Just heard the sad news that the writer Hunter S. Thompson died by his own hand over the weekend. He was know for modern classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. " It's better to be shot out of a cannon instead of being squeezed out a tube, That's why they make fast motorcycles for bubba".
Ride Safe

darn, why is it always the good that go first  

I read Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga back in the ninth grade.  That was 1968-69.  Hippie Days.

It was pretty strong reading back then for a 14 year old. (I was reading Henry Miller back then as well, go figure) Reading Thompson's book really switched on a fascination with motorcycles.  The book still rings in my head to this day.  I've a copy of it somewhere upstairs, I'll have to dig it out.  It belonged to a friends older brother, I borrowed it and some never gave it back.

FWIW, I read another hardcore biker forum (However, I am NOT a biker, I am a motorcycle enthusiast) and they seem to really hate the guy.   I really like seeing street-type chopper and bobbers, and there's a bit of metric stuff there too. Anyway, they seem to hate him.