Starting a motorcycle club is a great way to share your love of riding with like-minded people and add adventure to your life. Being president of a motorcycle club means you are the highest authority when it comes to choosing the club’s name and image, recruiting new members, organizing group events, and appointing positions.
But before you start a new motorcycle club, you will need to conduct research to make sure you are capable of handling the responsibilities of being the president.
This article will discuss everything you need to know about starting your own motorcycle club.
- Table of Contents
- 1. Types of the Club
- 2. Club Name
- 3. Logo and Other Visual Elements
- 4. Mission Statement
- 5. One Brand or All Bikes
- 6. A Non-Profit Organization
- 7. Recruiting Members
- 8. Make Registration Form
- 9. Customized Club Vests
- 10. Establish a Meeting Place
- 11. Organize Community Meetings
- 12. Assign Club Positions
- 13. Plan Fundraisers
- 14. Legal Requirements
- 15. Advertise
- 16. Last Words
1. Types of the Club
There are two types of motorcycle organizations: motorcycle clubs and riding clubs.
Riding clubs are comprised of people who enjoy riding motorbikes. These types of clubs are open to members of other clubs if they are fans of specific types of motorcycles or brands. Members of riding clubs usually gather to discuss different riding styles and often go on road trips together.
Motorcycle clubs are the official organizations for motorcycle enthusiasts. Members of most motorcycle clubs can usually be identified by special vests or uniforms with the club’s name and logo. Unlike a riding club, a motorcycle club is more exclusive and elitist.
These types of clubs operate in specific locations and can only exist if authorized by the American Motorcyclist Association.
2. Club Name
After you have decided what type of club your organization will be, carefully consider its name. The name will determine your club’s identity and what it stands for. The name of your club should be relevant to its theme or mission. Make sure that the club’s name is simple, memorable, and represents you and your organization’s values.
Avoid choosing a name that is intimidating, violent, or offensive. Such names can give your club a bad reputation, losing potential recruits and getting unwanted attention from local law enforcement.
Most motorcycle clubs include the name of their city or country to advertise their location and distinguish themselves from other clubs with similar names.
3. Logo and Other Visual Elements
You can design a logo for your club or ask a skilled graphic designer to make one for you. The logo should reflect the core themes of your motorcycle club. Because most people will identify your motorcycle club by its logo, make sure to spend time perfecting the image. The colors you use in a logo will be a visual representation of your club, so be sure to use colors that match the theme of your club.
4. Mission Statement
The club’s mission will indicate your organization’s purpose that sets it apart from other clubs. It also serves as a guideline for all future events.
If your club operates in a major city, it is likely there will be at least one or more other motorcycle clubs operating in the same area. Try creating a mission statement that sets your group apart from the other motorcycle clubs nearby.
The mission statement should clearly state your motorcycle club’s values and vision. Write down all the things you want your motorcycle club to accomplish and convey it in the form of a sentence.
5. One Brand or All Bikes
Some clubs only allow their members to ride motorcycles from a specific brand. One such example is the Harley Owner Group (H.O.G). However, most motorcycle clubs are less strict and allow their members to ride whatever kind of motorcycle they want.
If you open your club to all bike owners regardless of model or brand, this will make your organization accessible to more riders. But if you’re passionate about a specific brand, you may want to restrict your membership to bikers who love the same brand as you.
6. A Non-Profit Organization
When registering your new motorcycle club, it is best to submit an application indicating that it will be a non-profit organization.
To apply for a non-profit organization, you will need to provide the names of your committee members and submit an objective proposal or business plan. If your request is approved, your motorcycle club will qualify for sales tax exemption, solicitation, insurance, and other legal benefits.
It’s best to attach a copy of your mission statement with an application for a non-profit organization. Make sure that the mission statement meets the criteria of a business proposal.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the governing body in the United States that oversees applications for non-profit status.
7. Recruiting Members
The members are the ones who preserve the motorcycle club's fundamental principles and realize its goals. Their love for motorbikes is the main requirement for entrance.
Start by recruiting close friends or family members who love motorbikes. This is convenient because you do not need to conduct background checks with individuals you are already acquainted with. Friends or family members can expand the group by reaching out to individuals in their personal networks.
Use the Internet to promote your club on social media platforms. You can also find certain niches for recruiting new members by checking internet forums.
