[Stormusa]

I am a vet myself.

I am in a 3 patch club. For the most part the clubs will ignore you if you are not flying club colors and a rocker. But there are assholes in every club, and some will sound ("challenge") you. It just depends on the club, place, time, and patch holders. The way I see it you should be able to wear what you want, but the way the clubs see it, if you are not going to be in a club, you should not set up a cut to emulate being in a club. This goes for the guys that take the time to wear lone wolf crap, which to club guys is like a big f you. There are many here that will say I am full of shit, etc., but I have been in clubs over 20 years and it is what it is. If you do not want hassles from clubs, do not set up cuts that look like club cuts. Good luck.

 

[milano30man1]

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.

 

[Mantaiv]

Here's my vest, just memories and who I am, no representation of any type of club. Other than natural born killers I fought beside.
View attachment 674685

Thats not claiming a MC. I think you’d be good amongst the mc’s in our neighborhood. ( opinion of me me means nothing lol)

 

[Don Quichotte]

As a Veteran and a member of a group that wears patches.
99% of MC's won't say a word to you..
They may ask where you served..but that's about it.

Dr. D, you're talking about the 99% of the 1%er right? If so, that would be 0.01%. WOW!

 

[Don Quichotte]

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.

 

[bobwayne17]

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.

 

[Mutant]

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.

 

[2W4E]

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.

 

[Sensquatch]

Here's my vest, just memories and who I am, no representation of any type of club. Other than natural born killers I fought beside.
View attachment 674685

I am an Army Infantry Vet and did something similar.

 

[Jarhead65]

Here's my vest, just memories and who I am, no representation of any type of club. Other than natural born killers I fought beside.
View attachment 674685

You earned it. Display it proudly. Ooraw! As for all the other patches, I never did clubs - of any kind. I’m not and never was a follower.
Given that, it sounds like you might be reading into the whole thing just a little much. You definitely don’t want to piss on somebody’s leg. But one thing you can take to the bank: if you think you know what other people are thinking - you’re wrong and whatever they might be thinking, how’s that going to affect your life? I don’t much care what people think as long as they simply give me the same respect everyone deserves and everyone gets from me…the respect of being a human being.
Respect will take you further than acceptance will. ESPECIALLY in a courtroom (for example). It’s much easier and certainly less stressful to be yourself than what it is to try and be what you think other people think you should be.
I have a USMC tattoo on my left shoulder and one on my right that says “believing people made me the asshole I am today.”
‘Ride with pride and relax’. ✌

 

[BoySCOUT]

I am an Army Infantry Vet and did something similar.
View attachment 676211

This is a badass vest. Anyone including any MC that would give you chit over this IS the definition of a domestic terrorist.

 

[Rusty Arse]

So let's get this straight..because a few dudes have a random state or city on their vest..it is now "their territory"..?
So anyone that rides a motorcycle in whatever state they reside or travel too.. they are riding in said gangs territory?

And that means what exactly?

And why do they have a claim on "territory" where every other citizen that rides in..?
Last I checked all our taxes, DMV, licensing fees paid for the roads and Infrastructure we all ride on..what "claim" do they have exactly..?

Look at the mindset of some 3 piece patched organizations. Some if not most diamond clubs or 1%er’s have or have had a reputation linked to an “organized crime element” ie… drugs, prostitution, gun running etc… not unlike the mafia or a street gang. With that comes a perceived necessity to rule with an iron hand over their claimed territory, Wether it be city, state or region. The average Joe wearing a vest decked out with patches probably won’t stand out. But if he has the appearance of wearing a “cut” or “colors” being part of an organization incl top rocker, center patch, bottom rocker and most definitely “MC” on the back he may very well raise an eye brow or 2. I’d be a little leery of wearing a red bandanna on my head in south central LA too.

 

[BoySCOUT]

 

[Big Dawg]

Look at the mindset of some 3 piece patched organizations. Some if not most diamond clubs or 1%er’s have or have had a reputation linked to an “organized crime element” ie… drugs, prostitution, gun running etc… not unlike the mafia or a street gang. With that comes a perceived necessity to rule with an iron hand over their claimed territory, Wether it be city, state or region. The average Joe wearing a vest decked out with patches probably won’t stand out. But if he has the appearance of wearing a “cut” or “colors” being part of an organization incl top rocker, center patch, bottom rocker and most definitely “MC” on the back he may very well raise an eye brow or 2. I’d be a little leery of wearing a red bandanna on my head in south central LA too.

I agree with you. My issue is with the folks, some in MCs, who say that they are not criminals in the same sentence where they say that if you don't do what we say (i.e., not wear 3 patches) we're going to kick your ass, or worse.

 

[Rusty Arse]

I really do not understand how anyone can be upset over another man's clothing...imagine being so hurt by the way other dudes dress. I just don't get it. I don't wear a vest, just not my style, but unless you are wearing the exact logo of an MC..why care?

We teenage girls now that get upset when they wear the same dress to a party..FFS.

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” it’s also hard to understand in the 21st century why just living across the border in a different country would make one susceptible to genocide and domination. But a megalomaniac with a little man complex and his finger on a button can do just that.

 

[Confeder8archer]

So am I violating the unwritten 3 patch rule?

 

[2W4E]

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.

 

[Goatlocker95]

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.

 

[Mkbcaptain]

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? 🤣🤪😎

 

[Goatlocker95]

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