I know this stirs up a lot of differing arguments, and if you are in an MC, feel free to let it fly, cordially. I have this conversation often with folks, and to be clear, I am just a middle aged "cheeseburger biker" having a good time on my bikes.

The topic comes up a lot about 3 piece patches and running into an MC that does not like it. My vest is simply a memory of my life, rides and experiences. Patches from Sturgis to all over the place in the west that I have ridden, but also pride in my service. I do not have an MC or claim territory, but because I am OCD about symmetry, I have a US MARINES top rocker, a VETERAN bottom rocker and a big reflective American flag in the middle of the back.

I have talked to a friend with the local dominant MC just out of curiosity, he said no big deal if you aren't claiming any territory or have an MC on it, what are your guys' thoughts on this? I am not trying to provoke anyone, I just dig the layout of the patches, there are a bunch of other patches on the back as well, however I can see if someone zoomed by the colors may look Bandido to some, but I have never run across any issues.

Let's discuss.

I think if you are a Marine veteran, the only appropriate thing that should be in the center is the anchor and globe. You can fly the colors on the back of your bike. As far as the 3 patch deal: it’s a mixed bag. there are Veteran based MC out there and they go through the whole prospect initiate thing and all that. I just want to get together with my veteran friends and ride. Thats it. We already have a service connection already that civilians won’t understand. We are all brothers and sisters who served together in the Armed Forces. We naturally gravitate towards one another and we have each other’s backs. With or without a patch. All said….. fly your Armed Forces colors and patriotism Aim what ever form. Be proud.

 

Shit, I screwed; I was Air Force.

 

Used to? I still do 😁

Totally agree with you. Ah! the beauty of a Liberal government.
Mind you, with our archaic planes, I remember long time ago when we still flew the F104. During a Red Flag exercise over the desert, you guys were looking for our planes until it was too late, we were on your tails for the kill. This went on until one of your pilot detected a dust trail on the ground. He went down to investigation and that was then that he discover one of are old F104 skimming the ground flying undetected because you guys had you eyes in the cloud.
On another note, we are the only Air Force in the world to have put more than 11G on an F18 and having the pilot land it. We put so much stress on those plane the Douglass are using us as flying test bed.

 

Totally agree with you. Ah! the beauty of a Liberal government.
Mind you, with our archaic planes, I remember long time ago when we still flew the F104. During a Red Flag exercise over the desert, you guys were looking for our planes until it was too late, we were on your tails for the kill. This went on until one of your pilot detected a dust trail on the ground. He went down to investigation and that was then that he discover one of are old F104 skimming the ground flying undetected because you guys had you eyes in the cloud.
On another note, we are the only Air Force in the world to have put more than 11G on an F18 and having the pilot land it. We put so much stress on those plane the Douglass are using us as flying test bed.

Yah but that was our Air Farce. Come on over to Top Gun next time

 

This isn’t towards the OP but it’s towards everyone else that keeps commenting on this talking about how they’ll wear ‘any patches I want to’.

Do whatever you want to. Ever since the advent of the internet, you guys know why you shouldn’t mimic a 3 piece patch on your back and the problems that could come from it if you’ve offended a club. Yet here we are again with everyone trying to convince themselves they can do what they want. Why post about how you’re going to do what you want? Who are you convincing?

Even more ridiculous are the people constantly bringing up crime and motorcycle clubs. MCs aren’t built on crime. MCs are built on brotherhood. I can’t control what my brother does in their personal time, but I will always support them as a brother. If you’re so worried about cops etc. why the hell are you so mystified with the patch layout of a 1%er? Why not do something else? You can make a vest look like anything you want but you choose to wear one that looks like a traditional MC, and then in the same breath talk shit on MCs and their history? Keep your words on the internet. People have died for the right to wear their rags in certain places - don’t come to a club talking this bullshit about how you’re all criminals, you don’t see cop clubs acting like this etc.

 

Funny (to me) story. I was manning the CMA tent at a local bike blessing. It was well attended by the LEOs due to some club disagreements a few years before. The LEOs set up in the fire house parking lot down the street. A "biker" came up to me and asked me if he looks like a criminal. I asked him why and he told me that he went to park in the fire house parking lot and the LEOs told him to move along and I guess they weren't too friendly about it. He kept saying "why do they treat me like a criminal". And he was being a bit loud when asking.

So I told him that the LEOs look at all of us as criminals and that there are some 1%rs in attendence and named off a few starting with Phantoms, Derelicts, Iron Order, Hells Angels... as soon as I mentioned Hells Angels he said "HELLS ANGELS!!! ARE THEY CRIMINALS!!" I said, we the LEOs feel they are. And he repeated "ARE THEY CRIMINALS!" I was just trying to get him to bring his voice down a few db.

Finally he asked about the bike blessing which was still over an hour away so I ofterred to bless his bike for him. We walked over to his bike which was a brand new entry level cruiser but I can't remember exactly. As soon as I was done I mentioned that he could stick around for the main blessing and there was a lot of good food. He said thank you. I wasn't even back to the tent before I heard him riding away.

I figured it was for the best

 

Probably late to the thread. Friend of mine is a police officer on a MC task force. He said definitely do not put 1% patches of any kind on your vest, unless you are. My son-in-law had a three patch for a Christian riding group and got questioned about it.

