I know a little something about bikers.   I am the founder of Dyna-Mike Motorcycle Ministries (now closed), a Christian outreach organization with "outlaw" biker clubs as its target.  I spent fifteen years in the trenches with these brothers, and came to know quite a few rather well. Please set aside all the BS you have been fed for decades and hear some actual truth:

    There are a lot of urban myths concerning bikers. Folklore has portrayed bikers in an unfavorable light ever since the Marlon Brando movie "The Wild Ones" came out decades ago. It portrayed bikers as thugs and modern-day pirates, and the succession of biker movies that followed got progressively worse, adding stereotypes of rapists and murderers. 

    Most of the legends about bikers focus on motorcycle clubs. Interestingly, most bikers are "Independent" riders, meaning they do not affiliate with any biker club at all. They may attend club events, but never pursue membership. Despite the fact most bikers are not club members, motorcycle clubs are what everyone is curious about, so I'll talk about clubs.

    Motorcycle clubs, contrary to popular belief, are NOT "gangs". They are clubs of enthusiasts who love everything about motorcycling, and tend to be on their bikes in all kinds of weather, pretty much more than 20,000 miles per year. It is a lifestyle, characterized by the freedom enjoyed when "in the wind".

    Although just as the Catholic clergy has molesters, the Italian-American community has Mafia members, the Mexican-American community has illegal aliens, the African-American community has "Bloods" and "Crips", and the Native American Indian community has alcoholics; these stereotypes do not and cannot characterize an entire population. The point is, just because some members of biker clubs are engaged in illegal activities, does not mean this is the policy of the biker club. As a matter of fact, it is most often NOT the policy of the club. Motorcycle clubs are no different than the Moose Lodge or the Rotary, which all have their proportionate share of members engaged in illegal activities to which the rest of the club turns a blind eye in the name of fraternal fellowship and unconditional acceptance. Like biker clubs, these more traditional organizations are nothing more than clubs, populated with people of like interest, self-supporting a lifestyle they believe in.

    There are some famous and financially successful, and thus most persecuted biker clubs in history.  One of the reasons they are so successful is their well-oiled marketing plans, responsible for distributing licensed clothing and support paraphernalia to supporters worldwide. Another is the wide support other biker clubs offer by attending each others functions that are open to the public. Other sources of revenue some individual members benefit from are legal opportunities ignored by mainstream venture capitalists such as licensed brothels in Nevada. 

    Various law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, the DEA, and the ATF have been persecuting these "1%-er" clubs for decades, trying to classify them as a Mafia-type "gangs" so their assets can be seized under the "Rico Act". Federal, State and local law enforcement agents have routinely and illegally invaded and terrorized 1%-er legal enterprises and private homes under the guise of investigating a "Mafia-like" organization. In response, the various clubs have developed a powerful and effective legal defense network which all bikers benefit from as case law headway is made against discrimination against bikers. Despite all these antagonistic efforts, outlaw motorcycle clubs still maintains legally licensed business trademarks, and they continue to enjoy the support of biker clubs  all over the world as the front-line fighters for bikers' personal freedoms.

    I personally encounter members of "outlaw" biker clubs on an ongoing basis. They happen to be some of the best behaved people I have seen. At most of their public functions they drink bottled water, and have private security watching everyone's vehicles. There are never any fights or disrespect. All attendees are made to feel welcome. The females feel completely safe and protected. Most biker clubs follow this model of propriety. I wish I could say that about some of the other social functions I attend. Isn't it ironic that I find myself hanging out with friends, some of whom are supposedly cultured and sophisticated professionals, occasionally wishing they would behave more like bikers, because their uncontrolled behavior sometimes embarrasses me! 

    Don't misunderstand me, I'm not suggesting you can just go up to any biker and get a hug. I certainly would not recommend insulting a biker! One of the things that attracts bikers to the lifestyle is the ability to be in a group, yet remain independent and alone on the road. Many bikers are loners, and prefer their solitude. Others are introverts, and do not care for casual conversations. But, this is true in all walks of life. One thing you can depend on: Bikers are real. There is no smokescreen here. What you see is what you get. If a biker likes you, you'll know it. If a biker doesn't like you, you'll know that too. No game-playing, no beating around the bush. In this society of political correctness and two-faced backstabbing, I like the honesty of bikers the most. 

See ya in the wind!

Dyna-Mike

E-Mail: Dyna-mike@live.com  Contact & Support: Donations