Perhaps someone can explain to me what is up with bikers these days.
When I was a kid, the big one here was the Florida Outlaws motorcycle gang. They were goons, and up to their eyeballs in crime. Of course there were also the Hell's Angels out west, also not nice guys. Now everytime I see a guy in a motorcycle jacket, he's doing something good and noble. It's a nice shift in my perceptions, but still a bit puzzling. Is it just that the clubs as opposed to the gangs are more visible these days?
A lady hands out black ribbons at the funeral of Aracoma Alma miner Don Bragg.
Posted by floridacracker at January 29, 2006 07:47 PM
I think the visibility is a big part of it.
It doesn't hurt that the FBI, DEA, etc., have been on the criminal gangs for about 30 years now. They're obviously still out there, but I think they try to keep a lower profile now.
Posted by: Russ at January 29, 2006 07:53 PMThese good guy biker pics never fail to freak me out.
Posted by: Donnah at January 29, 2006 07:55 PM Difference in appearance? True. As in all of life, the biker lifestyle is in a state of evolution. The bikers you mentioned, Outlaws, H A, Warlocks, and others active here in Florida were/are guys who by and large built their own bikes, with few of 'em having "new" bikes. We have/had, a comaraderie of "watchin' eachothers backs", and knew that we were the best fo the free-style Americans. today's motorcycle rider is better defined as a "Motocycle Enthusiast", than as a "Biker". And still, as we said a few years ago, about true "bikers": "If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand it." That lifestyle is a continually smaller group. Nothing against the guys with the "Credit-card" Bikes, the ones that were built by bike builders for riders who don't even know how to change their own sparkplugs. We like to do their maintainence, and customizing. Strange how Life imitates art, isn't is? We were the "scourge of the land", "the ones your Mama warned you about". Now we are being copied, (in appearance only, and never in depth of "heart"), and sought out to accept their money in exchange for our knowledge.
nuf sed