A massive split is taking place within the ranks of Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs with ‘fashion conscious’ new recruits caring more about their ‘gangster image’ than actually riding motorbikes.
Younger members who are increasingly being plucked out of prison yards, have ditched the beer gut and leather look for designer clothes, flashy jewellery and Instagram followers.
But older ‘one-per-centers’ are growing frustrated with the new breed of ‘Nike bikies’ and ‘plastic gangsters’ who have flooded their clubs in recent years.
A massive split is taking place within the ranks of Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs with ‘fashion conscious’ new recruits caring more about their ‘gangster image’ than actually riding motorbikes. Pictured: Nomads bikies
Two news reports from the Australian Institute of Criminology based on transcripts of Queensland Police interviews with 39 bikies, found there is a growing generational divide threatening the outlaw subculture.
Australian bikie gangs first appeared in the 1960s with riders ‘attracted to the freedoms and thrills of a life outside of society’s laws, norms and values’.
‘Club chapters’ developed strict, military-inspired hierarchical structures, which fostered ‘outlaw’ culture characterised by ‘violence, machismo and recklessness, but also camaraderie and loyalty’.
But now, recruits under 30 appear to be drawn to more material possessions and are less enamored by the rigid hierarchical structure and ‘brotherhood’.
‘Nike Bikies are attracted to OMCGs less for the camaraderie, freedom and love of motorcycles, and more for status and opportunities for illicit profit through organised crime activity,’ the Australian Institute of Criminology said in their report.
‘Younger, newer members, who were perceived as more aggressive, status-driven and profit-motivated.’
Australian bikie gangs first appeared in the 1960s with riders ‘attracted to the freedoms and thrills of a life outside of society’s laws, norms and values’. Pictured: Melbourne Mongols bikie bos Toby Mitchell
One outlaw bikie who was interviewed by Queensland police said a lot of younger members join up for financial reasons.
‘They’re wannabes, think it’s all about tough boy image, whole image man, thug life image, gangster, gold, gelled hair, steroids, drugs, hot pussy on their arms, that’s the enticement,’ he said.
The term Nike Bikie first entered the lexicon around 2007, when a newly formed Western Sydney gang started stoking fear on the streets.
As the name suggests they opted for sneakers rather than leather riding boots.
‘Notorious was set up by guys who were in prison and that was the classic pseudo biker club – No one rode a motorcycle,’ one of Australia’s leading outlaw motorcycle experts Professor Mark Lauchs told Daily Mail Australia.
From there, it’s become more and more common for bikies to be less infatuated with their Harley Davidsons.
Prof Lauchs believes the new look and attitude was born out of Western Sydney gym culture – with many new bikies interested in body building and steroids.
Instagram-famous bikie Ben ‘Notorious’ Geppert is pictured with his model ex-girlfriend
Harley Barbaro (pictured) is an alleged member of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang
‘Your classic 1970s and 1980s bikies have beer guts, beards, long hair, worn out denim and leather,’ he said.
‘The Nike bikies are a lot more fashion conscious. Extremely fashion conscious. They would never be seen dressing like an old bikie.
‘They do steroids, they get extreme tattoos and they’ve got gold chains, designer clothes and funky hair cuts.’
In his research Prof Lauchs said that he regularly sees new bikie members on social media showing off new luxury items such as Louis Vuitton bum bags.
‘There is zero chance older bikies would be on social media – let alone posting stuff like that,’ he said.
Finks bikie Bodie Dwyer is seen dressed in fashionable sneakers and a club T-shirt. Dwyer died in an accident last month
‘If they were on social media they would post about riding motorbikes, drinking a whole lot of p**s and listening to metal bands in the clubhouse.’
But while younger recruits are more conscious of how they look, the reports suggest they are every bit as dangerous with many new members plucked out of prison due to their propensity for crime.
Younger members tend to be more involved in ‘drive-by’ shootings and are more likely to ‘carry out acts of violence publicly’.
‘We are going to see a split in clubs. Think of it like a political party because it works the same way,’ Professor Lauchs said.
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‘This is a generational change’.
Younger members who are increasingly being plucked out of prison yards, have ditched the beer gut and leather look for designer clothes, flashy jewellery and Instagram followers. Pictured is Toby Mitchell – who has a large social media following
