Custom patches are fairly common for bikers and motorcycle clubs. Bike riders wear patches on the back of their vest as they indicate different meanings and designs. They sometimes use patches as a decorative element as well. One of the important purposes of custom emblems is to identify and portray the unique characteristics of the rider and their biker gang or club. Badges are of great value for bike riders, and you have to earn the club emblems by taking memberships and participating in activities. With great value comes high respect, and you must show it when wearing the crest. There are a set of etiquettes you have to follow for wearing a biker patch. This blog post will explore all the rules and etiquette you need to know before wearing a biker patch.
Set Of Rules You Need To Know For Wearing Biker Patch
- What Are Motorcycle Patches?
Patches are a piece of clothing that has a specific logo, design, or saying stitched on the fabric. They come in different shapes and sizes. However, motorcycle patches are usually bigger in size as compared to other emblems. The badges are sewn on the rider’s vest or jacket to showcase their support and affiliation towards the club or any particular event.
- Don’t Touch Or Ruin Your Patch
When you place a biker patch on your vest, it means you are the representative of any motorcycle club. The designs and even the colour help us in differentiating the clubs. Each bike club has a different set of rules and specific meanings of colours. As a biker, you would expect your crests to stay on for a longer period, and for that, you should avoid certain things like touching them or washing them. As it can damage or ruin your patch and decrease its lifespan.
Taking good care of your patch and maintaining its visual appeal is essential for every biker. Clean your patch regularly with gentle hands, and make sure they are properly attached to your jacket. By doing that, you can maintain the quality of the crest and your affiliation with the club.
- Earn Your Patches
A biker patch should show your pride and achievements. You can’t get eligible for placing an emblem on your vest if you don’t earn it. New riders buy patches from online stores without being aware of their meanings. Every club has implications for their symbols and design on their patches, and you can earn it by showing your dedication and enthusiasm towards your bike riding passion and club. If you place a badge without earning, it is disrespectful towards the gang and makes you an irresponsible member of the club.
- Never Borrow Someone’s Vest Or Jacket
Patches are a way of showing your association with a certain motorcycle club. One of the strict and crucial rules is to never borrow or touch another biker’s vest. If any biker is found wearing someone else vest with patches, it is often a violation and can increase the risk of suspension of that member. The only exception is that if any woman from the club is riding with a charter member of the club, then they can share the vest.
- Place Your Patch On A Sleeveless Vest
We know that there are certain rules and regulations that bikers have to follow in order to use personalised patches and you must have to follow all of them. The essential thing to keep in mind when placing your patch is to take a sleeveless vest or jacket. You can customise any type of jacket, but wearing a sleeveless vest can help in avoiding any contact with the safety equipment. So you can stay protected from accidents or potential harm.
- Don’t Place Unnecessary Patches On Your Vest
Joining a motorcycle club and earning a badge may sound challenging, but it is worth your efforts and hard work. Before joining any club, you need to learn the rules and ways to respect it. Placing unnecessary patches on your vest is rude towards your club. Apart from decreasing safety, they can also divide the attention from important patches and drop the uniqueness of your vest.
- Return Your Patch When You Leave the Club
If you are leaving or ending your membership in your biker club for any reason, you need to return your patches to them. As mentioned, patches work as the identity of the club. If you are no longer a gang member, it is better not to wear the crest to avoid any consequences.
- Always Know Where To Wear Your Patch
As a bike rider, you should know where the patch should be worn. A patch can tell the other person your identity and club, which is excellent, but you need to be cautious. Only wear motorcycle patches that are approved by the state. Avoid wearing your motorcycle patches to the wrong places, like the territory of a rival club, to maintain your safety.
- Never Wear Outlaw Patches
Outlaw patches or bikers belong to groups that are not affiliated with the law or American Motorcycle Associations. Many people are not aware of these clubs, and they wear their patches as a fashion trend. The unaffiliated clubs are connected with the criminal side of biker gangs. Therefore, you should never wear outlaw patches to maintain a professional image and avoid unwanted trouble.
- Avoid Wearing 3 Piece Of Patches At Once
A 3 piece patch has a top rocker, a specific club’s crest and a bottom rocker. The top patch tells the name of the motorcycle, the centre one has the designed logo, and lastly, at the bottom, there is the location. Riders commonly use 1 or 2-piece biker patches UK as they have to put in a lot of hard work to earn a 3-piece patch. Also, people can misjudge you as a member of an illegal or outlaw club as they mostly wear 3-piece patches.
Conclusion
Now that we have discussed all the rules of wearing biker patches, you might think that biker patches are not fun and easy to wear. There are some groups and specific clubs that are serious about their patches. Apart from them, there is a lot of room for creativity, and you can try out custom patches to design your vest. By following all the rules and etiquette written in this guide, you can maintain your safety and show your support and respect towards your motorcycle club.
