The Most Dominant Biker Club in Texas

Texas offers a rich and complex biker club culture. The state boasts some of the most renowned and notorious motorcycle clubs in the world. These outlaw biker gangs have defined the biker lifestyle and culture for decades. They have codes and high levels of loyalty. The One Percenter (1%er) biker club culture in Texas is quite fierce and strong.

The 1%er is quite a popular term in the biker club domain. It is based on an old 1960s AMA quote. The American Motorcycle Association reported that 99 percent of the biker clubs and their members were law-abiding. The other 1% were outlaws. This sparked a movement. Outlaw biker gangs started wearing 1% patches on their vest. Nowadays, a 1 %er club has become known as a serious outlaw biker gang worldwide.

Talking about the most dominant biker club in Texas, there is only one name that has the most presence in the region. The Bandidos MC has been dominating the state for decades. It is the strongest outlaw biker club in Texas. Their influence is far-reaching, the state and well beyond it. Continue reading this article to learn more about the most notorious and the biggest biker club in Texas.

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club was founded in 1966 in San Leon, Texas. On March 4th in the same year, Donald Eugene Chambers established the club. Chambers was a dock hand. He wanted to establish a new type of motorcycle club. He was inspired by Mexican Bandits, who lived by their own rules. The name “Bandidos” was also taken from them. This was just the right fit for his vision.

Chambers took on members from South Texas bars. The early members came from Houston, Corpus Christi, Galveston, and San Antonio. The club expanded to more than 100 members by the early 1970s. Many were Vietnam War vets. These riders added roughness and skills to the Bandidos MC.

New leadership made the Bandidos massive. Ronald Jerome Hodge assumed the presidency in 1972. The club became global under Hodge.

• In 1983, the first club chapter was created in Sydney, Australia.

• France got a chapter in 1989.

• Very soon, the Bandidos MC expanded to Europe and Asia as well.

As of now, the Bandidos MC has around 3,000 to 3,500 members all over the world. They have around 303 club chapters and exist in around 22 countries. This makes them the largest biker club in Texas.

The Bandidos are reputed to be fierce when it comes to controlling and dominating the state of Texas. They assert that the state is their central land. They cannot allow any other outlaw biker gang to wear a Texas bottom rocker. This rule brought massive clashes with the other massive biker club in Texas. The group aims to maintain a tight hold on its power base.

The Bandidos MC patch is iconic. It depicts a large bandit Mexican with a big hat. He is holding a gun, pointing straight, in his right hand, and a big knife in the other. At the top of the patch, it reads "Bandidos." Meanwhile, on the left side, there is a diamond shape with “1%” mentioned in it. On the right, there is an MC tag.

The Bandidos MC patch has two colors: red and gold. The text and the outline are in red, while the background color is gold. Wearing of this patch is restricted to only full members of the Bandidos club. This patch is among the most renowned biker club patches and symbols in the biker clubs world.

The Federal Law regards the Bandidos MC as one of the biggest threats. The US Department of Justice categorizes them as a criminal biker gang. The Police and the FBI closely monitor the chapters of this biker club in Texas. The group has been associated with dealings in drugs, the selling of weapons, theft, and violence. However, the Bandidos also say they are in favor of riding for charity and other good causes.

The Bandidos MC is not the only outlaw biker gang in Texas. There are other outlaw clubs that struggle to gain power and respect in the state. They both have their own style and code to be followed by the members of the club.

Cossacks MC was established in Tyler, Texas, in 1969. The club was initiated by six bikers:

• Earl Swift

• Charles Hanks

• Butch Cheatham

• Paul Henley

• Tom Eliason

• Carl Blair.

They gave the club the name of Cossack after the old Cossack warriors in Russia and Ukraine. These warriors were known for their close bonds and fierce nature.

The Cossacks established themselves in Texas. They made chapters throughout the State. The club also has a rule that the members should only ride Harley-Davidson bikes. This maintains the club's identity.

There was a major conflict between the Cossacks and the Bandidos in Texas. The Bandidos are dominant in most parts of Texas. They prefer to approve all club patches. The Cossacks refused to pay money to Bandidos and demanded their own rocker on their vests in Texas. This led to many fights between the two outlaw biker clubs.

The biggest clash between the Bandidos and Cossacks MCs occurred on May 17, 2015, in Waco, Texas. The Twin Peaks restaurant Waco Shootout claimed the lives of 9 people. The majority of the people who died were members of the Cossacks. Almost 7 Cossack members were killed, and many more were injured. This gunfight between Cossacks and Bandidos was a shock to the country, and it revealed the brutal nature of club wars.

The Cossacks MC does not wear the 1%er patch of diamond on their vests. They do not claim to be 1%ers as the Bandidos do. However, they fight like an outlaw biker club. They take a stand against the Bandidos and are not willing to back down. The war between the Cossacks and Bandidos shaped the history of Texas bikers.

