Disclaimer: I ride as often as possible, which lately isn't very often.

The thing to remember is respect.

If you try to go into an establishment, and it has a couple of "Hang-Arounds" or "Probies" standing out front guarding the door, ask if the club is open or closed. If it is closed, go find your beer elsewhere.

For a Texas flair, I offer the following:

In a VEEERRRYYY BBAAAADDD part of San Antonio, I was doing some work at a cell site. It was almost dark, and I saw a fellow having motorcycle trouble just outside the compound for the tower. I let him use a phone to call for help, and helped him get his bike off the street. Gave him a bottle of Gatorade from my cooler, and told him I would check in on him when I left.

30 min or so later, there was a knock at the cell shelter door. Seems the fellow's entire club had shown up to get him. They wanted to thank me and invited me for beers and a cookout. I had to pass, and they left me a list of phone numbers in case I had trouble while in town.

I thanked them, and contacted an someone I know that is affiliated with the same motorcycle club (in another town). He assured me all was well, and he would pass a hello to the chapter in question.

Weeks later, those fellows helped me with a bad battery, when I was on my bike, almost 100 miles away at a rally. I knew they would be in the area, and they showed with a trailer in less than 1 hour.

We now stand at even, and they understand I am not interested in the 1% Club.

I still like the motto: "Support your local Bandidos".

Just keep one thing in mind, these are criminal organizations and you do not need to be involved with the "business" side of the group.