An outlaw motorcycle club , known colloquially as a biker club or bikie club in Australia , is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers , and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom , nonconformity to mainstream culture, and loyalty to the biker group. In the United States, such motorcycle clubs MCs are considered "outlaw" not necessarily because they engage in criminal activity, but because they are not sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association AMA and do not adhere to the AMA's rules.
Instead, the clubs have their own set of bylaws reflecting the outlaw biker culture. The U. Department of Justice defines "outlaw motorcycle gangs" OMG as "organizations whose members use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises".
While organizations may vary, the typical internal organization of a motorcycle club consists of a president , vice president , treasurer , secretary , road captain, and sergeant-at-arms sometimes known as enforcer. The mother chapter serves as the ruling body of the club. Larger motorcycle clubs often acquire real estate for use as a clubhouse or private compound. Clubhouses, which are often fortified and equipped with a sophisticated security system, serve as a meeting place for a club or chapter.
Some clubs also maintain a fund for the legal defense of its members. Some "biker" clubs employ a process whereby members must pass several stages such as "friend of the club", "hang-around", and "prospect", on their way to becoming full-patch see explanation of 'patching' below members.
Often, an individual must pass a vote of the membership and swear some level of allegiance to the club. In these clubs, some amount of hazing may occur during the early stages i. To become a full member, the prospect or probate must be voted on by the rest of the full club members.
