The Real Explanation Behind The Hells Angels' Loyalty To Harley-Davidson Bikes

Be honest with us here – when you picture a Hells Angel in your mind, what do you see? A big, burly, intimidating biker, right? It can’t be helped! But have you ever wondered where that mental picture comes from? In truth, Harley-Davidson has played a significant role in cultivating that image for a number of years.

Yes, Harley motors represent several ideals that line up with the Hells Angels, such as liberty, power and defiance. So of course the club embraced those vehicles. There might’ve been a hint of romanticism to it all from an outside perspective, yet the company’s approach was welcomed by the bikers. You could say it was a perfect match.

“I’m free to do what I want any old time.” With lyrics like that, you’d think The Soup Dragons’ track “I’m Free” would be a Hells Angels anthem! It perfectly embodies one of the club’s biggest ideals: independence. That’s why they’re always riding up and down the highways on their bikes. Then again, wouldn’t that get uncomfortable after a while?

Well, not if you’re riding the right type of bike. You see, according to the website HotCars, Hells Angels have a preference for cruiser models, which offer the snugness needed for hours on the road. And which company specializes in cruisers? Yep, you guessed it. One Harley-Davidson. They can’t be beaten.

It’s fair to say that even without a bike, a Hells Angel will stick out from the crowd. The iconic jackets and patches are particularly eye-catching. But unsurprisingly, club members want to make their presence known on the highway as well. After all, that’s where you’ll find them in most cases.

And maximum impact is precisely why Hells Angels are real fans of Harley-Davidson’s Big Twin bikes. These monstrous vehicles are both huge and noisy, so motorists will never miss them. Plus, the club welcomes the lack of detailed paint on the body. It allows them to personalize each bike as they see fit.

Mutually beneficial associations are a big thing in business. Mind you, that kind of stuff isn’t just confined to corporate boardrooms. For instance, Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels have been engaged in one such relationship for a while now. And the famous biking brand absolutely loves the free marketing that comes with it.

Yes, Harley have really focused on the “mystique” of the Hells Angels in their advertising, using that to push their bikes. In turn, that feeds back into the club’s view of itself. Why wouldn’t you ride a vehicle from a brand that promotes you? Anyway, not every Hells Angel is a fan of this. Indeed, according to the HotCars website, there are those who think the bikers should get some money from the ads.

Think you’re loyal to your favorite brand? Well, there’s a good chance that the Hells Angels have you beat. The club’s allegiance to Harley-Davidson runs deep, its members having stuck with the firm through thick and thin. You see, the company produced a few products that apparently were regarded by those in the know as a bit below-par in the past.

Instead of binning Harley off, though, Hells Angels continued to support the brand during that period. As biker Lorne Campbell told the Toronto Star newspaper, “I’ve been riding them all of my life, even when they were [bad] bikes in the ’60s and ’70s. Harley riders are loyal – even when [the bikes] leaked oil. They’re the best, now.” That’s love right there!

While some of you might view the Hells Angels as rowdy outlaws, the motorbike club did something rather unexpected in 2018. Members contacted the United States government to air their concerns about trade policy! Then again, that’s not as random as it sounds, as Harley-Davidson was heavily tied into it.

There were concerns that a significant proportion of Harley’s manufacturing could’ve moved away from America. And it’s fair to say that didn’t sit well with the Hells Angels. Yet a club representative named Rick Ciarnello spoke to the press to reaffirm their connection to the brand, whatever happened. He said, “Harley-Davidson motorcycles will still be available, no matter where the parts are made or assembled.”

Here’s a question for you – how long do you think the Hells Angels have been around? Decades? Well, to give you a precise answer, the club was born in 1948. That’s some run. But it hasn’t been plain sailing throughout those years, especially during the ’60s. At that stage, the walls seemed to be closing in.

Both the American Motorcycle Association and the police appeared to turn their backs on the Hells Angels over that spell. And certain biker brands did the same too. Guess who didn’t, though? Yep, Harley-Davidson. According to HotCars, members turned to the company in their droves during their time of need.

