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| Club of riders, with an interactive support network of experiences and resources related to long distance travel by motorcycle. A true 1%er club who's main moto is Respect is earned not given. Longriders Origins Eternal Brotherhood Longriders Montreal CA. Longriders Franklin CO. Longriders Photo Gallery Longriders OriginsAround 1980 a group of bikers that rode together started hanging out at a bar in Chicopee, MA, called Bo's Lounge. At that time, there weren't too many "biker-friendly" bars around, and it was a central meeting place to have drinks, and decide where to ride to that night, or that weekend. There were a wide variety of guys with their Ol' Ladies, as well as a great guy named Artie, who rode a trike! Some of the guys were from Hampshire County, as well as Hampden County, and it was at that time that some of the guys thought they should start a riding club. But, some of them didn't like the idea of a "Motorcycle Club", so the idea of a "Motorcycle Family" was brought up, agreed on, and put into motion. The founding members were elected as officers, and that's when they first became the "Longriders"! As the word spread, about a "Family" of riders in Chicopee, the Longriders kept growing with more and more guys showing up at Bo's. This went on for about two years or so, until some of the members suggested that they drop the "Family" and replace it with a full "Motorcycle Club". Since they were already riding just like an M/C, they might as well become one. However, the original members didn't all agree, but said that they would step back if that was what the majority wanted. The majority won, so in (or around) 1983, the Longriders M/C came into existence. There were only nine original members left at this time, as represented by the nine flames on the Longriders center patch. The club grew and hosted their first party in 1984, at the Kennedy Post American Legion in Chicopee, MA. The club wasn't sure how well the party would go once the Kennedy Post found out just who had rented the hall! So, a "cover-story" of a Jack-N-Jill was used, and the party went off without a hitch! Ever since then, we hold a couple of parties a year at the Kennedy Post, as they've always been good to us! There are some really great people there! Back then, we had about two hundred guests, and went through about ten kegs of beer! We can remember one fall party where keg's eleven and twelve were brought in! Talk about packing in the place! We found our first clubhouse in 1985, on Boston Rd in Springfield, MA. We called it "The Dungeon", and had some really great times there. The club continued to grow even larger over the nine, or so, years we spent in the cellar there (and the contacts we made through other M/C's in the surrounding area was definitely a big help), and we lost some too. Eventually, we got the boot out of there, had to put all our stuff in a storage trailer, and we were feeling pretty low down. Who knew that waiting just down the road, one of the new guys would say, "Hey! I know a place in Ludlow that's been vacant for years!" Long story short, we closed on that building in 1994, and we've been here ever since. The club went through plenty of BS over the years, but we remember more good times than bad, that's for sure! In (or around) 2006, an opportunity presented itself with meeting a great group of bikers from Canada who had the same ideas about clubs and brotherhood as we did. So we began riding up there, to Montreal and Ontario to visit them, and they were returning the favor by riding down here. Then, it wasn't long before the Longriders Montreal Chapter was born! We still regularly travel up north to see our Canadian brothers, and they still do the same by riding down here to visit us. Then, in (or around) 2009, we met a solid bunch of guys from Franklin County, MA, who were starting out kind of like we did. Well, another long story short, we opened our Franklin County chapter of the Longriders in 2010. They made contacts with the other M/C's in their area, and have been welcomed with open arms. The Longriders M/C supports itself, with every member working at their jobs and paying their bills. Well, it's hard to believe that, in just a few short years, it will have been thirty years since those humble days of the Motorcycle Family! And if it weren't for those original nine members that took the next step, we wouldn't exist today! We, The Longriders M/C, look forward to growing, through respect and brotherhood. Just as a footnote.. The Longriders M/C started the very first Toys for Tots motorcycle run in this area. On that first run (on bikes), there was freezing drizzle, and everyone was wearing a layer of ice when it was done! But it's all good! From there, Mr. Bill took it over, and then some other people ran it, and still continue to run it today. In closing, all we can say is, thank you for your continued support, and.. Ride On Longriders! L F F L |
Long Riders Motorcycle Club
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