Suzuki SV, Yamaha R7, Kawasaki Ninja—a lineup of motorcycles stretches along the basketball court at Don-Bosco park in Rivière-des-Prairies on a Saturday in mid-July, for a fundraising basketball tournament organized by the Hilarious Riders. We stopped by to meet some of the members of this motorcycle club with a community-driven mission. Profile.
“Hilarious Riders is a motorcycle club focused on charitable work. That’s the one thing that sets us apart and keeps us going. Motorcycle clubs come and go, because they don’t have that cornerstone that makes people want to keep investing their time,” explains Alberto Speech, a.k.a. Spook, the club’s vice-president.
Leaning against his Campagna T-Rex, dressed in a leather tank top, dark sunglasses, and a gold chain around his neck, he exudes confidence.
“We want to show that it’s cool to be legit. I’ve got my J’s on my feet, gold on my neck… To have nice things like this, you don’t have to get into shady stuff. Everyone in the group has a job. Even if we look badass, we don’t do anything illegal!”
Speech wears many hats. He’s a firefighter with the Montreal fire department, serving as captain of the Montréal-Nord fire station. He also teaches fire safety techniques at Collège de Montmorency and works as a public speaker.
But it’s his role as a community advocate that keeps him “the most motivated.”
“We have youth mentorship programs. Single parents often reach out because they’re struggling with their kids. We meet them, we guide them, and we invite them to take part in activities with us,” says Speech.
Behind him, the basketball tournament is in full swing. Funds raised from the event will go toward orphanages in Togo and Benin, as part of a humanitarian mission the group will undertake in January 2026.
“It’s hard to be a Hilarious Rider because you have to give your time and energy to people you don’t know,” he says. “The only thing we ask is that your heart’s in the right place.”
He emphasizes that there will always be new causes to support, and that this constant purpose is what keeps members coming back.
Jeff Beaulieu, a.k.a. Mozbius, has been part of the group from the very beginning.
“I’m an OG (Original Gangster),” he laughs, noting that he works in information technology.
“It’s the realization of a dream. At first, we didn’t plan to start a motorcycle club. We were just a group of friends who wanted to have fun and share that fun with others,” he recalls.
Over time, the group grew, became structured, and evolved into the club it is today, with its social mission embedded in everything it does.
“What I’m proudest of is that after 25 years, we’re still here,” Mozbius exclaims.
Joining the Group
“We don’t recruit, but if people are interested in what we do, and we keep seeing them around, we can start the process,” Speech explains.
A newcomer first becomes a “hang around”, invited to join various club activities in an observation phase. The next stage is “prospect”, a probationary period to prove their commitment. Eventually, the rider earns “full patch” status—a structure common to many motorcycle clubs.
“We’re not looking for as many members as possible. We want soldiers—people who will stick around and understand our mission,” he adds.
Fatou Camara, an HR professional and founder of Jeunes athlètes de Montréal (JAM), was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2024. She recently joined the club as a prospect, drawn above all by its community involvement.
She cites the group’s family spirit and mutual support as reasons for joining.
“I’ve been riding for 15 years. I can go far and fast on my own, but joining the club gives me a sense of belonging to something bigger than myself,” says Fatou, leaning on the seat of her Suzuki SV650.
“I joined because I wanted to add my strength to the community,” she adds.
Coach, whose nickname comes from his profession, joined just a year ago, though he’s known many members for far longer. For him, the club has become a second family, and his greatest pride is giving back to the community.
“Young people see motorcycle groups and think gangs, but we’re here for a good cause. We want to give them a positive image. We want them to see this and recreate it in their own future.”
Meanwhile, Ivy has been in the group for over 10 years, serving as project manager. She discovered the Hilarious Riders during a blood drive for Héma-Québec.
“That’s when I saw how involved the group was in the community. It sparked the humanitarian side of me that I couldn’t really act on in my day-to-day life.”
A quarter-century after its founding, the Hilarious Riders motorcycle club is still here, and its members are more engaged than ever. They hope to keep revving their engines for a long time to come, driving their community forward.
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