Were the Vandals the first motorcycle gang?

No. The Vandals were an ancient Germanic people, not a motorcycle gang. The first organizations resembling modern “outlaw” motorcycle clubs emerged in the United States after World War II—most notably POBOB (1945), the Boozefighters (1946), and Hells Angels (late 1940s/early 1950s)—while earlier motorcycle clubs from the 1890s–1920s were largely sporting or social associations rather than criminal gangs. The name “Vandals” is sometimes confused with the punk band The Vandals (founded in 1980) or with generic uses of the word “vandal,” but it is not tied to the origins of motorcycle gangs.

Who were the Vandals?

The historical Vandals were an East Germanic tribe prominent in late antiquity. They migrated across Europe, established a kingdom in North Africa in the 5th century CE, and famously sacked Rome in 455 CE. Their name later became associated with the term “vandalism,” meaning willful destruction of property. None of this has any connection to motorcycles, which were not invented until the late 19th century.

What actually counts as the first motorcycle “gang”?

Defining “first” depends on what you mean by a motorcycle “gang.” Early motorcycle clubs appeared in the 1890s and early 1900s as social and sporting groups, often affiliated with national bodies like the Federation of American Motorcyclists (1903) and later the American Motorcyclist Association (1924). The postwar rise of tightly knit, independent clubs that rejected mainstream sanction—often labeled by law enforcement as “outlaw motorcycle gangs”—took shape mainly in the mid-to-late 1940s. The 1947 Hollister, California incident popularized a rebellious image; lore surrounding the “1%” label grew afterward (the AMA has said it never officially issued the famous “99%” statement frequently cited in biker culture).

Key early clubs and dates

The groups below are frequently cited by historians and law enforcement as formative in the evolution from mainstream riding clubs to “outlaw” motorcycle organizations in the United States.

• Outlaws Motorcycle Club (originally McCook Outlaws): founded 1935 near Chicago; later developed an “outlaw” identity and expanded widely.
• POBOB (Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington): founded 1945 in Southern California; among the earliest postwar independent clubs.
• Boozefighters MC: founded 1946 in California by “Wino” Willie Forkner; present at the 1947 Hollister event that fueled the outlaw image.
• Hells Angels Motorcycle Club: origins in late 1940s California (commonly cited 1948 in the San Bernardino/Fontana area), with additional charters forming and consolidating in the early 1950s.

Taken together, these clubs illustrate the shift from recreational riding organizations toward independent, close-knit groups that often rejected outside sanction—what many today colloquially call “motorcycle gangs.”

A brief timeline of motorcycle clubs and culture

To situate the question historically, here is a concise timeline highlighting how motorcycle clubs evolved before and after World War II.

1. 1890s: Earliest motorcycle clubs form in the U.S. and Europe; the New York Motorcycle Club dates to 1895.
2. 1903: Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) is created to organize and promote the sport.
3. 1924: American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is established, supporting sanctioned racing and club activity.
4. 1935: Outlaws MC originates near Chicago as a local club (its “outlaw” identity solidifies later).
5. 1945–1946: Postwar indie clubs proliferate—POBOB (1945) and Boozefighters (1946) among the most prominent.
6. 1947: Hollister event in California amplifies the rebellious biker image in national media.
7. Late 1940s–1950s: Hells Angels and other clubs expand; the modern “outlaw” subculture coalesces.

This arc shows that while motorcycle clubs have existed since the 19th century, the “outlaw” identity most people associate with motorcycle gangs crystallized after WWII.

Common sources of confusion

The Vandals (the band) versus the Vandals (the tribe)

The Vandals is also the name of a Southern California punk band formed in 1980—unrelated to motorcycle clubs or ancient history. Popular culture sometimes recycles the word “Vandals” for fictional biker crews, which can further blur perceptions.

Were there any biker clubs named “Vandals”?

Over the decades, various local or fictional groups have used “Vandals” as a name, but none are historically recognized as the first motorcycle gang, nor are they central to the origin story of outlaw motorcycle culture.

Bottom line

The Vandals were not the first motorcycle gang—they were a late-antique tribe. The earliest motorcycle clubs emerged in the 1890s as sporting groups, while the independent, postwar clubs that shaped the “outlaw” biker image arose primarily in the mid-to-late 1940s, with organizations like POBOB, Boozefighters, and Hells Angels playing key roles.

Summary

No historical evidence links the ancient Vandals to motorcycles. The first recognizable “outlaw” motorcycle clubs formed in the United States after WWII, evolving from earlier, largely social riding clubs. Names often cited in that transition include POBOB (1945), Boozefighters (1946), Hells Angels (late 1940s/early 1950s), and the earlier-founded Outlaws MC (1935), which later embraced an outlaw identity.