Podcast Episode Summary: Motorcycle Clubs - Part One

Introduction

In part one of this two-part series, Katherine sits down with Todd, a seasoned member of a long-standing motorcycle club. With years of experience under his belt, Todd shares his unique perspective on the world of motorcycle clubs and their impact on society. From the myths surrounding club life to the realities of maintaining brotherhood, Todd goes into the history, structure, and personal significance of being a club member. He addresses commonly held stereotypes, the importance of club patches and colors, and gives insight into the role of philanthropy in the motorcycle community. Join us for an eye-opening discussion about the real world of motorcycle clubs that you won't see on TV.

Here's the link to this specific podcast episode on my website. Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other major platforms!

Timestamps

00:01:12 How is it that you got started with the club?

00:02:44 Fact or Fiction

00:03:06 Harley Davidson is the one and only choice for real motorcycle club members.

00:04:12 What does the CC mean?

00:05:07 Motorcycle clubs are only for people who don't fit mainstream society, like ex-convicts, rebels, or troublemakers.

00:06:03 Motorcycle club members are all heavy drinkers and partiers, and that clubs are shown hosting wild parties fueled by booze, drugs, and chaos.

00:07:23 Motorcycle club members are always heavily tattooed, always wear leather jackets and vests and have to look tough.

00:08:52 Motorcycle clubs frequently feud with rival clubs and club wars and turf battles are a constant reality, leading to shootouts and revenge plots.

00:11:47 Motorcycle clubs control small towns and communities, and that motorcycle clubs exert influence over local businesses, law enforcement, and politics as seen on all of these TV shows.

00:14:54 Motorcycle clubs have strict hierarchies and roles.

00:17:07 What makes a motorcycle unsafe?

00:17:36 Women are not allowed to be full-fledged members and that women are depicted as property or mere accessories to male motorcycle club members.

00:21:28 A club patch or colors are considered untouchable and disrespecting them leads to serious consequences.

00:24:32 Timeline of being accepted into a club

00:25:15 History of motorcycle clubs, specifically in Detroit.

00:30:59 Regarding being in the club, how important is observation and attention to detail?

00:33:43 What challenges occur when maintaining a peaceful environment at the clubhouse and what happens when you host other clubs?

00:35:04 How often does your club host other clubs at the clubhouse?

00:35:45 Are there acronyms or code words that you'll see used in other motorcycle clubs or amongst yourselves to communicate?

00:36:32 Resources for writers

00:37:54 Philanthropy with the clubs (and not so much with the government)

00:40:40 Lawyers for the club

00:41:12 Like jewelers have dirty and burned hands, like farmers get wicked tans. Would anything on your body give away that you are in a motorcycle club?

00:42:52 What does this brotherhood mean to you?

00:43:50 In a lot of media, there's shows like Sons of Anarchy that really get into the motorcycle clubs. What about these shows do they get right, and what about these shows do they get wrong?

00:45:14 Could you describe a visually memorable experience that has stuck with you through your years in the motorcycle clubs?

00:47:38 Sounds of being a club member 

00:52:50 What music genres do you think most of the club listens to?

00:54:00 Do bikes automatically have a stereo outfitted, or is that like an extra accessory that people bring?

00:54:47 If you're just driving in your hearse and you hear a bike going down the road and you hear something from that bike, what would you hear where it's like, man needs to get that checked out?

00:55:51 What extra precautions do motorcyclists have to take while on the road with other vehicles?

00:57:34 How do these club nicknames come to fruition?

01:01:02 What sort of protective gear does one wear while riding?

01:01:56 What sort of accessories do you see people outfitting their motorcycles with?

01:02:27 Do people most often only have one bike or is it like, once you have one, you get 12?

01:03:18 And when people do the outfits with aftermarket stuff, are there certain websites that folk go to, or is it just whatever you find?

Key Takeaways:

• Motorcycle Club Myths: Todd discusses common misconceptions about motorcycle clubs, from the types of members they attract to the often exaggerated depictions in media.

• Club Hierarchy and Brotherhood: The importance of the club's structure and the deep sense of camaraderie that members share, often transcending typical friendships.

• The Role of Women in Clubs: Todd addresses the gender dynamics within the club and the misconceptions about women's roles in motorcycle clubs.

• Philanthropy and Community Engagement: Motorcycle clubs often give back to their communities in ways that go unnoticed by the public.

• Biker Safety and Gear: An overview of the necessary safety precautions, gear, and accessories motorcyclists use while on the road.

Editor's Note:

Motorcycle clubs are often misrepresented or oversimplified in media. I'm sure you've seen them glamorized in gritty crime dramas or reduced to caricatures in action films. If you're writing anything from a novel to a screenplay or even journalistic work that involves these groups, nuanced research is non-negotiable. But the challenge: much of what’s written about clubs is secondhand, biased, or sensationalized.

That’s where interviews like this come in: they’re primary sources. You’re hearing directly from a veteran club member—not just what happens in a club, but how it feels, what people value, how trust is built, what’s taboo, and what outsiders never see. It’s texture and context that you won’t find in Wikipedia summaries or trope-heavy TV episodes.

This kind of real-world, firsthand material can help writers:

• Avoid lazy stereotypes (like “all club members are violent outlaws”)

• Use accurate lingo and structure (like understanding ranks, patches, or rituals)

• Reflect the emotional layers (loyalty, tension, code of honor, etc.)

• Create characters who feel real, not like recycled archetypes

Links & Resources:

1. Check Out Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) for resources on riding gear and road safety.

2. Dig into the history of notable motorcycle brands like Harley-Davidson.

3. Iain Parke has a great list of his personal picks for "Outlaw Biker Books" books on Shepherd.com/

4. CuriosiD, a segment in WDET 101.9 FM programming, has a rad episode about "What’s the story behind Black motorcycle clubs in Detroit?"

5. Part Two of this Series

   
   

Thanks for riding along. Until next time, keep it in the wind,

Katherine Arkady