Page 11 - LHR Biker September 2025

wheels looks like. reputation. Conversely, chaotic clubs teach trade skills that can
Women’s clubs emphasise mutual events or public disorder can harm lead to legitimate work.
support and practical riding skills, a club’s legitimacy. Public image
and mixed clubs are increasingly matters because clubs depend on These activities matter. In
professionalising their approach to goodwill — or at least tolerance — neighbourhoods with limited
safety and training. That said, f r o m c o m m u n i t i e s , l o c a l resources, the motorcycle club’s
sexism and conservative attitudes businesses and sometimes social capital can be a force for
p e r s i s t i n p o c k e t s . T h e authorities. stability. Yet because these acts
transformation is underway but rarely make headlines, they
uneven — the old vocabulary of Law, conflict and public remain part of an underground
“ b r o t h e r h o o d ” i s s l o w l y perception economy of care — visible to
broadening into “family,” “crew,” or R e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h l a w locals but invisible to many outside
simply “club” in places where enforcement and local authorities observers.
membership is more inclusive. are complex and locally specific.
Many clubs cooperate with police Rituals, music and style:
on traffic safety and event cultural code beyond rubber
coordination. Others treat law and chrome
enforcement with suspicion or Style is a language. The cut of a
hostility, especially where policing vest, the boots, the smell of chain
has been heavy-handed. Media l u b e a n d c i g a r s — a l l
portrayal amplifies extremes: communicate belonging. Music at
dramatic headlines about club nights matters too: hard rock
violence or criminal ties often and metal are common backdrops,
drown out the quieter everyday but local tastes — kwaito, gqom,
work of clubs that fix bikes, Afrikaans rock — mix into the
mentor youth, and raise funds for playlists depending on region and
township causes. membership. Tattoos and insignia
are another form of storytelling:
Conflict between clubs occurs, rides completed, honours earned,
too — losses mourned.
sometimes over territory, The clubhouse is a sensory
sometimes over affronts to archive. Walls lined with photos,
reputation. These disputes are old helmets, and club memorabilia
not always violent, but when they tell a history that otherwise goes
are, they attract national attention unrecorded. Newer clubs,
and harden stereotypes. For especially those formed by
journalists and readers, it’s crucial younger riders, are more likely to
Rides and runs: the social to distinguish between a embrace digital storytelling —
economy of the road subculture that includes a small Instagram feeds and WhatsApp
A ride is the club’s altar. Weekend number of criminal elements and groups that broadcast identity in
runs, annual rallies, and charity an entire motorcycle community. real time.
convoys are where identity is
performed and reinforced. Long- Charity, mentorship and local Money, business and survival
distance runs through the Karoo, impact: Running a club costs money.
t h e G a r d e n R o u t e o r t h e One of the least-covered parts of Events, legal fees, garage space
Drakensberg become rites of club life is the positive social and fuel add up. Clubs raise funds
passage: weather, mechanical footprint many clubs have. From through membership dues,
failure, and the logistics of camp m o t o r c y c l e t r a i n i n g f o r organised runs, bar takings at the
cooking forge camaraderie. Short, unemployed youth to donations for clubhouse, and merchandise.
city-based runs create visibility schoolbooks and community Some clubs operate legitimate
and bring the club into public clean-ups, clubs often fill gaps left businesses — mechanics’ shops,
conversation.Rides also function by institutions. The clubhouse can cafés or event spaces — that both
as a currency. be a place of shelter and guidance finance club life and provide work
A well-run fundraiser or a large for members at risk of falling into for members.That economic
public run can burnish a club’s criminality. Motorcycle mechanics entwinement with daily survival is

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LHR Biker Magazine October 2025