Anybody have any stories? I watched a doc on them a while back and have seen some small groups out riding recently.

Small groups on 10 in Houston mostly.

The police in Waco have a story about them

No stories but they've always been around. I've usually seen small groups but I know I've seen a huge pack of them out before.

Saw a group of them last November here locally. They looked like a bunch of clowns.

My brother has been a police officer in San Antonio for over 20 years and I actually was just asking him about these guys. According to him they used to be seriously bad news and tough as hell. Like tough enough no other motorcycle club was allowed to have Texas as their rocker and none of the other clubs (Hells Angels, Mongols, etc.) fought it at all because they didn't want trouble with the Bandidos. He also said that over the last 10-20 years they have become more idiots and nothing to be worried about. They stick to white trash drugs and petty crimes. Basically he said there are still a handful of older guys that you don't want to mess with but for the most part it is a bunch of punks selling meth at crappy strip clubs.

Hippy I used to deliver pizza with in the 90s was shacked up with a Bandidos' former old lady. That's all I got.

Former coworker was a bandido back in the day.

Even ran interference for drug runs from Corpus to San Antonio. He would be transporting baking soda or whatever, while others would transport coke. He actually got stopped a few times.

My brother was confronted by a group of them at a gas station about 6 years ago. He was filling his truck up with diesel and two approached him from behind while another walked up in front of him. The guy in front asked if he would be filling up their bikes, as well. My brother responded with his typical wit and asked if they took diesel. The guy made some statement about how he would regret that remark and asked him again. My brother responded again that he was only pumping diesel that night.

Soon after the pump quit and he had to go inside to pay. They watched him go inside and he told the cashier to get a phone ready to call the police in case they tried anything. He walked back out to his truck and never even made eye contact with them while they all stared him down. In the end they were just trying to intimidate him and really weren't looking for a fight. Still though he said he was incredibly nervous about what they might do when he walked back outside.

I was stationed in Washington state when I was in the army. Believe it or not the Banditos completely run that state like they do Texas South of I10. Washington has a big problem with liberals and these liberals up there love to protest war, the army, soldiers etc. Some of the protests would involve blocking off the entrance to a recruiting office. The Banditos would have none of it. Through violence and/or threats of violence, they would disperse the hippie protesters.

I don't like dope dealers one bit but I liked what they did in Washington. I also recall being welcomed back to the states from Iraq by a Bandito or two. I think lots of mc members are Vietnam vets.

They now have a regular presence in the valley after being mostly absent. Members own a tattoo shop and at bar at the minimum. I've also seen a few local motorcycle clubs wearing "support your local bandito" patches. That's new for a few of them too.

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Agree w/ Walter. I know a guy who rides and a few years ago he and some buddies wanted to start their own M/C in the RGV. They appealed to the Council or whatever it is and had to 'hang around' some Banditos for a couple years before they could get their own whatever. Seemed crazy at the time - Only reason he mentioned it was because the Waco deal was during that stint.

The national president lives between The Woodlands and Conroe in a gated compound that was pushed through early this year and he was arrested. He's out on bail.

Drank beer with two of them Friday night at a Sundevils bike night. Seemed like normal guys.

There's a guy in my office building who has a motorcycle with Bandidos stickers on it - "Known Associate" and "Support Your Local Bandidos"

He used to wear the vest, but not lately.