[Jeff in Kentucky]

from a longer interview with Sonny Barger in 2000

By Dave Schwartz with Michelle Mills

That Ralph “Sonny” Barger spent more than a decade in the state and federal penitentiary systems stands tribute to a lifestyle filled with indiscretions.

Barger, the founder of the Hell’s Angels, said, “I read everywhere that I moved away to Arizona and retired. Actually, I put more miles a year on my bike now than before I moved to Arizona.”

At 61, life hasn’t slowed for him, it has more likely mellowed. And although his reputation is larger than life, Barger isn’t a big man nor does he seem mean. His voice suffers the effects of throat cancer, yet he still retains his infectious smile and a grandfatherly persona.

“The more people that ride motorcycles, the better,” Barger declares. “The more upper class people who ride, the better because sometimes the cops get a little worried about stopping you just for ‘general principles.’ If you’ve done something wrong, they have a right to stop you.”

Barger says, “At the present time I own a Road King…I would probably ride a BMW or a Honda ST 1100. The Harleys are getting better every year, but they’re still junk. I mean I bought my wife a brand new 2000 Dyna Glide Sport and it goes into a speed wobble at 85 and I’ve done everything that I can do to get it out. I’m a good mechanic, I’ve followed their directions, we took it their shop, they’ve done work and it still wobbles on her. The factory tells us to change the shocks.”

Barger continues to relate how Harley Davidson explained that his wife’s bike had been set up for someone his size, not her small frame. Then he laughs as he relates how the bike still gets a speed wobble even when he rides it, only a higher speed.

Other than motorcycles, what is your greatest passion in life?

“Sh-t, I don’t know. I can’t have guns any more! Prior to becoming a felon, I had a lot of guns and for a few years after becoming a felon, I had a lot of guns too,” jokes Barger. “And then they changed the law, now if you’re a felon you can’t own a gun. But that’s what I like about Arizona, everyone carries a gun in Arizona.”

Do you like where your life has led you? Do you like where you are today?

“Yes. I think my main regret is that I smoked cigarettes, now I talk like this, and it injures my life a little bit,” Barger confides. “I still do everything, but I can’t do it as well as I did. And I’m really sorry that I became a felon and lost my right to own a gun. But I think smoking is my worst regret.”

What kind of hobbies do you have? Do you like to gardening or fishing or…

“I hate to fish!” Barger bursts and then, with all the pride of a grandfather, he goes on, “I ride horses. I own a Quarter horse. Do you want to see my horse?” He gets out his wallet and shows us a photo of a perky bluish gray horse looking over a fence. “Her name is Oksana Blue. She is named after that Russian ice skater (Oksana Baiul).”

For more information go to http://www.sonnybarger.com

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