History of the Bandidos Motorcycle Gang

The Bandidos are a motorcycle club founded in 1966 in Texas. Don Eugene Chambers was the original leader, and remained so until he was found guilty of murder. Throughout the history of the Bandidos Motorcycle gang, they have maintained a paramilitary type hierarchy.

Motorcycle clubs identify themselves by using "colors" or patches on a vest or jacket of denim or leather. The Bandidos colors are red and gold. Presumably, the scheme was modeled after the United States Marine Corps logo, since Don Chambers was a veteran of Vietnam.

Don Chambers was replaced by Ronnie Hodge. Under Ronnie, the Bandidos became both the fastest growing and largest motorcycle club worldwide. In the United States there are 90 chapters, and there are also 90 chapters in Europe and 17 in Australia.

The first chapter in Australia originally was comprised of members from rival biker gang the Commancheros. After the formation of the chapter in 1983 there was a fearsome battle between the Bandidos and the Commancheros. The new Australian Bandidos president taken to prison where he later hanged himself.

Today the Bandidos motorcycle club has expanded to the farthest reaches of the globe. There are currently chapters in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Chiang Mai bike week is a rally in Thailand and demonstrates the fervor with which biking has caught on in Asia.