Motorcycle Gangs – Suburbanites vs the real thing; Real life encounters?

In My Humble Opinion
21

I lived around the corner from them for years, and shared (motorcycle) garage space with a couple of them for those years.

They’ve pretty much got nothing to prove. While I hardly think they’re good guys, if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. There are exceptions, of course, but those tend to be drunken bar encounters rather than anything gang-related.

The weekend warriors, on the other hand, can occaisionally be a problem. When they’re out on the road in a bunch, some of them like to act like badasses. And there’s courage in numbers. I’ve had a few encounters with those types when they’ve behaved like real (and dangerous) assholes.

22

I’ve always associated “turf” with urban gangs. Are motorcycle gangs protecting turf for the same reasons (ie. drugs)?

What’s a “prospect patch”? Googling it looks to be associated with an area in New York. What’s the connection to motorcycle gangs?

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I think you are confusing that with Prospect Park, which is in Brooklyn.

25

I believe the folks I’m talking about are in this club (although I’m not sure). I think that logo is what I’ve seen on the jackets. Since they have a website and facebook page, I assume they’re not really a outlaw gang. I know for a fact that one of the individuals is a fairly high-level, suit wearing exec during the week. Thus my contention that it’s mainly role-playing, since they seem to be maximizing the scruffy, tough guy look when riding. I encountered them once while they were out, and the individuals I know were almost unrecognizable in their gear.

I re-iterate, this seems like good fun, and I’m not belittling it in any way. I just wondered about the unlikely scenario of encountering the Hell’s Angels variety when they were out and about. According to the responses here, it seems like it’s no big deal as long as certain logos and symbology is respected (or avoided).

26

Thanks AClockworkMelon. Now I’ve got it.

27

The outlaw clubs have websites and facebook pages too. This quote from their website, though, makes me think you’re right about BFMC:

28

The “real” thing is apt. I’ve always thought the weekend warriors were like a bunch of drag queens, with a desperate need to prove how “real” they are. Like drag queens, they tend to engage in exaggerated behavior, aping those who they aspire to be. That’s what can make them a PITA.

29

HA in the 70’s could be assholes. Well, let’s rephrase that they are a rough crowd. What you might think as not giving offense may be something else to them. And they could be quick to beat the shit out of people. Remember the motto, “all on one and one on all.”

Talking northern California, when a group of Angels could show up at county fairs or hit a lake.

I remember when someone, maybe it was Sonny, got out of Folsom Prison on max time. A posse welcomed whoever it was at the Represa gate with a brand new Harley to ride back to the Bay Area. Police escort through the city of Folsom. It was LOUD as there were dozens if not a hundred hogs going through town and wearing their full colors. Impressed the hell out of this 13 year old.

30

My first husband was Hell’s Angel. There’s a lot of weird stuff I could tell you, most of it isn’t very nice. Like their women having to wear the DFC patch.

31

Tried searching on “DFC patch biker” but got stuff like “Denver & Front Range Cycling”. Care to illuminate me?

32

ugh. Dumb F*****g Cee-you-next-Tuesday.

Seriously

33

That is terrible, but I guess you’d have to be one to wear it.

34

Long ago while teaching my future wife to ride a bike, I encountered a gang. Sort of.

Being a cop and a biker, I was familiar with some local clubs, and had heard of a lot of trouble different agencies were having with them.

We were in the parking lot below the Buford Dam, which holds/creates Lake Lanier just north of Atlanta. The lot was empty and almost 200 yards long, so I was letting her ride up and down. I was at the far end by the spillway when I heard the rumble of many bikes coming down the only road that feeds the lot. Almost Mrs. was at the other end where the road comes in. She’s on my 1948 H-D Panhead, restored to mint condition and in Atlanta Police livery. For some reason, she has stopped and is just sitting there.

