and a non-syndicate approved club around outlaw bikers could cause a major problem. There have been incidents of fights, damaged or stolen motorcycles, or public ridicule.

If you and your friends are wearing patches and run into an outlaw motorcycle club locally or during a road trip, here are a few suggestions to keep the peace.

• Take off your vests/jackets: Wearing a non-syndicate patch around syndicate outlaw biker clubs will always get a reaction. Take off your vest or jacket to show you are a ‘civilian.’

• Ask to speak to the President or Honcho: Ask to speak to whoever is the highest ranking club member to let them know your intentions.

• Be respectful:  Acknowledge the outlaw club and all its members and respect their wishes.

• Apologize and leave: If nothing else works, politely apologize and leave as quickly as possible.

The best thing to do is not to wear a motorcycle patch on your back unless you are part of an AMA or approved outlaw motorcycle club. There are plenty of motorcycle apparel pieces to buy that look cool and will keep you out of trouble.

True bikers love their bikes and love the open road. For true bikers, nothing is better than having a significant other that shares that love of the motorcycle lifestyle.

Biker dating websites make finding and dating fellow bikers a bit easier.

Bikers are typically easy to find. Just look for a location with a bunch of motorcycles and you’ll find a bunch of bikers. Dating a biker is not always that easy. Motorcycle events are not always geared towards having conversations about anything other than bikes.

Biker websites also give bikers and easier way to meet bikers in other states.

Here are a few biker websites to try.

• http://www.bikerpassions.com
• http://www.bikerkiss.com
• http://www.bikermatchmaking.com
• http://www.bikerplanet.com

Some of these sites offer more than just dating services. Some offer social networking, motorcycle forums, used bike sales, and motorcycle safety tips. Some of these sites offer services at a small monthly fee others are free to register and browse.

If you’ve tried other dating sites in the past, why not try a motorcycle specific dating site? Who knows, you may find that special someone that also has a Harley Davidson.

One of the best things about being a biker is hanging out with other bikers. Whether it’s a weekend ride with a pack of Harleys, a day at the motorcycle race track, or a gathering at a local restaurant, networking with other bikers is always a treat.

Bikers love to show off their bikes, talk about their most recent motorcycle adventures, and exhibit their extreme knowledge of everything motorcycle related. Although bikers like to brag and boast, there always seems to be a spirit of camaraderie, friendship, and community at biker events.

For new bikers, bikers who relocate, or those looking for new friends, meetup.com is a great source to find bikers and motorcycle events.

Meetup.com is a website featuring a large network of local groups. These groups are generally formed around activities, hobbies, or common interests. Individuals can search for specific groups, join the group, and receive emails about upcoming events. Individuals can also start a group for a small fee. Members are able to join as many groups as they like completely free of charge.

When joining meetup.com, a new member creates a profile including location, areas of interest, pictures, and a bio. Different photos and bios can be created for different groups that a new member joins. If there is not a local group fitting the interest of the new member, the new member can create search terms so when a suitable group is created, the new member will receive a notification.

Using the search phrase “motorcycle riders” within 100 miles of Palm Beach County, Florida, 23 motorcycle groups were found with membership ranging from 14 to 179 members. Some of the upcoming events posted by a few of these groups include bike nights, weekend rides, a Ducati Club Meeting, a beginning motoX event, and a charity ride.

Depending on the location, the number of groups may vary. With over 5 million members, 179,000 monthly events, meetup groups in over 11,000 cities, and over 8000 different meetup group topics, it is likely there is a motorcycle group close by. There are lots of sources for finding motorcycle events and other bikes but none are as comprehensive as meetup.com.

Best Western has extended its travel partnership with Harley-Davidson for another 3 years.

If you ride a Harley, consider joining the Best Western Ride Rewards program and staying at a Best Western hotel while on the road.

Membership in the rewards program is free and you get enhanced travel benefits. For example, every U.S. dollar you spend on qualified room rates worldwide earns you 10 points. If you prefer, each stay can earn you 250 airline miles instead.

You earn the points or miles whether or not you happen to be riding, so you can still benefit when you take the missus to the Virgin Islands.

Again, membership is free; just register online with the Best Western Ride Rewards program. As an alternative, you can register by phone at 1-888-BW2BIKE.

Harley Riders Receive Travel Benefits

When you do register, you will automatically receive a free upgrade to gold elite status so you will earn 10% bonus points with each stay.

If you are a H.O.G. member, you will automatically receive a free upgrade to platinum elite status, which comes with greater benefits:

• Earn 15% bonus points with each stay;
• Get complimentary room upgrades (when available);
• Take advantage of early check-ins and late checkouts (if available).

Best Western has some 2,400 hotels across the United States. Of these, some 1,200 are certified “rider-friendly,” which provide amenities geared to Harley riders. For example, you will receive a wipe-down rags and gain access to a washing station. Some hotels also offer reserved parking spaces, bottled water, lip balm, or other benefits.

Your Ride Rewards points never expire. What is more, all Harley enthusiasts receive a minimum 10% savings on room rates in the United States and Canada.

If you join now and stay at a Best Western before Dec. 31, 2009, you will earn 1,000 bonus points. That will get you well on your way toward redeeming hotel stays or spending points on a host of other rewards.

In addition to free room nights at Best Western, you can spend your points on:

• Best Buy gift cards;
• Applebee’s gift cards;
• Shell gas cards;
• American Airlines flights;
• Garmin Portable GPS Navigation System;
• Sea World tickets.

This is just a partial list. For more information on all the ways you can spend your earned points, check out the Best Western Ride Rewards points webpage.

Best Western operates more than 4,000 hotels worldwide, including 150 in Canada and 40 in Mexico. The company announced the extension of its partnership with Harley-Davidson in a press release in July.

For more information, visit the Best Western Ride Rewards Web site.

I do not know about you, but I would love to win free gas for my motorcycle.

That is just what Conoco is offering this summer: a chance to win free gas prizes, including free gas for life.

According to the rules, you can stop in at any participating 76, Phillips 66, or Conoco retail station and fill up with a minimum 10 gallons of gasoline (or diesel fuel) to request a game card.

My bike only holds 4.6 gallons of gasoline so I will have to fill up my wife’s car.

You can also request a game card without making a purchase via self-addressed stamped envelope.

Whether you try in person or by mail, you can enter once each day.

But hurry, you can only receive game cards through Aug. 31, 2009.

The contest is only open to U.S. residents of these states: Arkansas, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. Other restrictions apply.

For more information, visit the Conoco Gas for Life promotional Web site.

One of the great things about the Internet is that it allows people with similar interests to connect with each other instantly. Whether you’re looking for a riding partner, planning a route for a trip, learning basic maintenance procedures, communicating your enthusiasm for a particular brand, or what have you, chances are there’s an online site where you can network.

Women riders, for example, can find a host of Web sites geared specifically to women and motorcycles. Harley-Davidson hosts such a community on a section of its Web site. Recently updated, the Web site features inspirational stories from women riders, information for new women riders, women’s events, a trip planner, and more.

Check out the Harley-Davidson Women Riders Web site.

Women riders interested in networking offline should consider attending the American Motorcyclist Association‘s annual women’s motorcycling conference.

For more information on this year’s event, which is presented by Harley-Davidson and Buell, visit the AMA International Women and Motorcycling Conference Web site. But hurry–the conference takes place on Aug. 19-22 in Keystone, CO.