Want some real insight into the life of a Hells Angel? You’re in luck! Sonny Barger is arguably the most recognizable name to emerge from the gang down the years, writing a book about his experiences. It’s titled, Hell’s Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

Anyway, one passage in particular proved to be very interesting, as Barger touched upon the Harley-Davidson connection. He wrote, “Hells Angels started riding Harleys mostly because, unlike today, they didn’t have much choice. In 1957 it was either ride a Harley or settle for a Triumph or BSA. They’d already stopped building Indians.”

You might not be too surprised to hear that Harley-Davidson bikes are pretty pricey in today’s market. For instance, a low rider cruiser model will set you back nearly $18,000 according to the brand’s website. Yet the bikes weren’t always this expensive, and that appealed to the Hells Angels in the past.

An article on the RideApart website states that World War Two was the catalyst. You see, the United States military utilized Harley bikes during the conflict, but once it ended they looked to get rid of any “surplus” vehicles. So those Harley-Davidsons didn’t command huge fees, which opened the door for the Hells Angels.

The formation of the Hells Angels came three years after World War Two concluded in 1945. That’s not just a handy piece of trivia, though – it tells you something about the type of guys who tended to join the club at the time. Plus, it also helped shape their decision to adopt Harley-Davidson as their go-to brand. To explain more, the Insane Throttle BIKER LIFE YouTube channel released a video on the subject.

The video’s host notes, “Many of our veterans who fought Germany, Italy and Japan came home from fighting and got into motorcycling. Harley-Davidson was an American company, and it came as a source of pride for those vets. Motorcycles made by the Axis powers were a no-touch deal!” So yes, patriotism was a huge driving factor.

But riding a Harley isn’t the only rule the Hells Angels have to follow. There are other bizarre things that members of the gang must do, too. Here’s what you need to know if you want to ride alongside them.

Fancy becoming a Hells Angel? Well, don’t expect them to tell you how to become a member. In fact, if you look on the FAQ section of the club’s website, it says in no uncertain terms, “If you have to ask, you probably will not understand the answer.” But we won’t leave you completely in the dark about what’s involved.

It all starts with what the Hells Angels call a hang around. And that’s just as it sounds. Basically, you’re given an invite to hang out with inducted members. That way, the others can see how prospective newbies will fit in with the crowd – or not.

But you can’t just accept an invite to hang around and then change your mind about attending. You see, charter members take the club very seriously indeed. And that means you’d better show up when you say you’ll be there. If you’re flaky, you probably won’t make it into the fold.

Members who skip events aren’t cut slack, either. The whole point of the Hells Angels is that it’s a brotherhood, and skipping out on the motorcycle family’s gatherings is a huge sign of disrespect. So, whether you’re a new or old member of the club, you go to the meetings – come hell or high water.

Perhaps you’ve seen Hells Angels vests or T-shirts emblazoned with the club logo. But you shouldn’t wear this gear – especially in an attempt to secure your membership. The gang has a strict no-impersonation policy, and they wouldn’t take kindly to something like that. They’d probably have no issue with dishing out the reprisals, either.

As you may already have guessed, members are the only ones who can wear official Hells Angels gear. So, until you get into the charter, don’t try slipping on someone else’s vest or sewing a patch on too quickly. Just support the club in ways that won’t offend the folks you’re trying to impress instead.

We can see the strength of the Hells Angels brotherhood from the outside, but it’s hard to sum up just how seriously they take their bond with one another. This rule of the motorcycle club gives a hint, though: they cannot talk about absent members.

It makes sense that Hells Angels wouldn’t discuss members with outsiders, but they also extend this silence to those who have disappeared. This measure is yet another protection in place to maintain their privacy and keep one another away from the clutches of the law. So, if you have loose lips, you probably won’t be inducted. You’re not even supposed to talk about your brothers with anyone outside of the club.