I counted 17 bikes, some with 2 up, as they approached and circled my bike. Great.
Miss White Bread USA on a very valuable classic Harley, marked as a police bike no less meeting Mongo and the Warriors. As a few of the club members dismounted and approached my wife, I started planning. Clearly they would take the bike and maybe hurt my wife. I sped up my pace a bit, counting how many extra rounds I had in spare mags, and trying to pick out the most likely targets. There’s no cars or cover anywhere, so this was going to go badly.

Now they’re pulling at her leather jacket- my jacket - and another is doing something to my handlebars.

Now, I’m running, ready to fight, but still almost 100 yards away. The club starts getting on their bikes and moving out. I’m trying to see which one will knock her off and take my bike. A few of them wave as the last bike makes it to the exit, and I finally make it to my wife panting and wheezing.

I ask her what happened and is she all right? She’s peachy. They gave me this pin, that pin, these wings, and David gave me this Guardian Bell to ward off Evil Road Spirits. They said to tell you you have a beautiful bike and to bring it to some show blah, blah, blah.

Great. I’m full of adrenaline for the Big Biker Gun Battle of '87, counting bullets, and picking targets, while they’re being nice, giving jacket pins, and inviting us to a party.

Twisted Biker Bastards!

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ducati, what a great story. And that is usually what happens with the ladies. Most any kind of biker is respectful of the ladies without permission to be otherwise.,

You are a good guy to let your SO learn on THAT bike. Nuts, crazy, but OK.

36

Did they beat you up for calling yourself Ducati and riding a Harley?

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Ha! They were gone by the time I got there.

I’ve had many bikes over the years, and still do. I like older Harleys and Indians from before the 60’s or so. I prefer driving and riding something unique, even though I still have a 2000 Road King. Harleys are everywhere now. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting some poser or club or what have you.

I like to be different. When’s the last time you even saw a Ducati or a Ural sporting a machine gun?

I have a couple of BMWs, a couple of Ducs, a Ural with a sidecar, a couple of scooters, and more.

Then there’s my cars. But that’s a different thread…

38

Ducati teh 48’ is a thing of beauty

I personally know three different chapters of the Banditos MC, El Paso, Houston NW and Dallas( there are multiples in the larger cities ) and have close friends in affiliate clubs. My rules around them, be polite, talk bikes, don’t look at their women. 1%ers can be real hard asses, tread carefully. That said, they do love their bikes and if you ride, as I do, you are pretty much ok with them. The Houston NW chapter hangs out at my local watering hole some and they always have questions about my completely stock 82’ KZ 750 H2. Mostly they are amazed at the fact that it has not been modded at all, no rake, no carb jets, no air intakes etc, they just stare at it kinda dumbfounded.

The MC members I know have a real distain for “wanna be’s”. They will carefully inspect their bikes and clothing for anything that might indicate that they are affiliated, with them or a rival gang. Wear the wrong patch, you are in trouble. Wear a 1%,when you are not, your odds of living a long fruitful life just got really slim. Rules are rules whether you know them are not. Some of these guys are dangerous thugs, most aren’t, if you mind your P’s and Q’s you will be just fine.

Capt

39

The History Channel has many episodes on outlaw motorcycle clubs. You may be able to find them on youtube too. To name a few episodes that I’ve seen:

Hell’s Angels (multiple eps)
Pagans
Galloping Goose
Sons of Silence
Warlocks
Vagos
Banditos
Biker wars

It’s interesting viewing. They have a lot of current and former members describe what happens inside the clubs. While clubs like the Hell’s Angels have a tough yet relatively respectable image to civilians, what happens behind the scenes may come as a surprise. The outlaw clubs deal in drugs (especially meth), stolen bikes, and prostitution. Like The Surb and Lute Skywatcher and others have said, when they go to war with another club, it’s bloody and brutal. They protect their turf like any gang so that they can keep the money and drugs flowing. Another outlaw club’s encroachment is viewed as a threat, not only because of their hometown pride, but because of loss of revenue.

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As I understand it, the “real” motorcycle gang members are mostly dead now. The original Hell’s Angels were former World War 2 fighter pilots.