There is an easy way to distinguish between “outlaw” bikers, and general motorcyclists. Beginning in the late 1940s with the infamous riot in Hollister, CA, certain motorcycle clubs (MCs) have instigated an outlaw reputation. The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) issued a statement in response to the 1947 Hollister Riot that “99% of motorcyclists were law abiding citizens,” to which “outlaw” MCs such as The Hell’s Angels responded by wearing “1%” patches.

The “One-Percenter” patches are an immediate indication that the bikers in question are not only following the “outlaw” code, but wish to be recognized as such. MCs such as The Hell’s Angels, The Mongols, The Banditos, and The Outlaws are examples of “One-Percenter” clubs. Some other groups actually wear “99%” patches as an indication that they are law abiding citizens, and in most cases the “Ninety-Nine Percenters” are actually off-duty cops.

Most of the extreme behavior associated with “outlaw” biker gangs is well known, and even documented in books such as Hunter S. Thompson’s “Hell’s Angels.” In the book, he described numerous incidents where the Angels were exhibiting criminal behavior. Not the least of which was the incident where a member known as “Junkie George” beat Thompson half to death after Thompson intervened in George’s assault on his wife and dog.

Another example of the infamous behavior of “outlaw” gangs is the repeated cases where civilians were assaulted for asking a person wearing a Hell’s Angels patch if he was really a Hell’s Angel. It seems to be part of the Angel code that any doubters are to be made aware that anyone wearing their “colors” (logo, MC name and chapter) was for real, and that those who pretended to be Angels were subject to severe injuries or disfigurement.

One more thing to consider is territory. Most major “outlaw” clubs are based in major cities, and despite the Hollister riot as well as the infamous scene in every biker movie where they trash a small town; most small towns don’t have much biker activity. The other thing about territory is that all “one-percenter” groups have their own territory, and they often make their presence felt as a way to keep other MCs off their turf. For example, the west coast is primarily Hell’s Angels territory, and the east coast is primarily Outlaws territory. The Outlaws even have a saying: A.D.I.O.S. (Angels Die In Outlaw States,) as a warning to their west coast rivals.

Not all biker clubs have a percent patch though, and many of them are not deserving of an “outlaw” reputation. A good majority of motorcycle enthusiasts are just that - enthusiasts. They are normal people who work regular jobs, have families, and just happen to enjoy meeting with friends on the weekends to ride their motorcycles. The “outlaw” groups are almost always more than willing to make it known they are outlaws, and the rest just want to enjoy themselves.

For all the reasons mentioned above, I say that the “outlaw” reputation of bikers is justified in the sense that an outlaw reputation has been assigned to bikers throughout the history of biker culture. This is not to say that the bikers you might encounter at the bar are all dangerous criminals, but they certainly don’t mind you keeping your distance, either. These bikers almost always just want to be left alone and treated with respect. Remember, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.