What was the original biker gang?

There isn’t a single, universally agreed “original biker gang.” The earliest continuously operating outlaw motorcycle club is widely recognized as the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, founded in 1935 in McCook, Illinois. In the post–World War II era, the Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington (1945) and the Boozefighters MC (1946) helped forge the modern “outlaw biker” image after the 1947 Hollister event, while the Hells Angels—formed in California in 1948—became the most famous and influential worldwide.

Why there isn’t one simple answer

The phrase “original biker gang” depends on what’s meant by “biker gang.” If the focus is on outlaw motorcycle clubs (OMCs)—groups operating outside American Motorcyclist Association sanction—then the Outlaws MC (1935) holds the earliest founding date still in existence. If the emphasis is on the postwar subculture that inspired the “one‑percent” image, then POBOB (1945), the Boozefighters (1946), and the 1947 Hollister gathering loom large. If cultural impact is the yardstick, the Hells Angels (from 1948) are often perceived as the archetype.

The earliest contenders, in context

Below is a concise timeline of clubs and moments that historians and law enforcement commonly cite when discussing the origins of outlaw and “biker gang” culture in the United States.

1. 1935 — Outlaws Motorcycle Club (McCook, Illinois): Generally regarded as the oldest continuously operating outlaw MC, predating the postwar boom.
2. 1945 — Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington (California): An early outlaw club whose members figured in postwar Southern California riding scenes.
3. 1946 — Boozefighters MC (California): Founded by WWII veteran “Wino” Willie Forkner; central to the folklore around the Hollister event. Not all members were criminals, but the club became associated with the emerging outlaw aesthetic.
4. July 1947 — Hollister “riot” (California): A rowdy motorcycle rally that was sensationalized by the press; it helped cement the “outlaw biker” stereotype and later inspired the 1953 film The Wild One.
5. 1948 — Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (California): Formed in the late 1940s (with early charters in places such as Fontana/San Bernardino and later San Francisco), the club grew into the most internationally recognized “biker gang.”

Taken together, these milestones explain why different sources point to different “originals”: the oldest still-running outlaw club is the Outlaws; the postwar spark came from POBOB and the Boozefighters; the global brand and mythology were built most prominently by the Hells Angels.

Motorcycle clubs versus “biker gangs”

Understanding terminology helps clarify the debate. The following distinctions outline how the same groups can be perceived differently by riders, historians, and authorities.

• Motorcycle club (MC): A social riding organization; many are law-abiding and AMA-sanctioned.
• Outlaw motorcycle club (OMC): Traditionally, a club that operates outside AMA sanction and follows its own patch-culture rules; not all OMC members engage in criminal activity.
• “Biker gang” (law-enforcement usage): Refers to OMCs or subsets thereof suspected or convicted of organized criminal conduct; usage varies by jurisdiction and evidence.
• “One‑percenter” label: A term popularized after the 1947 Hollister coverage, often attributed to an AMA remark that 99% of riders are law-abiding. Regardless of the quote’s disputed origins, the label stuck in media and subculture.

These distinctions show why a group can be historically important to biker culture without necessarily constituting a criminal “gang,” and why the term “original biker gang” is interpreted in multiple ways.

Older clubs that predate the outlaw era

Long before outlaw culture rose to prominence, American motorcycle clubs were forming in the early 20th century. These organizations provide background on how riding communities evolved.

• Yonkers Motorcycle Club (New York, 1903): Among the oldest continuously operating MCs in the U.S., focused on organized riding and events.
• San Francisco Motorcycle Club (1904): Another early club emphasizing camaraderie, competition, and touring.
• Jackpine Gypsies (South Dakota, 1936): Founded the Sturgis Rally in 1938; not an outlaw club but influential in American motorcycle culture.

These early clubs underscore that motorcycle culture existed decades before the “outlaw” image emerged, and they help separate riding traditions from later subcultural and criminal narratives.

How experts frame “the original”

Most historians and reference works converge on a nuanced answer: the Outlaws MC (1935) is the earliest continuously operating outlaw club; POBOB and the Boozefighters shaped the postwar outlaw identity and were pivotal at Hollister in 1947; and the Hells Angels, formed in 1948, became the most globally iconic club often associated—fairly or not—with the phrase “biker gang.”

Summary

There’s no single “original biker gang.” If “original” means the oldest still-running outlaw motorcycle club, it’s the Outlaws (1935). If it means the clubs that birthed the modern outlaw image, look to POBOB (1945) and the Boozefighters (1946) and the 1947 Hollister event. If it means the most famous, it’s the Hells Angels (from 1948). The answer depends on which definition of “original” and “biker gang” you use.

Who was the first biker gang?

The first outlaw biker gang is generally considered to be the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, founded near Chicago in 1935. While the Hells Angels were founded later in 1948, the term “outlaw motorcycle club” (or OMG) became associated with groups formed by returning World War II veterans to seek brotherhood and a non-conventional lifestyle, leading to the emergence of groups like the Boozefighters, Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington, and the Hells Angels.
 
The Outlaws MC

• Origin: The club started in 1935 in a bar in McCook, Illinois. 
• Motto: Their motto is “God forgives, Outlaws don’t”. 
• Criminal Allegations: The Outlaws MC are classified by law enforcement as an outlaw motorcycle gang, implicated in various organized criminal activities. 

The Rise of Outlaw Biker Culture

• World War II Veterans: Many outlaw clubs formed after World War II as returning soldiers sought to regain the camaraderie and brotherhood they experienced in the military. 
• The “1%er” Moniker: This term, meaning “one percenter,” was coined by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in the 1940s, who stated that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding, implying the remaining 1% were the problematic “outlaws”. 
• First Outlaw Clubs: Early examples of the 1%er lifestyle emerged with groups like the Boozefighters. 
• Hells Angels: The well-known Hells Angels were founded in March 1948, with some versions of their origin story linking the name to a World War II squadron. 

What is the oldest biker gang in the world?

The oldest motorcycle club in the world is the Yonkers Motorcycle Club (YMC), founded in 1903 by George A. Ellis in Yonkers, New York. The club, which was officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as the oldest in the world in 2019, has roots in a bicycle club founded by Ellis and continues to focus on community and family spirit.
 
Key facts about the Yonkers MC:

• Founded: March 1903. 
• Founder: George A. Ellis. 
• Location: Yonkers, New York. 
• Origins: The club began with a group of 23 men and was established shortly after the Yonkers Bicycle Club, also founded by George Ellis. 
• Recognition: The YMC holds official recognition from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, solidifying its status as the world’s oldest motorcycle club. 
• Community Focus: The club is known for its strong ties to the community, engaging in charitable activities and supporting local organizations. 

What did Outlaws stand for?

An outlaw, in its original and legal meaning, is a person declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, all legal protection was withdrawn from the criminal, so anyone was legally empowered to persecute or kill them. Outlawry was thus one of the harshest penalties in the legal system.

What does 69 mean in biker culture?

For many bikers, the number “69” signifies loyalty, brotherhood, and a sense of unity within the biker culture. It is a badge of honor that is earned through dedication, mutual support, and a shared commitment to the values and traditions of the biker lifestyle.