Rules Of The Road
This famous, far-reaching club is actually filled with countless rules - from clothing to speaking to the media.
Here are some core values the club will protect at all costs, as well as some odd ones that won't make sense unless you're an actual member.
Don't Ask
Their website says, “If you have to ask, you probably will not understand the answer.”
But that doesn't mean it's impossible. If you hang around Harleys in a hard-core way, you might find someone invites you to hang out. It the first step in the heavy screening process. Basically, it tells them if you'll fit in or not.
Show Up
There will be a lot of events within the club - business or charities, etc.
Members are expected to go to all of these. Not showing up is a sign of disrespect and not tolerated at all. The only exception are things like being in the hospital or too far away to make it on time.
Official Merch
It's not just the patches that are important, the entire brand is sacrosanct.
Members are expected to wear only club merchandise - which is also solely manufactured and distributed by the club. Oh, and they really don't like it when they see non-members trying to pass as legit or regular people wearing their emblems in any way shape or form.
Keep Quiet
It’s a written bylaw, as well as a deeply understood rule that you cannot share any information about another member.
Even their website states it outright, “We do not answer questions about members.” But this isn't just for the ones on bikes. If anyone is missing or out of the pictures, it's covered under the same strict rules. The code of silence is also super important for any club meetings.
Charter Territory
Even though they are one big brotherhood, they also have boundaries they must respect.
Charters claim their own boarders and other charters must respect those lines. They're not allowed to come into the area unless they are just riding through. There have been times when character fought over territory.
Be Charitable
Aside from riding and events, one big aspect of the club's life is giving back to the community they live in.
This includes volunteer work, soup kitchens, fundraisers, and even those "escorts" that have popped up in the news - the ones where the bikers escort a parent and child to court if it's an abuse case, taking a bullied kid to school, or visiting hospitals.
The Golden Rule
"Treat others how you want to be treated."
Granted, they are an intimidating group, but many journalists have said their interviews with these men have been quite pleasant. Neighbours also say they have no problems living beside members. This is mostly because if they are treated with respect, they will automatically give it back. But, you can imagine the opposite as well.
Protect The Brand
Hells Angels will do anything to defend their public image.
This can go as far as the entire club banding together to take down companies who skew their image in the media. One example was the HA took Disney to court over the depiction in Wild Hogs. They also weren't fans of Sons of Anarchy - but mostly because it broke a "silence" rule.
Everyone Over
It's expected that if one person in the gang is pulled over by the authorities, the entire group pulls over.
This is for two reasons. First, it's an intimidation tactic. Second, it's so show solidarity to their brother. Can you imagine?
Ready To Ride
The motorcycle club members ride around 20,000 kilometers every single year.
This, however, shouldn't come as a surprise. It's a motorcycle club after all. So, if you don't love riding the open road more than life, don't even think about trying to join.
Bike Brands
One of the requirements is that you need to own a bike.
But not just any bike. It’s tradition for all of the members to ride a Harley Davidson. Some other makes are acceptable, however. This includes Buell, which happens to be owned by Harley Davidson. So there's a tiny bit of wiggle room in that department.
No Law Jobs
It's no surprise that any cops or ex-cops are not allowed in.
However, this extends to all kinds of law enforcement, including prison guards. Even if you're a retired guard, and have a deep love the brand, sorry, but's it an automatic no.
Ignore The Apostrophe
Never mention that, at least in a grammatical sense, Hells Angels is missing some punctuation.
They know. They don't care. They're also sick of hearing it all the time. Don't even bring it up as a joke.
There’s a dress code
The group has a dress code that they enforce.
The major one is the vest emblazoned with the organization’s name and insignia on its back. After that, black jeans, black shirts - nothing else. That way, when you’re on the road, everyone knows with whom you’re riding. Some allow shorts or camouflage but it depends on the charter.
Ride Order
If you ever see a full ride on the road, it can look quite chaotic.
But there is actually an order to the huge procession. At the front you’ll see the captain riding along with the president of the Hells Angels charter. The rest of the crew falls in line based on their personal rankings and seniority levels. New members hang near the back, and prospects bring up the very end.
No Other Clubs
Loyalty for life is the core value of the club.
So, if you're in, you're in for life. You also can't join any other groups, which makes sense because there would be an automatic conflict of interest. But the HA even go as far as forbidding member to join any generic motorcycle association.
No Media
They don’t share their plans or scheduled activities with anyone.
There's a general "no talking to media" rule across every club. One journalist said they went to a gathering and tried to chat up some members, but as soon as they got close, all chatting stopped and the members turned their back to the journalists. The only exception would be something that's happening during a charity. Even then, the info is limited and reports must be respectful.
Vests Are Sacred
Once you're a member, you get a vest with the famous logo and the name of the club.
There is also the name of their charter sewn onto it. If a member is arrested while wearing it, they are to hand it to another member so it doesn't become "tainted" in jail. Also if they are hurt and need to go to the hospital care, they’ll do everything they can to avoid having it cut or torn off.
No Interruptions
Charter meetings actually follow a specific set of guidelines.
These were written in 1876 and called Robert's Rules of Order. They were meant to keep business meetings civilized. The club adopted these same practices, which includes agenda order and voting. Breaking any of these rules will costs a member a penalty fee in the hundreds of dollars.