Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (aka, OMG or biker gangs) are the traditional old-school biker gangs.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are the precursors of the go-gangs, having arisen in the late 20th century. They still exist in the Sixth World but have been eclipsed in numbers, influence, and in the media by the go-gangs. OMGs continue to be major players in the underworlds of Quebec, Australia, Scandinavia, and the AGS. These gangs are known for wearing denim pants and jackets or vests of demin and/or leather jackets, sporting tattoos, and driving heavy motorcycles (Harley-Davidsons, aka hogs). Members may often be unwashed for days or weeks (due to long treks).

Fifth World

Biker gangs originated in the late 1940s, when World War 2 veterans began to form motorcycle clubs in the United States. Most of these clubs were just that, clubs for veterans to have fun and spend time with others who had experienced the same horrors they had experienced. Some of the clubs were dominated by members who were unable to fit into society and had violent tendencies, and began to turn into that time's version of thrill gangs, in which members broke laws (e.g. speeding, vandalizing) and terrorized civilians (e.g. assaults, rape).

The first of the major criminal biker gangs to emerge were the Hells Angels which was founded in 1948 in San Bernardino, California. Others soon followed such as the Outlaws (1935 club, 1950s gang), Vagos (late 1940s club, 1965 gang), and the Pagans (1959 club, 1965 gang). A second wave of biker gangs were founded in the 1960s by Vietnam War veterans. including the Bandidos (1966), Warlocks (1967), Breed (1960s), and Mongols (1969).

By the 1990s there were approximately 300 OMGs with 5,000 members in the United States.[1] Most of these consisted of only one chapter. There were dozens with multiple chapters and a number of them had chapters in more than one state. In the biker world, four of the gangs stood out, known as the "Big Four". They were the Hells Angeles, the Outlaws, the Bandidos, and the Pagans. The first by the 1990s had by that time had over a 1,000 members each (Hells Angels was the largest with thousands) and had become international with the Hells Angeles having chapters in over a dozen countries (Anglo-America, Europe, and Australia). The Pagans were the smallest with several hundred.

The biker gangs were involved in a wide variety of criminal activities, which depended on the OMG. In the biker underworld, the biggest moneymaker was drugs and it was the main source of income for most chapters. They were involved mainly in the production and distribution of methamphetamines, and many of the gangs also dealt the drug. For a long time they dominated the meth trade in the United States and Canada, in which they controlled approximately 70% of the business in the United States. In 1992, the FBI estimated that the Hells Angels and other large biker gangs earned $1 billion from criminal activities, mostly from drugs.[2] During the 1990s, they had lost the meth market in the western United States to the Mexican drug cartels.

Marijuana, cocaine, and PCP were also drugs that the biker gangs were involved in but to a lesser degree than meth with marijiuana being a major cash crop to the British Colombian branch of the Hells Angels and PCP likewise being important to the Canadian chapters of the Hells Angels as well as the Pagans in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The biker gangs second biggest source of income was prostitution, which was done through strip clubs, massage parlors, and topless bars. Other rackets were loansharking, extortion, protection rackets, motorcycle theft (chop shops and smuggling), and gunrunning.

While most of the biker gangs were basically street gangs on motorcycles, a small number of them evolved into organized crime of which the "Big Four" were the most important. They usually worked with or for the Italian Mafia and in the city of Montreal, one biker gang (the Rock Machine) became so powerful they formed a triumvirate with the Irish West End Gang and the Italians to control the drug trade in the city. Due to their location in the Northeast, the stronghold of the Italian Mafia, the Pagans had the strongest connections to the Mob and were the ones that worked for them the most. The Hells Angels were the best organized and most sophisticated of the biker gangs, and in a few cities (mostly in Canada) were even first tier syndicates.

The vast majority of the biker gangs were either dominated by whites or their membership was exclusively white due to having a white supremacist worldview. A minority of biker gangs were multi-ethnic, all-black, or all-Latino. Among the "Big Four" the Pagans were whites only, the Hells Angels was mostly white with some Latinos, the Bandidos were majority white with a good number of Latinos, and the Outlaws were whites only. None of the "Big Four" accepted blacks into their ranks. The Mongols were a majority Latino gang, with a good number of whites and the Vagos was majority white with a good number of Latinos. The Soul Brothers were an all-black biker gang, one of the few.

