Christopher 'Ball Bearing' Coelho finds his true angel

A HELLS Angels Australian founding member is handing in his colours and leaving behind his bikie lifestyle - and all for love.

Ball Bearing

A HELLS Angels Australian founding member is leaving behind his bikie lifestyle - and all for love.

After more than 40 years as an outlaw, and one of the last of Australia's "patched" bikie originals, Christopher "Ball Bearing" Coelho has handed in his colours.

Bearing, as he is known, had been contemplating ending his membership with the world's most infamous gang for some time.

A new, more vicious breed is being recruited by the Angels as rival clubs compete with them for turf and dominance across our city.

He told the Sunday Herald Sun he had "retired" because he was getting married and was adamant he was not part of any bikie war with rivals the Bandidos.

The lucky woman, Dee, 50, is more than 20 years his junior.

"I left the day after the raid six months ago," Bearing said.

"After 42 years, I'd just had enough. I'm getting married. I left the club to get married. Bearing's not in the club any more."

Still a Harley-Davidson enthusiast, Bearing said the wedding invitations had been sent out this month.

But he was nervous family and friends would avoid the big day if they believed it was a Hells Angels function.

"People are sh--ing themselves about coming to my wedding," he said.

Bearing was "perp walked" in front of waiting media during a police raid on the Hells Angels' original Melbourne chapter in Fairfield and his own house next door, in July last year.

He was charged with minor offences over cannabis and an ornamental gun.

Ever the performer, before he was escorted to the police car, Ball Bearing had the choice of several jackets to wear before he was cuffed and paraded in front of the waiting media.

He chose his Hells Angels' vest - to the bemusement of the arresting officers.

The former president, secretary and sergeant-at-arms of the Melbourne chapter appeared on every news bulletin that night.

His timing for getting out of the club might prove impeccable. The Hells Angels have declared war on the Bandidos, firing at members in Melton a fortnight ago. A bullet hit Bandido Toby Mitchell in the arm.

The soon-to-be "Mrs Ball Bearing" said her fiance's Hells Angels' days were just part of a charismatic man she met at a Giants' gig.

"I had no bearing on him leaving the club," she said.

"He's a really sweet guy, believe it or not. A lot of people were shocked (but) he made a decision. He just wants to relax and enjoy himself.

"Being involved in a club, people expect a lot. It was his whole life. He's done a lot for a lot of people."

Asked if it was his Hells Angels' reputation that attracted her to Bearing, Dee said it was important to a stream of women in his life - but not to her.

"There is power, but it's more in other people's minds," she said. "He lived life on his terms."

Although no Hells Angels will attend the wedding, Bearing still rides with some members.

"I don't know if secretive's the word (to describe Hells Angels), but they're tight," Dee said. "You don't take anything with you from them. What happens at the club stays at the club. He's a big personality. His presence, not being there, would be a big change."

On meeting Dee, Bearing told her there was only one thing he could do - ride a motorcycle.

And he has ridden with some notable bikies, such as Ralph "Sonny" Barger - a major US figure in the Hells Angels - across America.

But Dee said his other passion was his guitar and his music. Among others, he's sung with Johnny Cash in a Melbourne hotel room, June Carter and Willie Nelson.