How to Join a Motorcycle Club: Membership and Prospecting

To join a motorcycle club, identify a club whose purpose and expectations fit you, attend events explicitly open to visitors, learn its current rules and follow its own application or prospecting process. There is no universal timeline: sponsorship, probation, voting and patch privileges differ by organization.

Start by checking whether the club fits

Learn what the organization exists to do. Some clubs focus on touring, community service, a motorcycle brand, competition, a profession or a shared identity. Ask about riding expectations, meeting frequency and member responsibilities before pursuing a title or patch.

Questions to ask before joining

• What is the club’s purpose, and which events are open to visitors?
• How often are meetings, rides and service activities held?
• Are there dues, travel costs, motorcycle requirements or attendance minimums?
• What conduct and safety rules apply online and on rides?
• How are concerns, resignation and return of insignia handled?
• Who may approve use of the club name, emblem and patches?

Walk away from coercion, unsafe riding demands or requests to take part in illegal conduct. A legitimate fit assessment should allow clear questions and informed choices.

Understand the club-specific membership stages

A club may begin with informal attendance, then use an application, sponsor, probationary period, prospect stage or membership vote. Those labels are not interchangeable, and not every organization uses them. The American Motorcyclist Association’s organizer guidance and model bylaws show how an organization can define its own procedures rather than rely on folklore.

For a named example, the Ruffians Motorcycle Club constitution publishes a staged process. Read it as that organization’s current rule, not a template that automatically applies elsewhere. Always verify requirements directly with the club because published procedures can change.

What good process looks like

Expect the organization to explain who makes decisions, what behavior is assessed, how long any review may take and what happens if either side decides the fit is wrong. Keep practical commitments realistic: attendance, travel, dues and volunteer work can all affect whether membership is sustainable.

Full membership and permission to wear club artwork

Full membership begins only when the club confirms it under its own rules. Purchasing a vest or patch does not substitute for acceptance. Learn the organization’s current dress expectations in our guide to motorcycle club dress codes, and see how officer responsibilities can vary in our motorcycle club vice president guide.

Before producing insignia, confirm who owns the artwork, who can authorize it, the approved dimensions and colors, and whether a member may order directly. Keep the final proof and authorization with the order record.

If your club has approved the member and artwork, review our custom biker back patches. We recommend completing membership and written artwork approval before production.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become a full member?

There is no standard duration. It may depend on meetings, rides, conduct, sponsorship and a club vote, or the club may use a different process entirely.

Do all motorcycle clubs require prospecting?

No. Some use prospecting, while others use applications, trial participation or direct membership criteria. Follow the specific organization’s published and current rules.