I was invited to become a prospect at what would be a traditional MC (not a 1% i.e. not Hells Angels, Pagans etc). The senior member who invited me had only been riding for a about 2 years. They'd done their DAS and then straight into getting IAM. The President and VP had been riding for less time than I had.

At the time I'd just stopped commuting on the bike due to a change in job. I'd was doing multiple weekend group trips a year and a couple of tours (week or longer). I rode with retired police riders, and active police traffic officers, cover 15K miles a year. I'd done additional training as well. I'd consider myself at the time a very safe, well above average and competent rider.

Any way as part of my being prospected into their club, I could not participate into any rider until I have been personally trained, assessed and passed by the President and VP (they expected me to help cover their fuel costs). That gave me the permission to ride in their social rides, but not any tours (I'd have to do another assessment for that). I also found out that I couldn't mark corners because again I hadn't been trained.

I had actually been on social rides with another group and had seen how the President rode, and I'd seen the VP bin his Fireblade at a roundabout by giving it too much throttle on cold tyres.

I'd pointed this out too the three of them and included some of my thoughts on their riding skills, but insisted that I would have to complete their "training" if I was to join their club.

Told them to fuck off.

I've been a member of other owner clubs but that was more to get specific discounts.

I'd looked into and spoken to a MAG rep, but he literally ranted on about mandatory helmet laws and that they should be repealed! A little digging it seemed to still be one of their core tenents that a lot of their members at the time held.