You’ve probably picked up by now that respect is of the utmost importance to Hells Angels. And this applies both inside and outside a particular charter. Simply put, you should hold your fellow motorcyclists in high regard. If one charter claims a specific area as their territory, then, others nearby should obey these boundaries.

In this way, it’s decided which Hells Angels charter can hang out where. There is some leeway, as club members can actually ride through one another’s territories. What they can’t do, however, is stop, hang out and make themselves comfortable. Only the folks from the charter that has staked its claim can do that.

While Hells Angels have plenty of respect for one another, they’re not the only motorcycle gang on Earth. And, sometimes, that means they have to fight for control over the territory they want. Gang members apparently tend to take the view that they shouldn’t have to share with riders of differing affiliations.

You see, there’s an unwritten rule between motorcycle clubs – including the Outlaws, the Hells Angels and the Bandidos – that only one of them can control a single area. And that’s how conflict between these groups can start. Something as simple as a rival biker showing up in your area with “your” location emblazoned on their vest can start a fight for dominance.

Hells Angels may have tough reputations, but they’re not solely about cruising and controlling their turf. Part of the gig also requires you to be a good person – and not just to your brothers. Yes, in many charters, charity work is apparently a requirement for membership.

This means that Hells Angels often give back to the communities in which they live and ride. If your neighborhood has a motorcycle contingent, then, you may see the leather-donning members frequenting local bars and restaurants. Some will even run their own charities or spend time working with adults or children in need.

You remember the Golden Rule from your school days, right? It’s simple: treat others how you want to be treated. And if you could follow that guideline as a child, then you’ll have no problem being a Hells Angel as a grown-up. Members stick to the same principle when it comes to people both inside and outside of their charter.

The Hells Angels code says that they will treat others with respect so long as they receive it in return. Journalists who have interviewed gang members have apparently found them welcoming and warm. Neighbors of the motorcyclists have reported the same, too. If you show contempt to a member, on the other hand, you should expect a completely different result…

You know by now that wearing the Hells Angels logo is an honor bestowed upon bona fide members only. Clearly, then, the motorcycle gang takes its branding seriously. But this approach doesn’t just apply to folks who want to get in or appear as though they have. It also informs how members react to the way they’re portrayed in the media.

So, the Hells Angels will do anything to defend their public image. They’ve even gone so far as to slap down big companies that have presented a skewed view of who they are. The motorcycle club launched legal proceedings against Disney, for instance, after it released the bike-centric flick Wild Hogs. Pretty serious, right?

Membership in the Hells Angels clearly comes with a lot of responsibilities. But if you join a motorcycle gang, you probably won’t have any problem with this rule: you have to be prepared to ride with your brothers. And if you’re a little on the lazy side, beware. That doesn’t mean only short, quick jaunts down the road.

The Hells Angels website claims that charters ride more than 12,000 miles together every single year. Do the math, and you’ll find that’s roughly 33 miles each day. Of course, the gang doesn’t hit the road every Monday through Sunday, but you do have to be prepared to drop everything for a long cruise. And if you like riding, it won’t be a huge burden to be on your bike for hours at a time, will it?

It takes time to set up a Hells Angels charter – and the club’s website is careful to point out this fact. The site says in no uncertain terms, “Motorcycle clubs consist of people who have ridden together for years, live in the same area, are known by the community, have runs and parties and are a brotherhood.” And you just can’t create that kind of closeness overnight.

So, a motorcycle community would generally only consider becoming an official arm of the Hells Angels after years of riding together by choice. Perhaps that’s why the club website doesn’t include instructions on how to join up. Once you’re established enough, you don’t have to ask how or follow any steps; you’re just in.

Any grammar guru will tell you that “Hells Angels” should really have an apostrophe before the first “s.” The club’s name implies that the motorcyclists belong to hell, after all, and so an apostrophe would make that connection clear by creating a possessive. But the organization acknowledges only one proper spelling of its name, and there’s nary a punctuation mark in sight.

