The idea of freedom in a biker tattoo.
The idea of freedom in the biker environment, and not only that, is embodied in several symbols. These are wings, birds (eagles), images of a biker riding along a road beyond the horizon, flames and tongues of fire.
An absolute classic biker tattoo. The inscription “Live to ride, ride to live.”
Here's another option, but more complicated.
This is a commemorative tattoo made in memory of a certain Uncle Steve, which characterizes his uncle as a very cool, freedom-loving biker.
Memorable biker tattoos can also refer to some event. For example, Rally in Sturgis)
Another classic option. All symbols in one bottle. The inscription on the tattoo is “Ride free”.
As I already said, there are different stories on the theme of freedom. Here is another one of the most typical.
This tattoo is very well executed. The spirit of freedom penetrates even through the picture on the monitor =) The wings on the right are also a symbol of freedom.
Another canonical example. Perhaps we won’t consider a prostitute on the side of the road as an independent symbol of freedom of choice)
In general, these are all the works of artist David Mann, tattooed on the biker’s body. The symbolism does not change from this.
And one more example for the crowd.
Bikers motorcycles
The most respected among bikers are motorcycles made with their own hands with skill and rich imagination. Most often, they belong to the class of choppers, or customs (a hand-assembled motorcycle using a large number of tuning parts), very different from the one that came off the factory assembly line and having a pronounced individuality. Some clubs set certain requirements for engine capacity (for example, at least 750 cm3), color (for example, blue - white - red) or motorcycle brand.
Music
As an individual, a biker can like and listen to any kind of music - from symphonies to pop music and chanson. But among bikers, rock, hard rock, metal, and blues are more common. In popular music, and in its light forms, the image of a biker is often played out,
Musical groups associated with biker themes and the biker movement: Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Manowar, Bad Company, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Aria, etc.
Biker Beliefs
A biker believes in two things - himself and his motorcycle. This, however, can become a problem when the bike fails its owner. In this case, the whole world and the entire belief system collapses. Bikers are generally atheists, although there are some who worship the devil and some who are Christians.
The biker philosophy is friendship, to a certain extent transformed into brotherhood. Brotherhood in spirit, interests, views.
Differences from motorcyclists
Bikers and motorcyclists have a lot in common, but they are still different. If the latter simply choose a two-wheeled vehicle for transportation, then the former make it an object of adoration . The vehicle for brutal men and freedom-loving women is a real idol, which they almost worship.
In short, the biker subculture differs from ordinary motorcyclists in that it has individual views on life and prefers freedom. Anyone can become a two-wheeler driver. But not everyone turns it into a cult.
Bikers cannot imagine their life without their own motorcycle. They decorate it so that there is no other model like it in the world. A bike is an essential part of any happy-go-lucky rider. Freedom-loving men and women devote their lives to motorcycles. They meet similar people, join clubs, spend many years on the roads, moving from one city to another.
Some of them still work and even start families. But careers are usually associated with travel, and marriage partners are also in love with bikes and the road. Such couples rarely have children, because they need stability. But bikers are not only a youth movement. Rather, on the contrary, this lifestyle is chosen by mature people who are tired of routine and lack of freedom.
The embodiment of brotherhood and family in a biker tattoo.
A motorcycle club is a family for a biker. The second or the first, it’s different for everyone, but the basic values are the same. Loyalty, devotion, all this is reflected in a biker tattoo.
Well, this is quite a classic. The inscription on the tattoo is “I ride in honor of him, because he died for me.”
The biker equivalent of “I won’t forget my own mother.” A tattoo with a V-twin and the inscription “Mom” may, of course, mean that its wearer imagines himself to be the son of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. But personally, I want to believe that this is, for example, a touching reminder that you need to call your parents.
A little to the side are tattoos indicating that the biker belongs to a specific club. These are "colors" tattooed on the skin. If a biker goes for this, he is as devoted to the club as possible; he has connected his life with the club forever.
Hell's Angels tattoo on a huge beer biker belly.
The tattoo on Big Dave the One Percenter's shoulder is the logo of the Outlaws MC Florida motorcycle club.
Here is also a good example. The tattoo under the lower lip “MFFM” means “Mongols forever, forever mongols”. Motorcycle club Mongols MC.
He writes very interestingly about club biker tattoos in his book “The Brotherhoods. Inside the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs” by Arthur Veno, who has studied the subculture in the USA and Australia for many years. I will quote it in my slightly free translation.
“A full member of a motorcycle club must have a tattoo with the club logo and the club’s slogan, for example, “God forgives, Outlaw does not” (Outlaws MC motorcycle club), or “We are the people our parents tried to protect us from” (Bandidos MC motorcycle club) .
This type of tattoo usually contains the date it was applied and, like the Colors, is the property of the motorcycle club. This can sometimes lead to certain problems. Three things can happen. If the bearer of the tattoo leaves the club due to other than negative circumstances, the date of leaving the club is simply added to his tattoo, and he continues to wear it. If everything is not so smooth, the club may insist that the wearer cover the club logo with another tattoo. And, if the tattoo bearer is kicked out of the club, the club can insist that the tattoo be removed—right now! Quite often there were cases of forced “removal” of tattoos. I'll skip the details.
Generally, the club expects full members to have their logo tattooed within one year of receiving their patches."
So the situation with the burning of skin on the back of a former member of a motorcycle club in the first season of the series “Children of Anarchy” had a real basis.
From there, one of the clauses of the charter of the Hells Angels MC motorcycle club: “..if you leave the club for a year, you do not have the right to re-enter the motorcycle club. A club tattoo must have the date of joining the motorcycle club and the date of leaving the club as a member. When expelled from a motorcycle club, the club tattoo must be crossed out with a cross at least half an inch wide...”
There is a mention of biker club tattoos by William Queen in “Under and Alone”: “..watching the tattoo artist at work, I realized that Craig had now forever connected his life with the motorcycle club. Now, if he wants to leave the club, the Mongols will force him to burn out the club tattoo - this is a common practice in the ranks of outlaw motorcycle clubs - and burning out such a large area of skin will almost certainly kill the bearer of the tattoo.
Entertainment and shows
Bikers hold important events twice a year - the opening and closing of the season. They last for several days, during which motorcycle owners gather in a certain place and talk about their successes.
Holidays take place in a large space - in fields, squares, special sites outside the city. All these days, bikers drink beer and other alcoholic beverages, and eat a lot of meat and meat products. They are surrounded by beautiful girls who are partial to motorcycles and subculture.
Seasoned riders boast about the number of cities they've ridden or the unique features of their bikes. They tell each other interesting life stories and anecdotes.
The holidays are accompanied by competitions. The most popular ones are called “Sausage” and “Barrel”. At the first one, the biker gets on his motorcycle with the girl. While moving, she must eat a sausage hanging on a rope. And when participating in the second competition, the motorcyclist needs to roll a metal barrel as far as possible along a straight road. He can only use his own transport.
Bikers' appearance
The stereotypical appearance of a biker: a bandana (a dark-colored headscarf tied in a pirate style at the back of the head) or a black knitted cap, a “biker jacket” (a leather jacket with an oblique zipper) or a leather motorcycle jacket (often a sleeveless denim or leather vest with “ flowers" (symbols) of the motorcycle club), leather pants. Bikers often grow long hair, mustaches, and beards. To protect the eyes from the wind, glasses are worn, and helmets are often ignored.
However, among bikers this appearance is not always necessary. A biker can wear sports motorcycle clothing and equipment.
