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Bikin' and Brotherhood: My Journey
From the popularity of cable television shows concerning building choppers or the criminal aspects of the motorcycle gang lifestyle, to the phenomenal success of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, no one can deny America has become fascinated with bikers and the machines they love.
Author Dave Spurgeon provides a firsthand look into the world of the Harley enthusiast and beyond. He takes you to where few have dared to tread—into the sinister, and often misunderstood, reality of the true one-percenters. He takes you on a ride into a place about which many are curious, but few know well.
Be This is not the exhaustive work of an investigative reporter, nor an account of the zealous efforts of an undercover law enforcement operation. This is the personal chronicle of Spurgeon’s 15 years in the fast lane. Sobering, sometimes humorous, yet always painfully accurate, it begins with his love affair with the motorcycle and then continues into the ominous 1%er Brotherhood of the bike gang culture in America.
You will be educated, entertained, warned, and enlightened by this brutally honest narrative from a man who has been there and back and lived to tell about it.
Author Dave Spurgeon provides a firsthand look into the world of the Harley enthusiast and beyond. He takes you to where few have dared to tread—into the sinister, and often misunderstood, reality of the true one-percenters. He takes you on a ride into a place about which many are curious, but few know well.
Be This is not the exhaustive work of an investigative reporter, nor an account of the zealous efforts of an undercover law enforcement operation. This is the personal chronicle of Spurgeon’s 15 years in the fast lane. Sobering, sometimes humorous, yet always painfully accurate, it begins with his love affair with the motorcycle and then continues into the ominous 1%er Brotherhood of the bike gang culture in America.
You will be educated, entertained, warned, and enlightened by this brutally honest narrative from a man who has been there and back and lived to tell about it.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 2, 2025
Wow! What a pleasantly heartfelt story. I found this book tossed aside in a dinky goodwill that had a total of maybe 20 books. I’ve had little interest in motorcycles (besides riding dirt bikes as a kid) or bike “gangs”. But since moving to NC, I actually live down the road from a clubhouse. Everybody in my town warns me to stay away, not make eye contact, and not interact with them. Now I’m not saying this is bad advice, or that I wanted to rebel against it, but seeing this book in that thrift store sparked a want to understand. I wanted to learn, mot judge. I wanted to understand the perspective, how does one get there? What emotions do they feel? What is their motive, how do they view the world? Spurgeon did an outstanding job of answering all my questions and then some. He gives you what he says he will. An honest, from the heart explanation of the lifestyle he chose to live for over a decade. How he got there, his emotions and views towards the brotherhood and world, the positives but also the negatives. He was not afraid to own up to anything mentioned in this book. He tells you how it was, because he wants to share his pure intentions that got him into this lifestyle in the first place. I appreciated how he didn’t spill all the beans though. It’s clear that a majority of the details of each recounted story is kept a secret, and I think it’s respectful to the MCs and the people involved. I think Spurgeon is not only a once highly honorable biker because of his views on the brotherhood, keeping the true purpose and love for biking at his core, and his faithfulness to his clubs and friends involved, but I also think he’s an honorable person. The ending of this story was so insightful and self reflective that it inspired me to reflect on my life in a similar manner that he did in the jail cell. By being so raw about his life, Spurgeon cultivates a state of mind for the reader to be honest about their own life, especially about the bad and the ugly. If I’m going to take anything away from this book, it’s to not be a fony. I’m going to be true to who I am and own up to it. If I believe dragons are real, they’re just so minuscule we can’t see them, then I’m going to back my word up 1000% and not allow myself to be herded with other sheep that don’t align with my beliefs. Find out who you are. Then live to reflect that person in everything that you do.
July 16, 2021
Informative, interesting, honest and well written.
Hearing the unmistakable roar of a Harley almost always makes me turn my head to check it out,, (and the rider, too). Harley's are powerful and sexy, similar to muscle cars from the 70's. Having been born in 1954 I easily related to the decades discussed. And it's sad to learn how the original purpose of being 1 percenters got lost through the years. From chapters focusing on bikin' and brotherhood then, to making money by illegal means, which has become big business. Gun running doesn't bother me, however, I find running drugs and human trafficking absolutely disgusting and those profiting from same vile and morally bankrupt, to say the least. I completely understand the concept of wanting to feel the exhilarating awesome feeling of riding a motorcycle as opposed to driving a cage! Although, the all too frequent use of cage drivers using cell phones and not paying attention to the road is truly alarming. Every time my husband goes riding I pray he gets home safe.
I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. The photos were an added bonus. I'll be looking at the other books written by DCS, and probably buy another one, or two. Buy this book!
P.S. Heartfelt thanks to DCS for serving our Country as an Army Paratrooper. Great pic! I respect veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam, because I remember how badly treated they were treated upon returning home--even by older veterans. It was awful and inexcusable.
