The Evolution of American Motorcycle Culture and Its Business Impact

The society that went along with motorcycles changed as they did. When motorbikes first became widely available in the early 1900s, people tuned them, raced them, and rode them for fun almost right away. To start, the American Motorcyclist Association was made in 1924.Motorcycles made by well-known companies like Harley-Davidson were used in both World Wars I and II. That meant that a lot of Americans became very close to motorcycles, and that bond lasted into the decades after the war.Veterans often joined motorbike clubs to make new friends and get used to everyday life again after WWII. The public started to think of motorcycle riders as unruly criminals after the "Hollister riot" of 1947 and after movies like "The Wild One" and "Easy Rider" that were about the counterculture and motorcycles.

After that, motorcycle culture went in a lot of different ways. Some biker groups

like Bikers Against Child Abuse, chose to focus on doing good in the community and being politically active. Others turned into very close-knit social groups. Some even liked the idea of being a criminal.Clubs for motorcyclesSome of the most important groups in motorbike culture are motorcycle clubs (MC). Being a real MC means more than just going with friends. It's a chosen family, and joining or leaving that family changes your whole life. The most well-known of these groups is likely the American Motorcycle Association. Over 200,000 people belong to it, and it fights for the rights of all riders.Riding clubs are like MCs, but less formal. People who like to ride motorcycles together, talk on their motorcycles' speaker systems while riding, and hang out at the garage can join these groups. If you don't want to be a member of an MC, you can still make great riding friends by joining a riding club.

But there is a bad side to motorbike clubs

the well-known outlaw biker gangs. Most motorcyclists, though, will be quick to point out that they follow the law and only want to have fun going with family and friends, whether they are related or not. Some groups, like the so-called "one-percenters" or "outlaw" clubs, aren't actually criminal organizations. They don't have to follow the AMA's rules because they aren't affiliated with it.For many riders, rallies like Sturgis are an important part of their culture.Rallys for bikersRallies for motorcycles are an important part of American biker culture. People who ride bikes all over the country get together at rallies to ride, meet new people, and show off their bikes.In the spring, summer, and fall, bike parades happen all over the United States. Some of the most well-known parades are in Sturgis, South Dakota, and Daytona Beach, Florida. However, there are many more that happen all over the world. Many different types of bikers from all walks of life attend these gatherings in search of the moment they'll never forget.Style for MotorcyclesEvery group needs its own style, and the motorcycle community has come up with its own set of words for style. Irving Schott, who was born in New York and made the first leather motorbike jacket in 1928 called the Schott Perfecto, started the style we know today. The sleek black leather piece quickly became a wardrobe essential for both riders and people who don't ride.

What people wear on their bikes today is as varied as the bikes themselves

Some riders like high-tech synthetic gear made for sport riding, which is often paired with high-tech tools like Bluetooth speakers for motorbike helmets. Some people like how a leather jacket, cut vest, and patches look classic. Everything that is really motorbike gear is made to work well outside and keep the rider safe.Women who ride motorcyclesThere have always been women who ride motorcycles, but they haven't always been treated with the respect they deserve. But a lot of women who ride have never let racist ideas stop them. Not only that, but the Motor Maids, the first women's motorcycle club, was started in 1940 and is still going strong today.A record number of women are buying bikes today. Harley-Davidson and other major motorcycle brands have put money into making tools for women riders that help them feel safe and like they are part of the motorcycle community. You can now find podcasts and YouTube shows about motorcycles that are written and produced by women.American motorbike culture is still going strong, and like most subcultures, it's quickly becoming more specialized and full of different kinds of people. The motorcycle society of today and tomorrow is very different from the traditional motorcycle lifestyle in many ways. In the same way, though, modern bikers carry on the most important customs of life on two wheels.