The Hells Angels adhere to their own rules – and that appears to include grammatical ones, too. The official website even makes a point to shut down those who question this choice by remarking, “Yes, we know there is an apostrophe missing, but it is you who miss it. We don’t.” And if you want to keep on a member’s good side, we wouldn’t recommend you disagree.

Initiation and membership into the Hells Angels arms you with a coveted accessory: a vest emblazoned with the organization’s name and insignia on its back. That way, when you’re on the road, everyone knows with whom you’re riding. But that’s not the only must-wear item for the motorcycle gang’s inductees.

You see, Hells Angels charters each have their own dress codes. Some don’t allow riders to wear shorts, while others bar their members from sporting anything but the color black. In other places, however, motorcyclists may be permitted to don denim and camouflage prints. And, handily, these rules help neighboring charters recognize one another on the road.

If you’ve ever seen a Hells Angels charter cruising down the highway, you’ll know that a lot ride together. The members can often take over the whole road, in fact. And yet, even with so many bikes hurtling along, there’s order to the chaos you’re witnessing from the outside.

At the front of the pack, you’ll see the captain riding along with the president of the Hells Angels charter. They lead the way, while the rest of the crew falls in line based on their personal rankings and seniority levels. New members hang near the back, and prospective signees bring up the rear.

In reading this list, you’re probably getting the feeling that joining the Hells Angels isn’t a decision to take lightly. And you’d be right. The organization prides itself on the connections made between members and the strong brotherhood that results. As such, there’s no need to join any other bike-related organization.

Apparently, Hells Angels should even steer clear of any other social clubs or membership-only groups. The organization’s website explains, “Never combine your support to Hells Angels with other clubs, street gangs or others if you are unaware of the relationship between those others and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.” It’s best, then, to stick to who you know.

There’s a reason why the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is such a mysterious organization: its members make a point of keeping it that way. For starters, they don’t share their plans or scheduled activities with anyone. And if you somehow happen to catch Hells Angels riding, then you’ve found out along with the rest of the world that they had a cruise on the books.

The Hells Angels’ secrecy stems from a simple internal policy: don’t talk to the press. Riders use their silence as a way to protect their image and safeguard themselves and others. And as only those inside the organization need to know what charters are up to and when they’re gathering, it’s a bad idea to spill the beans.

The vest that a Hells Angels member receives once they’re officially inducted into the group is more than just an accessory. That piece of clothing is revereed among the motorcyclists who make it into the exclusive club, and all of them treat the garment with great care.

So, while you may have a similar outfit that you hold dear, that devotion probably pales in comparison. Allegedly, some Hells Angels members will even refuse to let medics cut them out of their vests in life-and-death situations. That’s how much of an honor it is to don the famous embroidered gear.

If you think you want to join the Hells Angels, then you should make absolutely sure before you start the process. A new prospect’s journey from enlistee to full-fledged member can take years, you see, and there are several hoops through which you have to jump before you officially make it into a charter.

And the culmination of all of those pre-membership rituals ends with a democratic vote among everyone in the charter. This step certainly speaks to the brotherhood mentality that the Hells Angels have; basically, if the group likes you, then you’re in. If the majority of the guys don’t want you to join, though, then you’re probably out without question.

You’ve heard of fraternities hazing those seeking to join, and the Hells Angels are no different. For one, prospective initiates can get stuck with the chores that fully fledged members would rather avoid. This means, for instance, that the new guys may arrive early to a charter meeting, putting everything together before anyone else gets there.

That’s a pretty benign example of what Hells Angels hazing can be, though. Some say that the process can get violent, although this in turn triggers another rule. Apparently, prospects can’t lash out or fight back against the senior members who haze them. If they do, then their journey to membership ends then and there.

Knowing what you do now, you probably don’t want to mess with the Hells Angels. But even if you’d never purposely rile a member, you may just do so inadvertedly. That’s because outsiders can’t link to the motorcycle club’s website except in a very specific scenario.

The Hells Angels’ site explains, “You may not establish and/or operate links to this website without the prior written consent of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.” And even if you have permission, it may not last forever, as members reserve the right to withdraw from the deal.