# documentary on biker clubs and gangs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459 "2017-07-03T19:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clarence01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/1 "2017-07-03T19:49:17Z")
just got a new camera for my next project which will be to document one non-1% club and 1% club if the latter becomes possible. does anyone have locations where various 1% and non-1% clubs/gangs hang out these days around the Los Angeles area? im not surr how much luck ill have contacting anyone online. a map would be a huge plus if one exists ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/2 "2017-07-03T21:41:16Z")
> [@Clarence01](#): > > just got a new camera for my next project which will be to document one non-1% club and 1% club if the latter becomes possible. does anyone have locations where various 1% and non-1% clubs/gangs hang out these days around the Los Angeles area? im not surr how much luck ill have contacting anyone online. a map would be a huge plus if one exists To keep you one the smiling side of things, i’d suggest to contact and discuss it with your local dom, this would be your best place to start things properly ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/3 "2017-07-03T21:43:06Z")
I refuse to be complicit in another’s serious beat-down and curb-stomping. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/4 "2017-07-03T22:01:22Z")
nm hey- be careful ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/5 "2017-07-03T22:31:38Z")
I admire your spunk. Unfortunately, the characters you would be associating with positively _ **hate** _ spunk. (MTM-meow:)) If you were a person with a background for such an endeavor, you wouldn’t be here… Asking for a roadmap to where the bad people hang out. Please reconsider your documentary choice. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/6 "2017-07-03T23:39:06Z")
> [@Clarence01](#): > > just got a new camera for my next project which will be to document one non-1% club and 1% club if the latter becomes possible. does anyone have locations where various 1% and non-1% clubs/gangs hang out these days around the Los Angeles area? im not surr how much luck ill have contacting anyone online. a map would be a huge plus if one exists I’d consider another topic. I’m not in an M/C but know a couple of people who are. Good folks, but they keep Club business very much to themselves. I imagine 1%ers even more so. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/7 "2017-07-04T00:08:45Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’d consider another topic. I’m not in an M/C but know a couple of people who are. Good folks, but they keep Club business very much to themselves. I imagine 1%ers even more so. I don’t think the Real Estate Agents, Doctors, Lawyers, and Candlestick-makers that comprise the members of the “good folks” of your referenced motorcycle gangs, are the subject of Clarence’s interest. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/8 "2017-07-04T02:28:55Z")
Do a documentary on people who have written about motorcycle gangs. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/9 "2017-07-04T02:56:00Z")
Read \*Hells Angels \*by Hunter Thompson, then decide if you really want to do this. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/10 "2017-07-04T03:26:07Z")
I won’t tell you how to find a 1%er club, but the American Legion has a motorcycle club. Google American Legion Posts in LA and try contacting them, they might be willing to help out. Additionally, try looking for motorcycle clubs with themes you might not expect, like christian clubs (lots of them around) etc. I’d try some of those before going to the Outlaws or Hell’s Angels or whoever. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/11 "2017-07-04T04:24:06Z")
You _may_ have some luck finding members of a defunct club that are willing to chat. I had a family member that was a founding member of a club that has ceased to be (there was a biker war with a well-known MC) and those older guys seem to be more willing to chat. Don’t be shocked if they don’t though. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/12 "2017-07-04T07:14:23Z")
Don’t worry, you won’t get beaten up, but you won’t get anywhere either if you’re inconsiderate or if you objectify your subject. Also, the biker era was long ago, so things have probably changed, or maybe not. I’m decades out of touch, but you might look around for poker runs and bike shows or just hang out at the next biker rodeo. Meet folks, listen, get to know people and take it from there. Take pictures at the shows, and be polite if the camera or your presence actually makes somebody nervous. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/13 "2017-07-04T07:25:43Z")
You might also check into clean and sober motorcycle clubs. It might be an interesting perspective in of itself, and the riders might be help you get farther with your project. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/14 "2017-07-04T19:39:08Z")
> [@ZurBob](#): > > I don’t think the Real Estate Agents, Doctors, Lawyers, and Candlestick-makers that comprise the members of the “good folks” of your referenced motorcycle gangs, are the subject of Clarence’s interest. I think OP is talking about real, three-patch M/Cs and not someone with a leather vest with a “Harley Owners Group” patch on the back. ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/15 "2017-07-04T19:45:27Z")
Lisa Ling has already done a show on this on whatever cable channel she’s on. Some of it involved a big brawl (perhaps even gunfight) between two rival clubs that made the news some time ago. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/16 "2017-07-04T19:47:22Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > Don’t worry, you won’t get beaten up, but you won’t get anywhere either if you’re inconsiderate or if you objectify your subject. Also, the biker era was long ago, so things have probably changed, or maybe not. Not in Canada, particularly Quebec, unfortunately. Things have slowed down from the bombings and shootouts of the 90s, but biker gang members are still in the news. Here’s a[recent story](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-drug-raids-biker-gang-hells-angels-1.4139213) about biker gangs and drug trafficking. That said, there are many “clean” motorcycle clubs up here too. For example, this group visiting from the US visited Cape Breton to [help out a bullied schoolboy](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/bikers-motorcycles-bullied-harbourstone-xander-rose-school-1.4170923). I suspect it would be much safer to document folks like that. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/17 "2017-07-04T22:04:18Z")
Oh, I was thinking that the OP would probably be easily handled by the club and kept away from any compromising situations. They don’t want any unnecessary trouble, and they have decades of experience in knowing how and when to keep quiet. It’s been 10-30 years, but I’ve had people tell me about going to a friendly vet for gunshots, getting caught red-handed cutting off VIN numbers and things like that, but only when it didn’t matter anymore and only when it was clear that I didn’t matter. Anything that did matter was handled on a need to know basis. ---
**Author:** ![Oddball\_92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b3f665/32.png) [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/18 "2017-07-05T03:26:39Z")
Your safest bet would find a local chapter of Los Carnales MC or perhaps La Familia MC (who are associates of Los Carnales). Less chance of getting killed that way. Do your research and you will find out why that is. BTW Harley Owners Group (HOG) are pretty much a joke. They are mostly a bunch of weekend, wanna-be posers who like to dress up. They only look like 1%'ers. ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/19 "2017-07-06T18:18:20Z")
Oh gawd… another motorcycle 1% show? Doesn’t one of those channels, like History or Discovery, have a whole series on this? TABLE-FLIP!!! Like others said, the other 99% of the MCs. The veteran, AA, etc ones. TABLE-FLIP back to TABLE-FLIP!! A show on 1% bicycle gangs!!! ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459/20 "2017-07-06T18:52:31Z")
You might try finding a local chapter of HOG (Harley Owner’s Group) - not exactly a MC gang, but at least they won’t beat you up. 🙂 Another possibility is [BACA](http://bacaworld.org/) - Bikers Against Child Abuse. They’re some tough folks, but they’re putting their toughness to a good use: protecting children going through the court system with child-abuse cases, to make sure nobody messes with them. They probably would like the publicity. [Here’s a link to their Los Angeles chapter](http://california.bacaworld.org/california/los-angeles-chapter/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-on-biker-clubs-and-gangs/790459.md?page=2)