 

I was active in CMA but the Chapter is now defunct here in SOMD. However, CMA chose to were a one piece patch for that very reason. Biggest concern was to not offend which would hurt our ability to minister to the very group we're trying to reach. Another thing is that there was a training requirement for the patch as well; it wasn't just handed to you for money. Nothing like the probabtionary period for being a full patch in an MC, but it was viewed positively.

 

OP should be able to wear whatever he wants, whenever he wants, without fear, period, full stop. In any disputes about "territory", Vets have secured this entire f*****g country for generations now. They should wear a bottom rocker that says "AMERICA" below any sort of patch they damn well please. NOBODY who hasn't served this country has earned the right to tell them otherwise.

Personally, the only thing on my leather is 30 years worth of bug guts. Gee, I hope I haven't pissed off the bug community.

 

 

So am I violating the unwritten 3 patch rule?

 

I wonder what would happen if a large group of Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeants one day decided they didn't like 1%er members calling themselves "Sergeant at Arms" and decided the 1%ers could not wear THAT patch. If the Gunnys came for those patches, there is zero the bikers could do about it. I get it that outlaws are badasses in their element. But Gunnery Sergeants are badasses in every element.

 

Are we talking Airwing Gunnys, or victory unit Gunnys? 🤣🤪😎

 

Dont care for patches at all. Just ride dont play dress up

 

Hell the fellas I ride with and I don't even call ourselves "bikers", we are enthusiasts. More importantly "cheeseburger enthusiasts", when we ride together it's usually a one day ride for a burger 200 miles away. However along those trips and longer ones here and there, we stop at legendary places, grab a patch, earn a nickname like my pal T-Bone Duncan or another Purple Rain. To us the patches are a story or milestone a memory, and certainly not trying to dress up like the Village People and play 1%-er on weekends. I have one on the front that says Boobies Make Me Happy, because, well, they do, and if per chance I could see some more of them, I would definitely be happy. I get it though, many feel the need to fit in, emulate or take on a persona. Then again, that is up to them and their happiness. I'd rather we all be more accepting and have some good rides than judge others on who we think they are trying to be. If you dig it, right on man. Just like when the Harley dudes try to give me shit for riding that "nice Polaris", I thank them and compliment their bike rather than give into the goading taunt of friendly jesting. Good buddy in my circle rode Harley for ages, then I had him take a spin on my Gold Wing F6b and he was done for, sold it the next week and has spent more time tricking out his wing, we call it the Honda Davidson, because of the razor pack and orang underbody lighting on it.

 

I like boobies too, and motorcycles. Who'd a thunk it....

 

No need for patches if you ride the way God (whichever one you believe in or don't) intended.

 

That's Taking riding a naked bike too literally. At least wearing protective footwear.

 

Almost 150 posts. Can't stop now!

 

Figured we needed a little humor in the thread 😁

 

“The air force is a para-military organization that is sometimes our Allies” - General Mattis to 1st MarDiv in Iraq after 21 days to Baghdad. US airForce killed a bunch of my Marine buddies in An-Nazaria. I was there. Hilarious speech, horrible incident.

 

Yeah. I hear you. It's not only the Air Force that drop their shit at the wrong place, the artillery as well.
In my situation, in Germany our sister sqn, was the 501 ABC "B" Attack flying Cobras. We were flying OH-58 has scouts and calling them when we spotted Armour and other such bad boys.

 

This article about infiltrating a 1% club popped up in my news feed today: ‘They put two contracts out on me’: going undercover with the Pagan Motorcycle Club

 

Another club in the news: - Police: Man beaten by biker club after accidentally bumping member at Carleton bar

 

Another club in the news: - Police: Man beaten by biker club after accidentally bumping member at Carleton bar

Just another, in an unending list of examples, where a "really good kid" who has seizures and "doesn't cause any problems" was obviously not showing the group of Club Members the requisite about of respect that they so obviously deserve for going through that excruciating hang around/probationary process . . .

 

Deadly gunfire Saturday in Fayetteville was among motorcycle gang members, police say



Motorcycle gang members arrested after shooting across Interstate 45 at rival gang.

 

Back in the 70's, a friend of mine's dad owned a neighborhood glass shop, and my friend would work there over summers and winter breaks. He told me about one of his dad's employees that rode his chopped sportster EVERY day - he was in the Outlaws. I met the long-haired freaky looking guy a few times, and since I was so young, he didn't mind answering questions I had. I told him it looked like they had TOO many rules for me to even consider it - I was maybe 14 or 15 years old at the time, which might have saved my ass from a beating (but I could have probably handled "him" as we talked) - he didn't look like much (at 13 I was 6' 0" and 201lbs). It seems to me that these "clubs" have WAY too many rules!

 

Certainly wear them if you like them. But this is what all 3 piece patches look like to me.

 

Train to be 1%er, or just look like one:

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some people will just never get it.

 

99% don’t get it.

 

thats a good one.....ha.

 

Good one percent

 

I got 99 problems and a patch isn't one of them...

 

As long as your bottom rocker doesn’t have a states name nor city / town on it.
Rock on

 

As long as your bottom rocker doesn’t have a states name nor city / town on it.
Rock on

Or, No Mad, World, USA, US, Europe etc…If you’re wearing a 3 piece patch just passing through a city, state, region unannounced or without the required protocol can raise the ire of some. Too bad grown men have to act this way lol.

 

Well let's see,
If your not one and,
Dress like a marine,but aren't one
Marines kick your ass.
Dress like a 1%,but aren't one the
Bikers kick your ass.
Dress like a cop,but aren't one,
The cops kick your ass,impound your bike,lose your job.
Choose wisely.