Wearing colors

[Idaho]

As we know one percenters get rather testy when anyone not of their tribe wears three piece patches. Many mc clubs have a singe piece patch for that very reason. There are stories in the mc world that in some parts of this country you will get seriously hurt or killed if you are caught with three piece colors. We don't have much problem here in Idaho and I wear my three piece patches all the time. Wore them on a road trip to Ohio and back and only regretted it for one day when a group of Hells Angels passed me and checked me out as they went by.

So, do you wear colors? Do you have problems with mc thugs in your area? What are your thoughts on colors?

I haven't worn any patches since the 70's, and those days are thankfully long gone. Fresno used to be a big hangout for the HA's and another gang called Los Dorados back then. No, I wasn't associated with either one except by some random bar drinking, and I quickly became convinced that I never should be.

[socwkbiker]

I know this sounds ignorant, but what are 3 piece colors?

[Idaho]

SWB, three piece patches usually have a center patch with an upper and lower rocker. All seperate, hence three piece.

Yeah, the 3-piece thing was always considered a declaration of turf ownership for the dominant local gang. Also the right to wear a patch that says MC or M/C said the same thing. I've been out of those circles so long that I just couldn't say how big a deal it is any more.

[cactusjack]

There's a fairly large 1%er population here in AZ, especially in the Phoenix area. I don't wear anything that says M/C or motorcycle club. I belong to riders groups, owners clubs, etc. All my patches are 1 piece.

When I was in the Marines and stationed at El Toro, I used to party with the Hessians on occasion. That was about the extent of my contact with 1%ers.

Have things mellowed out in the 1% scene these days? I dunno. Check out this photo from Sturgis 2005. I cropped it from one of Billy Bartel's photos over at MCUSA (Thanks Billy!)

Anyhow, here's a guy in full colors, and you'll notice right away the total disparity between this image and those of 20 and 30 years past.

First, the colors are freakin' clean. Shining bright like they were washed in Blue Cheer. Second, look at the bermuda shorts, haircut, white socks, and gleaming white sneakers.

Back in the day, this guy would have a) been $hit-kicked for being a fake, or b) if genuine, been quickly drug in back of a bar to be bathed in stale beer and 50wt. oil before he embarassed the entire club for being so clean and square looking.

[macmac]

Just states and national parks i rode to for me. I don't do club things with bikes and hardly do with guns..

I copied and pasted this from the sherrifs web page:

Motorcycle Gangs
(from information compiled by Agent Lee Perry of the Utah Dept. of Public Safety)
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are found around the state of Utah. The Barons are a one-chapter club based in Salt Lake City. They have had other chapters from time to time in such places as New Mexico, but current data indicates that only the mother chapter in Salt Lake is functioning. The other club in Utah, the Sundowners, has its mother chapter in Ogden. The Sundowners are a larger organization than the Barons, with chapters in Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Florida. The Sundowners have been know to affiliate with the Hell's Angels farm clubs or prospect clubs in Nevada. In Utah, the Sundowners have active chapters in Ogden, Salt Lake City, and St. George.
Motorcycle gangs have traditionally had a great deal of involvement in criminal activities. They are involved in the production, transportation, distribution and use of illegal drugs. They have been linked to money laundering, murder, witness intimidation, extortion, theft, rape, kidnapping, prostitution, and weapons violations. They often attempt to cover their illegal activities with legal businesses like towing companies, repair shops, escort services, security companies, bars and motorcycle shops.

That being said, in the 7 years I have lived in Utah, I have only seen 1 guy wearing a sundowners vest.

[cactusjack]

I copied and pasted this from the sherrifs web page:

Motorcycle Gangs
(from information compiled by Agent Lee Perry of the Utah Dept. of Public Safety)
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are found around the state of Utah. The Barons are a one-chapter club based in Salt Lake City. They have had other chapters from time to time in such places as New Mexico, but current data indicates that only the mother chapter in Salt Lake is functioning. The other club in Utah, the Sundowners, has its mother chapter in Ogden. The Sundowners are a larger organization than the Barons, with chapters in Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Florida. The Sundowners have been know to affiliate with the Hell's Angels farm clubs or prospect clubs in Nevada. In Utah, the Sundowners have active chapters in Ogden, Salt Lake City, and St. George.
Motorcycle gangs have traditionally had a great deal of involvement in criminal activities. They are involved in the production, transportation, distribution and use of illegal drugs. They have been linked to money laundering, murder, witness intimidation, extortion, theft, rape, kidnapping, prostitution, and weapons violations. They often attempt to cover their illegal activities with legal businesses like towing companies, repair shops, escort services, security companies, bars and motorcycle shops.

That being said, in the 7 years I have lived in Utah, I have only seen 1 guy wearing a sundowners vest.

The Sundowners were big 20-30 years ago. Here's something for you to do next time you're in Salt Lake City...on 9th South, just east of State St is an Arctic Circle restaurant. Directly E of the restaurant is Edison St. On Edison, just N of the AC used to be a couple of houses owned by the Sundowners, the front yards had 8 foot cyclone fences which were their "bike corrals". I haven't been there in 10 years, I wonder if they are still there?

next time I'm down there I'll check it out. 9th south & state is where all the illegal mexicans hang out. A year or two ago they busted a bunch of them distributing fake social security cards. Last time I was down there they had a taco stand on the corner.

It's amazing what you can find on Google Earth ;)

[mrfuni]

Colors....

Yea...Try to wear white, yellow, orange, etc for visability...

[oldbiker]

I wear a single piece patch for the Southern Cruisers Riding Club. The Outlaws are pretty big in the Chattanooga area. My son in law works for a Harley dealer in Florida and told me that 90% of everyone in the shop belongs to the Warlocks.

[Top Cat]

I never knew the thing about three piece colors. Of course I have led a pretty sheltered life ;)