Sixth World

The biker gangs did not fare well in the transition from the Fifth to Sixth World. In the former United States, it is the go-gangs which dominate the underworld on the highways and rural roads. There are still biker gangs (e.g. Dust Goblins and the Iron Crosses), but they are vastly outnumbered by the go-gangs. More importantly it appears the "Big Four" either disbanded, fragmented, or were destroyed. Only one of the major OMGs of the former United States appears to have survived, the Latino Mongols which in the aftermath of the devastation and flooding caused by the "Twins" of 2069 have transformed themselves into a waterborne go-gang.

In the state of Quebec it's a different situation. There the biker gangs are not only still present but they dominate the underworld, both rural and in the city of Montreal. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean in Australia, the biker gangs are likewise a power. Not in the same league as the Mafia, Yakuza, or Triads, but a significant force nonetheless especially in the rural areas. In Europe, a biker gang (Vikings) is the dominant gang in the Scandinavian Union, working for the Vory. Further south in the AGS, biker gangs are powers in the underworld. Though there are many go-gangs in Germany, there are regional and national biker gangs which in power eclipse the street gangs and go-gangs and work for the Mafia or Vory.

When it comes to racial or ethnic relations it varies wildly among the biker gangs. There are biker gangs that are racist accepting only white humans (e.g. Iron Crosses) and there are biker gangs that accept only metahumans or a specific metaype (e.g. Dust Goblins). Some of the biker gangs are multi-ethnic and/or multi-racial (e.g. Hellsouls). There are some biker gangs that in addition to whatever membership requirements they have will also restrict membership to only those born in their homeland, banning immigrants. Some hate the Awakened, and one gang (the Iron Crosses) even hates women. None of them appear to have any problem with cyberware. Old-school biker gangs are usually humans only, mixed with mostly humans and trogs, or consisting of trogs only. Elves appear the least likely to join these biker gangs.

Organization

The outlaw motorcycle gangs have an organizational structure which they kept from the days when they were simply motorcycle clubs, it's a structure which is pretty much standard across all old-school motorcycle clubs.

• International President - elected from among the national presidents if the OMG is an international gang. He may or may not have some type of council assisting him in leading the international gang.

• National President - elected from among the chapters inside the nation, if the OMG is a national gang. He may or may not have some type of council assisting him in leading the national gang.

• Executive Committee - Runs the gang (chapter), deciding issues and policies. They vote on matters and will hold regular meetings based on a schedule and will at times hold special meetings. The members also elect the President or Vice President (if the previous one dies or is no longer active). It consists of the President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, and the Road Captain, the latter being a non-voting member who is replaces any of the members on the committee as the alternate)

• President - It's the founder who started that chapter and remains the president until he dies or is no longer active. He always has a vote in officer elections. The president serves as both the CEO of the chapter and the Chairman of the Executive Committee. Any matter between the club and any outside person, organization, or business is brought to him. He only votes on actions if there is a tie in the executive committee, nor does he make any motions or second any motions. He has the power to judge items which are outside the scope of the chapter's rules, serves as the liaison to other clubs and police, and represents them in business contracts.

• Vice President - The Co-Founder is always the VP unless he dies or is no longer active. In the President's absence he assumes his duties. He coordinates the committees and supervises the plans for any club events. It's his job to relay any information between the members of the club and the president. If the committee members have any concerns, questions, or comments he takes it to the president.

• Sergeant At Arms - It's his job to uphold the rules and laws of the club. He makes sure that the committee's orders are carried out and at any club events its his job to keep order. If he sees that a member is not acting in a way that support the club, he reports it to the committee. The safety and security of members is his responsibility and he will protect and defend the members and prospects. He keeps the weapons and firearms safely stored and secured and maintains records of any data that relates to the security of the club. If there is a possible threat he reports it to the club.

• Road Captain - During a run if the President and VP are not there, he is the ranking officer and leads the formation. Otherwise he rides at the front with the President. It's his job to plan the run and enforce club rules on the run.

• Secretary - Is in charge of maintaining the clubs written reports, its correspondence with outside groups, and its records. In committee meetings he calls role and takes notes. He is in charge of informing members of an appointment or election, and of any special meeting dates and times. He is in charge of maintaining the club's constitution and handling its written correspondence.

• Treasurer - Maintains the club's financial records. Is in charge of collecting the income generated by the club's operations and it's his responsibility to pay all expenses and bills. He reports the status of payments that are owed and due to the committee and may provide them with a written report. He also collects all the fines and dues from members.

• Enforcers - Is in charge of making sure that the members follow the rules and laws of the club. It's his responsibility to protect the reputation of the club in any conflict and also protect every patch holder. He assists every member in combat, whether it's with weapons or fists.

• Tail Gunner - Assists the Road Captain during their runs. He rides at very rear of the formation, and it's his job to enforce the safety rules. If a member crashes or experiences mechanical issues, the Tail Gunner will help him make repairs to the bike or call the tow truck. He normally carries a first aid kit, in addition to the tool kit. If the Road Captain is unavailable, he assumes his duties.

• Prospect - Someone who wants to join the club but hasn't earned it yet. He has to complete any duties or activities that members direct him to without complaint, including menial tasks and illegal activities. Prospects are forced to endure hazing by the members of the club. The executive committee votes as to whether to accept the prospect into the club, and the prospect must pledge his loyalty to the club and all of its members.

Women

Females cannot be members of the biker gangs nor can they attend club meetings. In the world of biker gangs, women are treated like chattel and members value their motorcycles more than their women. They will have their women earn money for the gang in one of two ways. Some of their women get civil service jobs, a position in telecommunications company, or as a clerk in the police department (or court) where they gather intelligence for the gang. The majority are put to work in topless bars, massage parlors, cocktail lounges, or strip clubs, which are often covers for prostitution. Among the biker gangs, women fall into one of three categories.

• Mama (aka, Sheep) - Women who belong to the club. Therefore any member can have sexual relations with them anytime they want. At the clubhouse they perform menial tasks.

• Old Lady - Members' wives and steady girlfriends. Therefore other members are not permitted to use or abuse them. They must give all of their money to their man. Some members have their old ladies helping the gang by working as prostitutes.

• Broad - Women who the gang pick up at bars or on the road (hitchhikers), who usually end up being raped and then discarded.

Trivia

The Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are still major players in the American underworld but they seem to be stuck permanently in 2nd tier (the major gangs), 3rd tier, or as motorized street gangs. Though they are still involved in the drug trade and methamphetamine is still their main source of income, the meth is now dominated by the Mexican drug trafficking organizations and the Chicano prison gangs. The American underworld right now in the United States is basically a Latino underworld with the Mexican drug cartels at the top, with lesser Mexican drug trafficking groups, Chicano prison gangs, and Dominican drug trafficking organizations dominating the mid-level drug trade.

Having relatively small shares are the Colombians, Nigerians, Chinese, and Dominicans at the upper tier and the white biker gangs, Asian drug syndicates, white supremacist prison gangs, black drug gangs, and independent white drug rings at the mid-level. Now the OMGs work not only with the few remaining Italian families (mostly in the Northeast), but they also work with Mexican drug traffickers and white supremacist prison gangs. In the rural parts of the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and Deep South the OMGs are the dominant form of organized crime.

Index

• o57038227Target: Awakened Lands, 29
• o54409473Montreal 2074, 12-13
• Underwelten, 240-243 (German version of Vice)

Motorcycle Gangs (Research)

• Wikipedia: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
• Wikipedia: Hells Angels
• Wikipedia: Bandidos
• Wikipedia: Outlaws
• US Government: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
• USA Today: Biker Gangs
• History Channel: Gangland, Season 1 Episode 4, Behind Enemy Lines (Hells Angels)[3]
• History Channel: Gangland, Season 2 Episode 3, Biker Wars (Outlaws)[4]
• History Channel: Gangland, Season 2 Episode 8, Mongol Nation (Mongols)[5]
• History Channel: Gangland, Season 3 Episode 6, Bandido Army (Bandidos)[6]
• History Channel: Gangland, Season 4 Episode 2, Devil's Fire (Pagans)[7]
• History Channel: Gangland, Season 6 Episode 1, Snitch Slaughter (Vagos)[8]

Motorcycle Gangs in the Media

• Beyond the Law
• Stone Cold
• Hell Ride
• Sons of Anarchy (FX series)