by Tammie Kuhn

Created on: December 29, 2008

When you say "biker" to mainstream middle Americans, they are sure to conjure pictures of leather-clad miscreants doing evil deeds while riding astride their motorcycles. They imagine loud drunken brawls in seedy bars. The stereotype of a biker is an unclean outlaw, who has little regard for social norms. Where did this stereotype come from?

The roots of motorcycle clubs are steeped in controversy and criminal activities. The Hells Angels is one of the largest motorcycle gangs in the world. They are the most widely known of the "Big 4" motorcycle groups that have been identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Their crimes include drug trafficking, prostitution, theft, larceny, assault and murder. The club itself claims to be a charitable organization, derived to help the community. Regardless of their charter, it is clear that this is the type of biker that Americans have been taught to fear. Their reputation for being outlaws is partially of their own design, as the clubs admission practices and by-laws are shrouded in secrecy. With hundreds of individual clubs in 29 countries, they are seen as a threat by most law-abiding citizens. It is unclear how many members the Hells Angels have, estimates are 100,000+.

But what about the rest of the biker community? At least 90% of these folks have never been involved in a crime. Organized "runs" (where bikers ride from place to place collecting points) have raised millions of dollars for charities. Every year, Toys for Tots benefits from thousands of bikers collecting toys, they are one of the largest contributors to the cause. These good deeds are overshadowed by the criminal acts (and checkered pasts!) of a relative few. Their role in society is cast as outlaw, by virtue of a minority that chooses to disobey the law.

I have the good fortune to know quite a few bikers. I have learned quite a bit about the culture, and what they are truly about. If you ask a biker why they ride, many will tell you its for the freedom of the open road. If you've ever ridden a motorcycle, you will understand. Do they consider themselves outlaws? Not at all. Most have full time jobs. They pay taxes and take their kids to school. They do yard-work and are involved in the PTA. These are normal people, who love riding their motorcycles. I hesitate to call riding a hobby, because it is truly more than that.

So, if the majority of bikers are law-abiding citizens, why the outlaw moniker? Simply put, most has to do with their appearance.

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