Hearing the unmistakable roar of a Harley almost always makes me turn my head to check it out,, (and the rider, too). Harley's are powerful and sexy, similar to muscle cars from the 70's. Having been born in 1954 I easily related to the decades discussed. And it's sad to learn how the original purpose of being 1 percenters got lost through the years. From chapters focusing on bikin' and brotherhood then, to making money by illegal means, which has become big business. Gun running doesn't bother me, however, I find running drugs and human trafficking absolutely disgusting and those profiting from same vile and morally bankrupt, to say the least. I completely understand the concept of wanting to feel the exhilarating awesome feeling of riding a motorcycle as opposed to driving a cage! Although, the all too frequent use of cage drivers using cell phones and not paying attention to the road is truly alarming. Every time my husband goes riding I pray he gets home safe.
I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. The photos were an added bonus. I'll be looking at the other books written by DCS, and probably buy another one, or two. Buy this book!
P.S. Heartfelt thanks to DCS for serving our Country as an Army Paratrooper. Great pic! I respect veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam, because I remember how badly treated they were treated upon returning home--even by older veterans. It was awful and inexcusable.
February 9, 2016
Decent until the end
This book certainly wasn't the best book about MC lifestyle but it wasn't the worst either. What I didn't like was the ending where he suddenly accepts God and then preaches that everyone else needs to do the same or you'll wind up in Hell. Not what I or most people want to read about in a so called biker book
This book certainly wasn't the best book about MC lifestyle but it wasn't the worst either. What I didn't like was the ending where he suddenly accepts God and then preaches that everyone else needs to do the same or you'll wind up in Hell. Not what I or most people want to read about in a so called biker book
September 6, 2019
Great book. He was vague on the life but still made good stories. He found god and he changed his life.
September 1, 2020
Mixed bag. Four stars if you enjoy biker bios but two, maybe three at best if this genre is alien to you. I like the author and his candor but this book is 60 pages too long. The excess will be skipped over by fans of the genre but the uninitiated may give up by the thirtieth page. There is a ton of filler where Dave talks about random things like his favorite places to get chili or his favorite dive bars in Toledo and Michigan. These details kill the fun and make you feel like you're reading paid content. As for the surprise ending that has annoyed other readers (spoiler: he's a Christian now), this is far from a big deal. Dave devotes all of 10 pages to his faith at the end of the book.
Now for the strong points: Spurgeon is honest about his past and does not portray himself as a great American hero. Nor does he present himself as a wrongly persecuted Harley enthusiast who got into a few unavoidable bar fights. In fact, he admits that fighting in bars was his favorite pastime for 15 years. He also admits to using a lot of cocaine, keeping an arsenal of guns in his home, stealing bike parts and construction equipment, trying to buy an embalmed corpse (long story), and many other sleazy, amusing acts. He doesn't exactly admit to dealing drugs, but he includes the DEA's dossier on him, so you can draw your own conclusions there.
While Dave concedes that he was bad news, he doesn't use his membership in the Outlaws as rationale for it. In many biker bios, the authors confess to outrageous behavior then excuse it by claiming that to do otherwise would somehow harm their "brothers." Dave doesn't spread the blame around and he admits that he always had a choice in how he lived. This alone makes up for his many meandering accounts of vintage bike maintenance and midnight runs to the drive-through for his favorite chili and ice cream. Give this book a chance if, like me, you find bikers fascinating but dislike the hysterical and sensationalist approach to them in books by police and prosecutors.
Now for the strong points: Spurgeon is honest about his past and does not portray himself as a great American hero. Nor does he present himself as a wrongly persecuted Harley enthusiast who got into a few unavoidable bar fights. In fact, he admits that fighting in bars was his favorite pastime for 15 years. He also admits to using a lot of cocaine, keeping an arsenal of guns in his home, stealing bike parts and construction equipment, trying to buy an embalmed corpse (long story), and many other sleazy, amusing acts. He doesn't exactly admit to dealing drugs, but he includes the DEA's dossier on him, so you can draw your own conclusions there.
While Dave concedes that he was bad news, he doesn't use his membership in the Outlaws as rationale for it. In many biker bios, the authors confess to outrageous behavior then excuse it by claiming that to do otherwise would somehow harm their "brothers." Dave doesn't spread the blame around and he admits that he always had a choice in how he lived. This alone makes up for his many meandering accounts of vintage bike maintenance and midnight runs to the drive-through for his favorite chili and ice cream. Give this book a chance if, like me, you find bikers fascinating but dislike the hysterical and sensationalist approach to them in books by police and prosecutors.
April 3, 2019
This book tells the story of Dave Spurgeon, as he rose through the ranks of both the Mongols MC then the Outlaws 1% MC. After going to prison he meets up with a preacher and realizes that his life is headed down a destructive path. He becomes a born again Christian and completely turns his life around.
