Biker funeral

More than 100 bikers joined a funeral procession on Thursday for the murdered leader of the Bandidos gang in Sydney.

The body of Rodney Monk, 32, was taken to church and then to the cemetery in a flower-decked sidecar.

The stately convoy of motorbikes followed, many of the riders spurning helmets. Members of rival gangs were among the mourners, said reports.

Police have named a Bandidos member, Russell Oldham, as their chief suspect in last week's East Sydney murder.

Outside St Gerard Majella Catholic Church in north-west Sydney, another Bandidos biker appealed for an end to biker violence.

Arthur Loveday said Mr Monk was "a sensitive new-age biker with a touch of royalty".

"I was his protege," he said. "We need to put an end to this violence or it will destroy our future. We are all destroyed by his death."

Reports said 14 men wearing the colours of rival biker group the Nomads joined the church service.

As the song He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother was played, Mr Monk's body was carried from the church to a hearse. But by the time the coffin arrived at the cemetery, it was back in the sidecar.

After a brief burial service attended by hundreds of mourners, Mr Monk was buried, this time to the sounds of My Way, played on a hand-held ghetto blaster.