Motorcycle club

A motorcycle club is a group of individuals whose primary interest and activities involve motorcycles.

Types of clubs, groups and organizations

Most clubs are either organized around a brand or make, or around a type of riding (e.g. touring). Motorcycle clubs vary a great deal in their objectives and organizations. Mainstream motorcycle clubs or associations typically have elected officers and directors, annual dues, and a regular publication. They may also sponsor sports events and annual or more frequent motorcycle rallies where members can socialize.

There are a great many brand clubs, i.e. clubs dedicated to a particular marque, including those sponsored by various manufacturers, modeled on the original brand club, the Harley Owners Group. There are also large national independent motorcycle clubs, for example, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. There are also specific clubs for women, such as Women's International Motorcycle Association, and clubs for lesbians and gays, such as Dykes on Bikes.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (often abbreviated as BRMC) is an American rock band from San Francisco, CA. The group consists of Peter Hayes (vocal, guitar), Robert Levon Been (bass, vocal), and Leah Shapiro (drums). Former drummer Nick Jago left the band in 2008 to focus on his solo project.

They have released seven studio albums: B.R.M.C. (2001), Take Them On, On Your Own (2003), Howl (2005), Baby 81 (2007), The Effects of 333 (2008), Beat the Devil's Tattoo (2010), and Specter at the Feast (2013). And also several EPs, and live albums.

They are influenced by bands such as: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Verve, The Rolling Stones, T. Rex, The Velvet Underground, The Call, Love and Rockets, Daniel Ash, and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

History

Formation and early years (1998–2003)

The band was formed in 1998, originally called The Elements. After discovering that another band had the same name, the members changed the name to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, after Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in the 1953 film The Wild One.

Motorcycle racing

Motorcycle racing (also called moto racing and bike racing) is the motorcycle sport of racing motorcycles. Major genres include road racing and off road racing, both either on circuits or open courses, and track racing. Other categories include hill climbs, drag racing and land speed record trials.

Categories

The FIM classifies motorcycle racing in the following four main categories. Each category has several sub categories.

Road racing

Road racing is the sport of racing motorcycles on hard surfaces resembling roads, usually paved with tarmac. Races can take place either on purpose-built racing circuits or on closed public roads.

Traditional road racing

Historically, "road racing" meant a course on closed public road. This was once commonplace but currently only a few such circuits have survived, mostly in Europe. Races take place on publics roads which have been temporarily closed to the public by legal orders from the local legislature. Two championships exist, the first is the International Road Racing Championship, the other is the Duke Road Racing Rankings. The latter accounts for the majority of road races that take place each season, with an award for the highest placed rider. Prominent road races include the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix. Ireland has many road racing circuits still in use. Other countries with road races are the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, New Zealand and Macau.