Riders say they were promised one thing — then the rules changed.
A controversy over motorcycle club colors erupted at Las Vegas BikeFest 2026 after organizers reportedly reversed course on allowing riders to wear their club vests, commonly known as “cuts,” according to an email from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF).
The MRF says the Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs was assured before the event that there would be no no-colors policy. But midway through the rally, club colors and cuts were banned, with multiple parties reportedly offering shifting explanations and no one taking responsibility for the change.
Among those affected was the International Vice President of the Soldiers for Jesus Motorcycle Club, an MRF board member who had a booth at the event.
“Clubs did what was asked of them. They got assurances and showed up in good faith,” said MRF President Kirk “Hardtail” Willard. “Changing the rules midway through, then refusing to say who made the call, is the kind of treatment riders across this country are tired of.”
WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND LAS VEGAS
For many motorcyclists, this controversy goes beyond one rally. The MRF says the incident reflects the broader concerns surrounding how riders and motorcycle clubs are treated.
The organization has spent years fighting motorcycle profiling at the federal level, including supporting Senate Resolution 154 in 2018 and House Resolution 366 in 2022. The MRF also backed 2026 language in the House BUILD America 250 Act intended to prohibit federal funding for programs that profile motorcyclists.
HOW RIDERS CAN HELP
The MRF is encouraging motorcyclists to get involved and help document profiling experiences through the Motorcycle Profiling Project’s National Motorcycle Profiling Survey.
The survey consists of just five anonymous questions and takes about a minute to complete. The questions change each year to help gather new information for future legislative efforts.
The MRF says responses collected from thousands of riders have helped support its advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.
TAKE ACTION:
🏍️ Take the National Motorcycle Profiling Survey:
https://motorcycleprofilingproject.com/
🇺🇸 Join the Motorcycle Riders Foundation:
https://www.mrf.org/join-the-mrf
📢 Read the MRF’s legislative priorities:
https://www.mrf.org/legislative-tools
What do you think? Should motorcycle rallies be able to change their colors policies after clubs have already received assurances and committed to participating? Let us know in the comments.
Source and attribution: Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), via email. The account of the assurances, policy change and affected attendees is attributed to the MRF’s communication.
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Among those banned was the International Vice President of the Soldiers for Jesus Motorcycle Club, an MRF Board Member who had a booth at the event.