For most, the term "Outlaw Biker" conjures up
scary images of a meth addicted long haired heathen who never showers and yearns to kill small children. A bad man riding around town intentionally breaking the law and intentionally trying to injure members of "polite society." While the "long haired", "
heathen", and "lack of shower" portions of that description might be quite true for some of us (if not many of us), the rest of that stereotype is complete garbage... That's not to say that there aren't bikers who do meth and commit crimes, of course there are. And while they may be outlaw bikers too, that is not what the outlaw biker is...
"A new breed of rebel" is how
life.com described the Hells Angels in 1965. Actually, there's nothing new about this breed; Rebellion is probably the only thing more American than baseball. The outlaw biker is the descendant of, and the closest living relative of the "
Old West Cowboy" who lived on the trail, drifting Westward from town to town on his horse. Today, the outlaw biker, on his iron horse, travels the roads and highways of the United States, as his ancestor did 100 years earlier, pursuing a life of freedom, and in some cases,
hedonism.
The term "Outlaw" as it pertains to bikers actually comes from the 1940's and 50's when racing was a big part of the motorcycle culture. At the time, motorcycle clubs were mostly racing teams. The
American Motorcycle Association sanctioned/regulated most of these events, and some bikers/clubs decided they didn't want to have to follow the AMA rules. They started organizing events that were not sanctioned by the AMA and called them "Outlaw Races". Their outlaw races didn't obey or include the rules/by laws of the AMA races. These were the original "Outlaw Bikers." Outlaws because they didn't obey the laws of the American Motorcycle Association. After the
Hollister Incident, the AMA quoted in a magazine article, described this variety of motorcycle enthusiast as "1% of the motorcycle riding population" saying that the other 99% were hard working law abiding citizens. The 1 percenter was born...
From that beginning, Outlaw Bikers and Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs have evolved into a culture of people who prefer to choose their own lifestyle, instead of conforming to everyone else's idea of the American Dream. Tending to be fast riding, hard drinking, and stubborn, they have an independent streak that makes them feel separate from society at large, like an outsider looking in. Affectionately called a "
1 percenter" or "1%er", the outlaw biker prefers to exist outside of the
herd, choosing a lifestyle that is aesthetically pleasing to himself, instead of trying to fit in with
Ward and June Cleaver (the '50's version of todays
cubical jockies).
That being the case, like their gunslinging cousins of yesterday drifting along the dusty trails of the old American West, the outlaw biker sometimes runs afoul of the law as he travels Americas highways. It's true that over the years many bikers have been involved in drug sales, illegal gun sales, illegal shootings, etc... But the same statement can be made about police officers. Where most people get it wrong is assuming that outlaw bikers and motorcycle clubs exist to break the law.
The outlaw biker is a fiercely independent outsider who has chosen to live life outside the herd. He's a guy who can take care of himself when the shit hits the fan. He's a guy who doesn't need, or necessarily want your approval... Or anyone else's. He lives life his way, on his terms. And he's chosen to do that with the wind in his hair.
Motorcycle clubs exist as a family of bikers. Like your extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins, the MC serves as an extended family of brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles to the outlaw biker and his wife and kids. Unlike the family he was born with, this family that he has chosen embraces his individuality and stubbornness, and supports him with a level of loyalty and affection few people these days are familiar with.
To the outlaw biker, the motorcycle club is his family.... The club is his religion... It's his way of life. To the outlaw biker, you are either a friend, an enemy, or you're just in his way (like a mosquito).
"These things are good: ice cream and cake, a ride on a harley, seeing monkeys in the trees, the rain on my tongue, and the sun shining on my face. These things are a drag: dust in my hair, holes in my shoes, no money in my pocket, and the sun shining on my face." - Rocky Dennis, Mask
"When we do right, nobody remembers, when we do wrong, nobody forgets." - Hells Angels Motorcycle Club
"If you can't be well liked, be well hated" - Bandidos Motorcycle Club
For more information:
Clutch and Chrome
Motorcycle Club Information
Outlaw Biker Information
Outlaw Clubs 101
