To the normal law-abiding citizen of the US, even one with a love for motorcycles and the open road, the idea of a motorcycle club (MC) will probably always be alien and somewhat suspicious.
Being part of a motorcycle club isn’t easy; in fact, getting in is tough enough. And if that motorcycle club turns out to be a one-percenter, then it's even tougher. Worse so, being in a motorcycle club that does not follow the rules of the AMA does not get you far with the authorities.
Of course, it doesn’t help that outlaw motorcycle clubs delve into illegal activities. Being a one-percenter MC tends to make rebels out of the rebels, which means many MCs start to take it too far. Meet the Iron Horsemen, another one-percenter MC, where members have some crazy stories to tell.
15 Their Motto Is Poetic
Never think that just because the Iron Horsemen MC is a gang of beefy-looking dudes on mean bikes, that they cannot appreciate poetry. Their motto is: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If it weren’t for the Iron Horsemen, the highways would rust”. So clearly, they do appreciate the finer things in life, even though sometimes they do spill more than just motorcycle oil on the highways.
14 They Are An “Outlaw” Club
The Iron Horsemen MC are one-percenters. Meaning they are part of that one percent of motorcycle clubs that do not abide by the rules for a motorcycle club defined by the American Motorcycle Association. That doesn’t mean that they are rule-breakers; they just follow their own rules and regulations, enforced pretty strictly.
13 The Iron Horsemen MC Hails From Cincinnati, Ohio
Originally founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, sometime in the ‘60s, the Iron Horsemen have expanded to many more chapters including Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Washington, California, Tennessee, and New York. And remember, they managed to increase chapters despite being an outlaw group, frowned upon by authorities.
12 Their Patch Is The Head Of An Iron Horse
Since they are the Iron Horsemen, the patch reflects it. The patch itself resembles a head of a winged iron horse coveted in metal plates. Iron Horsemen is written on top, and the chapter’s name is written on the bottom. And the horse, to appear all the more menacing, has red eyes with a red cross depicted in the right eye.
11 There Are Iron Horsemen In Australia Too
In 1969, unrelated to the formation of the Iron Horsemen MC in Ohio that also happened in the ‘60s, Australia founded its own Iron Horsemen motorcycle club. However, they have a different badging in place, theirs being a black hawk over an iron cross, with Iron Horsemen on top, Australia at the bottom, and "MC" embroidered over the bird’s wings.
10 The Iron Horsemen Australia MC Is A One-Percenter Too
Not to say that Australian MCs kowtow to the law any more than their American counterparts, because the Australian Iron Horsemen are proud one-percenters too - and one of the oldest and most classic MCs of Australia. They love to support the military and are active in many events such as the Graveyard Run, Run to the Hills, and Lap of the Bay.
9 They Are Mostly A Peaceful Lot
Most one-percenters, contrary to what people believe, are all about partying and riding. So their headquarters are likely to be lively enough to the point of being noisy. Though, they usually keep to themselves. Attorney Mike Schulkens represents the group all through the US and says they are a proud lot who live private but non-mainstream lives.
8 Some Of Them Do Get Into Trouble
In 2009, DEA and ATF launched Operation Trojan Horse, in a bid to tackle the ever-lucrative ring of possession and distribution of contraband as well as illegal substances. A few members of the Iron Horsemen were caught during this operation and legal proceedings were run against them, along with many other one-percent club members.
7 They Have Their Own Rules And Regulations
Most of the classic American motorcycle clubs, especially the one-percenters, have strict rules and regulations for prospects, or new members, as well as existing members. Most of these clubs are all-white, with people of color and varying ethnicities having their own MCs. Plus, it’s all-important to own a serious motorcycle like a Harley and ride it for a specific number of miles every year.
6 There Was A Movie Made About Them
In 1994, the European movie Iron Horsemen came out, shot almost exclusively in Finland and featuring actors we’ve never really heard about. The movie is about an MC member known as Bad Trip, who is on the run from his gang called Cannibals after he was caught stealing the leader's motorcycle. Unlike the Hell’s Angels, there are no reports of the Iron Horsemen MC suing the movie and its producers.
5 The One-Percenters Have Many Army Veteran Members
Most authorities believe, and rightly so, that the aim of the one-percenter MCs is to keep their rules and regulations intact using any kind of violence if the need arises. The brotherhood is all-important, especially as the members are often army veterans with no other place to call home than the MC and their brothers.
4 They Have Allies And Enemies
Most MCs don’t stray into another’s turf as part of the MC code of conduct. In case they do some activities in another MC’s turf, the intent is to speed up the rivalry in a bid to take over the chapter of the area. The Iron Horsemen call the Detroit Highwaymen, the Iron Order, and the Outlaws their enemies. Their allies are Phantoms and Brothers 8 (VIII) MC, the latter of which is an Iron Horsemen MC Support Club.
3 They Are Not As Famous As The Other One-Percenters
When you talk about the one-percenters motorcycle clubs in America, Hell’s Angels come to mind. As do the Mongols, the Outlaws, Bandidos, Pagans, Warlocks, et al. The Iron Horsemen are relatively smaller and more select, though that does not make their members any more docile. The Iron Horsemen MC members have been in the media often, mostly for unsavory reasons.
2 Best Dressed In Slicks
Most motorcycle members dress the same, dirty tees or vests, over which they wear their patched leather jackets, which have to be earned, not bought. Then come the slicks, which are oily jeans, deliberately kept unwashed because the grease in and on them has turned them nearly waterproof. A myriad of tattoos, ratty beards and hair, and a scowl – the perfect MC rider.
1 In the Iron Horsemen MC, A Prospect Is Expendable
Prospects, or new members to the motorcycle clubs, are often handed the most menial of jobs a patch holder can think of. Much like a soldier under orders, the prospect has to carry out the will of a patch holder, whether he likes the patch holder or not, and even be prepared to take a bullet for him. Unless he becomes a patch holder, a prospect is expendable.