When did MOTORCYCLE CLUBS really get their start

If you ask the question; "When did motorcycle clubs get their start ?" you will likely get overwhelmed with answers, but most people will say with motorcycle clubs like the Hells Angels sometime after WWII or after the Biker Riot in Hollister in 1947. 

The truth is; motorcycle clubs have been around as long as there has been a motorcycle to ride. 

As early as the 1900's motorcycle clubs were forming. The Portsmouth Motorcycle Club claims to be the first Motorcycle Club in the United States forming in 1893 as the Portsmouth Cycling Club. 

These very early Motorcycle Clubs rode European motorcycles, due to Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycles not being made at that time.

As most of these motorcycle clubs were formed they become involved in motorcycle racing of one type or another. As the Motorcycle Clubs formed, organizations also formed to unite the motorcyclists. Two groups formed to unite, organize races and events, from 1903 to 1919  it was the FAM-Federation of American Motorcyclists and from 1923 to Present it is the AMA-American Motorcyclist Association. 

Ironically it was the AMA Gypsy Tour of July 4th weekend 1947 in Hollister Califormia which led to the infamous Hollister Biker Riot. The Hollister incident started the outlaw biker image of today. 

Just like with today's motorcycle racing each teams, each group had a different name on their jerseys, shirts or jackets. Each club also had a different team color combination, the purpose was so they can be quickly seen during the race, just as it's done today. 

Generally, before WWII motorcycle clubs only had their club names on their jerseys. Their names were generally the area or city they were from. After WWII the same clubs started to transform their club name into a club patch with their clubs names incorporated into the patch design. Some even incorporated their individual race number into their patch.

Cal-Poly Penguins M.C. (mid 1940's)
Patch transformation; Right-club letters only Left-club patch only

After WWII many clubs got ideas from military bomber nose art to design their club patches


Moonshiners M.C.


Hells Angels M.C.


Yellow Jackets M.C.

Early 1950's Southern California Racing Clubs (Moonshiners and 13 Rebels) 

1940's Racing Jersey #6

1940's Motorcycle Club patch with matching number from Racing Jersey above

The following is one example of an early motorcycle club raising a little hell back in the day; the Kansas City Journal newspaper reported that on February 26, 1908, 19 members of the Kansas City Motorcycle Club were out on a ride. As they passed a local farmer the motorcycle groups loud exhaust noise caused his horse to buck and his family members to be thrown to the ground and hurt. The farmer sued the motorcycle club due to their reckless behavior and requested compensation for his family’s injuries. A few months later a Jackson County Missouri Judge dismissed the lawsuit. One of the motorcycle club members was a man named O.J. Plummer, who stated to build motorcycles around 1898 in Kansas City. Oscar J. Plummer's motorcycle is on display in the Kansas City Missouri Museum. 

O.J. Plummer Motorcycle K.C.M.O.

O.J. Plummer's Motorcycle K.C.M.O.

The front cover of the magzine for the below listed photo

1908 Magazine lists very early Motorcycle Clubs