Why are Motorcycle Clubs Declining?

Motorcycle club membership has been declining for some time while US households with motorcycles reached a record high of 8.02% in 2018. Many new riders are not choosing to join clubs.

Sorted Past

The first major motorcycle clubs were formed in the 1940s by soldiers returning from World War II. Long-time motorcycle enthusiast and vlogger, Ninja614 on YouTube, says, “In a good motorcycle club with a good brotherhood where, uh, everybody is committed to the ideals and the club is growing in a way that is selective and is choosing their members very carefully, you create that sort of bond. You create a group of people that are really close.”

Outlaw motorcycle gangs sharply distinguished themselves from law-abiding social clubs in both reputation and structure. The “big four” most prominent groups were Pissed off Bastards of Bloomington (now the Pissed off Bastards of Berdoo), Hells Angels, Pagans and Bandidos. 

In a report presented to law enforcement at the 1991 Annual National LEIU Training Seminar, the “big four” were described as posing “a formidable threat to society in general.” These outlaw clubs are still in operation to this day and still considered dangerous. In June of this year, two high ranking members of the Pagans were charged with violently assaulting a member of a rival gang. 

At the 1969 Altamont Free Concert featuring the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Rolling Stones among others, the Rolling Stones hired Hells Angels as security for the event. The angels were not a professional security force and they were extremely violent towards those who got too close to the stage. They eventually stabbed a man named Meradeth Hunter, resulting in his death. Three others died at the event. 

In the late 1960s, a former AMA president estimated that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding, resulting in the biker gang nickname the “one-percenters.” Considering the history of criminal activity among the most popular clubs, it is no wonder that many riders these days prefer to stay away from these organizations altogether. 

Contributing Factors to the Decline

Another cause of declining membership is an aging membership. The median age of a motorcycle owner reached a high of 50 in 2018. Like other exclusive clubs, such as the Freemasons, younger men just aren’t joining as quickly as older members are retiring. 

Insane Throttle BIKER NEWS on YouTube blames the clubs’ inability to adapt to changing technologies for the decline. He points out growth in riding clubs as opposed to motorcycle clubs. Priorities are changing. “Most people just want to ride…They don’t want to be tied down by anything.”

Motorcycle entrepreneur, David Petersen, describes several factors including internal club politics, what he calls “club burnout” of a few key members and declining motorcycle sales as contributing to decline in membership, in a 2020 article. “It’s not too late to turn things around. “The club’s gas tank might be on reserve, the oil needs to be changed, the brake pads are worn to the rivets, the tires are showing their cords, but there’s still some life in your club,” writes Petersen, “It just needs some work and a little TLC, or more specifically some VLC (Volunteer Loving Care).”

Motorbike sales in the US were below 5,000 since 2010-2019. Sales actually jumped from 467,780 in 2019 to 780,000 in 2020. 

Changes to Motorcycle Clubs

Motorcycle clubs are evolving institutions with a long history of service and education. They provide members with a sense of belonging, increase safety on the road and mentorship from more experienced riders. The percentage of female motorcycle owners has more than doubled since 2003. In some ways, the industry has adapted to reflect these changing demographics. Several female clubs have actually been increasing membership in recent decades. Motorcycle clubs must continue to evolve if they hope to survive for decades to come.