You can also set up and spread flyers in your community. Place the flyers in places where bikers and motorcycle riders gather regularly, such as bike shops, racetracks, pubs, retail shops, and rest stops. The flyers can also serve as a registration form that potential recruits can fill out with their contact information, personal information, and areas of interest in the motorcycle industry.
Also Read: How to Become a Motorcycle Club Member
8. Make Registration Form
Make sure anybody interested in joining your club completes a registration form. The applicant should include his/her name, age, profession, residence, and type of bike he/she owns, along with any other relevant info. Your registration form should contain all the information you require about a prospective candidate.
You may either gather and analyze each application yourself before deciding who to accept, or you can entrust a high-ranking club member with the task.
Be sure to include any additional requirements in your registration papers, such as church membership or criminal background.
9. Customized Club Vests
To help identify your club’s members, they must be wearing customized vests Motorcycle club vests are an excellent method to tell if someone is a member or not of a club. This is especially true if you are looking for another member of a motorcycle club. These vests may also be tailored to your needs, making them the perfect choice for club members with varying tasks or responsibilities.
Also Read: How Motorcycle Clubs Make Money
10. Establish a Meeting Place
Your house, a favorite bar, or a cafe can be an ideal location for your club’s first meeting. Basements, detached garages, privately owned structures, and refurbished barns are also suitable clubhouse locations. However, if your club expands, you may have to think about buying or renting a place to utilize as a formal clubhouse. There, you and your club members can meet up anytime to socialize, plan trips, and do business.
Basements, detached garages, privately owned structures, and refurbished barns are also suitable clubhouse locations.
If you can, make your meeting place accessible to all of your members. If they are coming from a far location, it might not always be convenient for them to come to the motorcycle club.11. Organize Community Meetings
Organizing community meetings will give you an opportunity to get to know people better before deciding whether or not to formally welcome them into your organization. Community meetings may also be a useful way to assess local support for a formal club framework or teach fundamental riding or maintenance skills.
You may need authorization depending on the local regulations to host an event in a public space or train unlicensed individuals.
12. Assign Club Positions
Do you want a formal structure for your new motorcycle club?
If so, you may want to think about setting up a hierarchy. Assign various roles to your club members based on their abilities and skills.
The basic club positions often include the following:
- President (you)
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Road Caption In charge of guiding groups on trips
- Enforcer Ensures that all club members follow the rules
- Tour Advisor Ensures that the ride is safe and fun
You might also want to consider adding an emergency repair expert, a doctor, and a chaplain.
13. Plan Fundraisers
A primary focus of many motorcycle clubs is community development.
To accomplish this, organizing charity events like exhibition races, gift, and food drives, and raffles can help raise money for organizations that help individuals in need. Your club’s status and public image will also improve as a result of helping the community and engaging with the locals.
Speak with local companies to see if they'd be interested in sponsoring your event or offering their services, such as food or entertainment. In the future, if you have a strong working relationship with them, you may be able to collaborate with them on bigger events.
Even if your events aren't that profitable, they may still serve as a means of building a community and bringing people together.
14. Legal Requirements
When starting a motorcycle club, there are no special legal requirements.
A motorcycle club does not have to fulfill any insurance or legal prerequisites before starting. However, it is the individual member's responsibility to make sure their vehicle is street-legal and compliant with all applicable laws. Individual riders must have motorcycle protection gear, a full MOT, road tax, and motorcycle insurance.
Every rider is personally responsible for any problems, mishaps, or damage that occur during a ride. Any penalties, fees, or fines that a rider has accrued are his or her responsibility alone.
15. Advertise
After you have finalized the specifics of your motorcycle club, you should start advertising. It is best to create posters and set them up in local motorcycle bars and biker hangouts. You can also spread the news "via the grapevine" by asking other motorbike enthusiasts to inform their friends.
Additionally, you may use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media platforms to promote your organization. After that, anybody who is interested may "like" the page and view any news or additional information you post about your organization.
16. Last Words
Many motorcyclists enjoy riding with others or want to build their own riding community. Opening a motorcycle club is a great way to make this possible. Before you start your own motorcycle company, you need to have adequate knowledge, dedication, and skills. Hopefully, the steps discussed in this article will help make it easier to start your own motorcycle club. There are a variety of aftermarket parts available at Viking Bags, including sissy bars, crash bars, fairings, and handlebars. There are also different luggage options available to improve storage capacity, including saddlebags and sissy bar bags.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.