Motorcycle Gangs or Motorcycle Clubs?

We do not doubt for a second the great majority — that famous 99% of riders we explained in our article about the history behind the legendary 1% patch . But there are always black sheep in the flock, and some of those gangs have built their past on violent episodes that gave them a misunderstood aura of epic notoriety. As a result, their power has grown, radiating an image of being “bad… very bad,” which attracts certain people — we’ll leave it there.

In 2008, over seven seasons and 92 episodes, a TV series was broadcast based on a motorcycle club that exercised its power in the fictional town of Charming (California): Sons of Anarchy , also known as Hijos de la anarquía. It tells the story of “Jax” Jackson Teller, who from his position as vice president of the organization begins to question both his own actions and those of his group.

The series received very positive reviews: “Sons of Anarchy may be a wild fantasy and a melodrama, but all of this is disguised by a feeling of truth,” wrote Hank Stuever, critic for The Washington Post.

If you are one of those who have watched the show — or those who are about to after reading this blog — pay attention to one detail: the patch some of the bikers wear on their jackets, “Men of Mayhem,” means that the man wearing it has killed someone by order (or for the benefit) of the club. A very significant detail in the context we are discussing.

Because this is only a fictional example recreated for entertainment, but it surely draws inspiration from real life. These clans or gangs have always highlighted two defining aspects: camaraderie among members and love of motorcycles. Could that be the source of all their deeds?

If you are curious about this topic, you should know that The Warlocks have such a brutal reputation that many outlaw bikers refuse to associate with them. The gang has a history of extreme, unchecked violence, including attacks on rival leaders and indiscriminate murders.

The Highwaymen of Detroit are relatively small compared to the Hells Angels, but that has not stopped them from earning a terrible reputation. The club was founded in the 1950s and has been the subject of several major investigations. In 2007, 40 of its members were arrested on charges ranging from organized crime to police corruption. The gang leader, Aref “Scarface” Nagi, was sentenced to 37 years.

Some jobs are so dirty that even the most feared clubs in the United States will not do them, for fear of getting trapped. When that happens, gangs call on a “support club,” a smaller group that sells drugs and commits violent crimes on behalf of the parent club.

The Black Pistons Motorcycle Club are the official support club of the Outlaws, and their members have been involved in crimes across the U.S., including a drug distribution network in Georgia.

El Forastero (its original Spanish name) is a classic example of a “second-level” gang. It does not have the reach of clubs like the Outlaws or Hells Angels, but its members are capable of distributing methamphetamine and stealing motorcycles. This gang was formed in Sioux City, Iowa, in the early 1960s.

And we close this chapter with two of the most famous:

The Outlaws, founded in 1936, are believed to be the oldest outlaw motorcycle club in the world, and they have only grown stronger with time. With nearly 2,000 members in hundreds of chapters, they hold massive influence over drug trafficking near the Canadian border and control large parts of the Great Lakes region. Their criminal record includes felonies across the United States. They may be the biggest and toughest rivals of the Hells Angels.

And the Hells Angels. When you think of outlaw biker gangs, you probably think of the Hells Angels. This group has become so well known that it exists in the collective imagination worldwide. Leaving aside their legal businesses, their aggressiveness has led to disputes with many other clubs on this list. Without going into more punishable details, many of these conflicts stem from others trying to usurp their identity without having the right to do so.

There are more, but remember: they are all those who are there… but not all who exist are listed here.