Sons of Texas MC was established on July 4, 2005. The club is an AMA affiliate. It is devoted to family, loyalty, and respect. These three values guide all members.

The members of the SOTMC ride bikes for fun and to strengthen their bond. They rejoice in their Texas heritage. The club is fond of the state and what it represents. The Sons of Texas MC also establishes a good bond with other riders.

The Sons of Texas MC is expanded in various regions in Texas. The Gulf Coast Chapter is located in Webster, Texas. The club unites riders who have shared values. Long rides are enjoyed among members. Members of the Sons of Texas MC love to talk about their bikes and lives. To them, this is what it means to be a true biker.

The Gypsy MC International is among the oldest biker clubs in Texas. It was established in 1932 in Maryville, Tennessee. Lee Simerly started the club along with his friends. They rode hard and lived free. The title “Gypsy” was very suitable for them.

Papa Jack Simerly transferred the club to Texas in 1966. He wanted to restore the club's positive reputation. The Gypsies were tired of being called the bad guys. Papa Jack made a huge change. He made the Gypsy MC a family-based biker club. Members were peaceful, and they only wanted to enjoy group rides.

The Gypsy MC International is not a one percent club. It is an AMA-member biker club. This is a key difference in how they operate. The Gypsies do not wear black leather; they wear gold. The members of the Gypsy MC wear the well-known “Pickle Patch” rather than the skull. This is out of an ancient title people had given them: The Sour Pickles of Society.

The Gypsy MC has more than 60 chapters in the world today. Over 1,100 members are riding while wearing the Gypsy Pickle Patch. The club is mainly located in:

• Texas.

• Louisiana.

• Oklahoma.

• Kansas.

The Gypsy MC also has chapters in Germany, Mexico, and other Countries. The Gypsies prove that even a huge biker club can remain and operate peacefully without causing any trouble.

The Blue Knights MC is a unique biker club operating in Texas. Members are law officers. This involves cops, state troopers, and FBI agents, among other cops. The club started in 1974 in Maine. Today, there are 25 countries worldwide with Blue Knight chapters.

The Blue Knight MC is quite active and strong in Texas. The Texas VII is based in Houston. The Texas XXXV is in San Angelo. The two chapters are an excellent service to their areas. From donations to charities, they provide help to children in need. They ride together in a group for fun.

The Blue Knights members are not 1%ers. They do not show any such image of outlaw bikers. They are good guys who love biking. They love being good dads, husbands, and heads of their towns. The Blue Knights show that cops can be bikers, too. The club has more than 20,000 members worldwide. 

The Iron Order MC was established in 2004. The club was launched in Jeffersonville, Indiana, by eight bikers. The group wanted to establish a non-territorial biker club. They did not want to claim a territory or initiate fights.

The Iron Order MC has grown fast. They have chapters in 45 states and 10 countries today. They claim to be the world's largest independent club. The IOMC is not a 1%er club. Members of this club come from diverse backgrounds and professions.

The Iron Order in Texas has chapters in Texas, including the Alamo Crew in San Antonio. Members of this chapter use 650 cc or above cruiser bikes. The club is more concerned about the brotherhood, safety, and fun. They assist their societies and those in need.

Apart from their good image, there have been certain issues with Iron Order MC. Some say that the IOMC is not as good and clean as it claims to be. However, the club claims to be sober with a clean background of riding and living peacefully.

Ken Thomas started the Buffalo Soldiers MC in Chicago in 1993. It is named after the African-American U.S. Army regiment. These brave men were referred to as Buffalo Soldiers. The club pays tribute to its heritage.

The Buffalo Soldiers MC expanded rapidly. The club established a national group by 1999, known as the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club and Troopers National Association. Nowadays, there are more than 140 chapters of this club. The patch is worn by more than 5,000 members.

The Buffalo Soldiers are good citizens. They do charity work, and they help their towns. Above all, they create a good image of black bikers. The group shows that black riders can create their own strong clubs. They do not go by the old rules of the outlaw world.

The Buffalo Soldiers have chapters and a strong presence in Texas, Dallas, and other places. They ride and connect like any other biker club. Nevertheless, they take pride in their color. The club preserves the memory of good black warriors who fought for the country.

The most common and strong biker club that operates in Texas is the Bandidos MC. They are the most dominant 1%er biker gang in the state. The Bandidos have the most power and territory under control in Texas. They are on top of other clubs in Texas. They set the rules for other outlaw clubs in the state. The key rival in Texas is the Cossacks MC, as they are not ready to submit to Bandidos. This is why there is a constant clash between the two.

The Gypsy MC International is not a 1% club. They are a family-oriented club, affiliated with AMA. Nonetheless, the Gypsy Joker MC is another club and is a genuine 1%er. This may be confusing due to similar names.

The Gypsy Joker MC is known for its bad image. It was established in 1956 in California. Meanwhile, the Gypsy MC International was established in 1932 in Tennessee and later moved to Texas.