I was very impressed with the author's ability to retell the story from the perspective he had while living it. What I mean is, he doesn't speak of his days living as a member of The Outlaw motorcycle gang and making questionable lifestyle choices, in a preachy manner.
Although he warns against the lifestyle and seems to have regrets about some of the choices he made in his life, it doesn't come off too strong. I respect the fact that Spurgeon states he has no intentions of turning (ratting) on his previous Brothers. He could have blamed everything on the MC and the character of the people surrounding him. Instead he takes full responsibility and is soley accountable for all of his actions.
His passion has always clearly been for riding motorcycle and the Brotherhood he thought he found within the MC's. Luckily he changed his lifestyle before it was too late.
I was very impressed with the author's ability to retell the story from the perspective he had while living it. What I mean is, he doesn't speak of his days living as a member of The Outlaw motorcycle gang and making questionable lifestyle choices, in a preachy manner.
Although he warns against the lifestyle and seems to have regrets about some of the choices he made in his life, it doesn't come off too strong. I respect the fact that Spurgeon states he has no intentions of turning (ratting) on his previous Brothers. He could have blamed everything on the MC and the character of the people surrounding him. Instead he takes full responsibility and is soley accountable for all of his actions.
His passion has always clearly been for riding motorcycle and the Brotherhood he thought he found within the MC's. Luckily he changed his lifestyle before it was too late.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2018
Deceitful title, not worth the money
This is a book about a guy that becomes a born-again Christian, yes he was a biker but that’s just the hook to get you to buy the book, I knew that before I purchased it however I did not like the way that he tried to justify being deceitful about the title, because quite frankly no one would buy the book unless it had the sex appeal of being a biker, I would skip this book and buy the book by the last Chicago boss. Much better reading and no scamming on the true nature of the book. And FYI I am not anti-Christian. But not really worth the money
This is a book about a guy that becomes a born-again Christian, yes he was a biker but that’s just the hook to get you to buy the book, I knew that before I purchased it however I did not like the way that he tried to justify being deceitful about the title, because quite frankly no one would buy the book unless it had the sex appeal of being a biker, I would skip this book and buy the book by the last Chicago boss. Much better reading and no scamming on the true nature of the book. And FYI I am not anti-Christian. But not really worth the money
November 14, 2017
Great read and the best conclusion
Honest account of being a patch rider. Relates to my own journey and I can see that many clubs share much more in common than that which sets them apart. Loved the book. Thank you Mr Spurgeon.
Honest account of being a patch rider. Relates to my own journey and I can see that many clubs share much more in common than that which sets them apart. Loved the book. Thank you Mr Spurgeon.
May 8, 2025
Nice Read
Best wishes David. So Glad you found God and Christ. I disagree, "Sammy the Bull" was correct to rat out scumbag mafia killers. Other criminals who victimize good citizens should not be protected because they are "brothers".
Keep living a positive life!
Best wishes David. So Glad you found God and Christ. I disagree, "Sammy the Bull" was correct to rat out scumbag mafia killers. Other criminals who victimize good citizens should not be protected because they are "brothers".
Keep living a positive life!
March 11, 2026
Decent story till the end.
Great tales of the road by an original outlaw....but he lost me near the end with the whole religion nonsense. Bottom line, he turned on his brothers for a fictional character in the sky.
Great tales of the road by an original outlaw....but he lost me near the end with the whole religion nonsense. Bottom line, he turned on his brothers for a fictional character in the sky.
May 28, 2022
Love lifr
This is a good well written account of David Charles Spurgeon life and his love of Biking, 1% life and his changes.
Worth reading.
This is a good well written account of David Charles Spurgeon life and his love of Biking, 1% life and his changes.
Worth reading.
March 6, 2025
Great book
I enjoyed this story well. I enjoyed his journey thru his bikers life. I've read slot of MC books and his stories match up factually to other books!
I enjoyed this story well. I enjoyed his journey thru his bikers life. I've read slot of MC books and his stories match up factually to other books!
August 31, 2025
Exellent
I have read many 1% books , by far the best I have ever read. I highly recommend this book.
I have read many 1% books , by far the best I have ever read. I highly recommend this book.
July 6, 2015
Great book! Loved it!
Amazing story on the activities and the day to day lifestyle of an outlaw biker. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
Amazing story on the activities and the day to day lifestyle of an outlaw biker. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
June 18, 2016
Great Read
Like a before and after. Picked it up for the before. Truly enjoyed the after. One of the first, "honest" perspective of the Outlaw biker and what that means.
Like a before and after. Picked it up for the before. Truly enjoyed the after. One of the first, "honest" perspective of the Outlaw biker and what that means.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews