Easyrider the movie

[AllanB]

I purchased Easyrider the movie for $8 at the warehouse - I watched it tonight with a 1.25l of cider (it helps - far out man).

One BIG thing I notice - CHOPPERS

This movie was made in 1969 - 38 friggen years ago and the base chopper is still the same!

Other than a fat arse rear tyre and alloy engine the Easyrider bike look is the same as most of the 2007 choppers.

What I liked was the early 80's Honda/Kawasaki four choppers - something you do not see anymore.

A bobber is on my list of things to make before I am too old to care.

[onearmedbandit]

This one has moved on a bit.

[AllanB]

This one has moved on a bit.

EEEEKkkkkk someone stole the spokes!

Wonder how that corners!

[jrandom]

This one has moved on a bit.

Now that is cool.

:yes:

I'm a big fan of the classic chopper style, though. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

[Maha]

Had the poster on my wall as kid....eventually watched the movie years later and thought it was a tad....'boring'??....so much so that, i didnt get to see how it ended......:sleep:

[scumdog]

Had the poster on my wall as kid....eventually watched the movie years later and thought it was a tad....'boring'??....so much so that, i didnt get to see how it ended......:sleep:

I've noticed that among 'younger' ones - they find old movies too 'slow', it's the 21st century now and it's all about instant gratification now baby......

Got a copy of ER myself and have seen the movie a few times , STILL enjoy it! (posted a thread on it a year or so ago)

[Kendog]

This one has moved on a bit.

That is cool.

[warewolf]

This one has moved on a bit.Geometry and handling hasn't changed.

[crashe]

I've noticed that among 'younger' ones - they find old movies too 'slow', it's the 21st century now and it's all about instant gratification now baby......

Got a copy of ER myself and have seen the movie a few times , STILL enjoy it! (posted a thread on it a year or so ago)


Yep so true.......... the young ones just don't get it do they......


'Easy rider' is why I love cruisers....... and why I ride a cruiser...
twas those bikes that did it for me......
The movie showed you why we all love the freedom of riding and that you can go where ever you want to go...... but what a hell of a ending....... BOOM.

Somewhere in Japan there is a factory that is still making bikes, with similar paint jobs, just like the ones in 'Easy Rider'.

I also have a copy of 'Easy Rider' on dvd and I watch it every so often.....

[Conquiztador]

Still got the poster on thew wall..
Got the soundtrack. And the DVD.

[Big Dave]

I also have a copy of 'Easy Rider' on dvd and I watch it every so often.....

I have memorabilia on display - but I also think the movie is completely and utterly lame.

[BuzzinUtu]

I am an English and Media Studies teacher in Christchurch and we study Easy Rider as part of a 'Road Movie' genre study. The funniest thing is watching the students faces during the graveyard seen and again at the end. Their reactions can only be compared to that of a possum caught in the headlights of a car, followed by a slow twitching of the nose and the eventual "what the hell..."

The great thing about Easy Rider is the subtext and historical context from which it came from. Most of my students start off hating the movie but once we delve into what is really happening in the film they really start to get into it, and some even go out and buy it.

Regarding the bikes, they used two old ex-police Harley Davidson's and had them customized. The funny thing was that these bikes had no frame suspension but instead used a special type of seat. Of course, the seat was removed as were the actors spine, kidneys and liver.

Again a great film for its time, even better when you really delve into it. Me I loved it, great flick and an incredible soundtrack that defined a generation (even though it wasn't mine).

Cheers

[Motu]

Well it was my generation - I saw the movie on first release when I was 16.It was definitely the movie that defined the times and set me on the path of motorcycles.The sound track was fantastic....it's a pity you seldom hear The Pusher anymore....it's always Born to Be Wild you hear.

So then we all wanted choppers,and some real hash ups were done.Then Neville Lowe who was an old ( not really,but we were only teenagers and he was like old man) rodder started to make chops.He had been a panelbeater,spraypainter and upholsterer,so could do everything we needed.He extended our forks ($25 I think),made seats and painted tanks.Modified frames,sand bended tube and exhausts - leading edge stuff back then.

I had an old plunger BSA B31 with some 8'' over forks of his,and he made me a seat as well,W bars and lots of chrome.....what a shitter,but it was a chopper and damn cool in my eyes.When I was run down from behind in Ireland Rd,not far from Lowe's chopper shop on the roundabout by a drunk - I was standing on the front of the Transit van looking inside at the guys who were trying to kill me....they slowed down to take the turn into Waipuna Rd and one of the guys went into the back and picked up a baseball bat.All I could think about was Easy Rider - they were going to stop and finish me off with the bat.So I jumped off the front of the van and took to my heals.

It was such a good time in the late '60's and early '70's.....Easy Rider,Woodstock,Mad Dogs and Englishmen - music and bikes,peace and love and lets get pissed and fight man.It was not nice at the time....but looking back is pretty good.

[scumdog]

I also think the movie is completely and utterly lame.

Just like a hell of a lot of movies of that era now appear to be. -'leading edge' only lasts so long.....

But still love the sound-track, the scenery, the last of American innocence evaporating

(The world after that era REALLY started downhill.)

[Big Dave]

Just like a hell of a lot of movies of that era now appear to be. -'leading edge' only lasts so long.....

But still love the sound-track, the scenery, the last of American innocence evaporating




Aye - and remember when the Sex Pistols were 'shocking'.
Same stuff now could open for the Wiggles.

[jrandom]

Agreed re. the movie being lame. Lame plot, lame script, lame acting, pedestrian cinematography.

Doesn't matter; it's a cultural icon.

In fact, now that I've been reminded of it, I reckon I'll rent Easy Rider on DVD and watch it tonight. In an 'appropriate frame of mind', of course.

:niceone:

[PirateJafa]

I've noticed that among 'younger' ones - they find old movies too 'slow', it's the 21st century now and it's all about instant gratification now baby......

I beg to disagree.

Speaking for myself and a number of my mates, on the whole we prefer movies made before the 90's. The Wolfman? Classic. Ocean's Eleven? Give us the 1960 original over the shitty remake any day of the week. Creature from the Black Lagoon? A personal favourite since childhood.

Surely you should know that blatant generalisations are bad, being a corrupt, donut-eating, quota-fulfilling cop.

Oh wait - even though you're a cop, you aren't corrupt/don't eat donuts/have no quota?

My mistake.

[scumdog]

I beg to disagree.

Speaking for myself and a number of my mates, on the whole we prefer movies made before the 90's. The Wolfman? Classic. Ocean's Eleven? Give us the 1960 original over the shitty remake any day of the week. Creature from the Black Lagoon? A personal favourite since childhood.

Surely you should know that blatant generalisations are bad, being a corrupt, donut-eating, quota-fulfilling cop.

Oh wait - even though you're a cop, you aren't corrupt/don't eat donuts/have no quota?

My mistake.

Meh, ya get exceptions everywhere- even classic movie watchers have them.

[vifferman]

The sound track was fantastic....it's a pity you seldom hear The Pusher anymore....it's always Born to Be Wild you hear.
Yeah, it's a bit lame, "Born to be Wild", because it's become such a cliche. Like you said, "The Pusher" is much better, as are "The Ostrich", "Foggy Mountain Dew", and several others. (Yeah, I'm a Steppenwolf fan from way back - their "Rest in Peace" album was one of the first LPs I ever bought, followed by their "Gold" compilation album, which I was pleased to buy recently in double CD format! :niceone:

[Jinx3d]

but it cant be worse than "biker boyz' and "torque"

And as for the Holly wood, "Ghost rider", I'm sure the the real ghost rider was cringing.

I wonder why it isnt possible make a good motorcycle movie?

The closest we ever got was the original mad max, but that is slow and boring these days.

[Headbanger]

The Worlds Fastest Indian is a good motorcycle movie...


Anyhow,

Anyone seen Electra-Glide in Blue recently?

[scumdog]

The Worlds Fastest Indian is a good motorcycle movie...


Anyhow,

Anyone seen Electra-Glide in Blue recently?

Not lately but another great? bike movie - like Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.

[Headbanger]

Not lately but another great? bike movie - like Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.

If by great you mean a critical and financial failure then probably, Though I enjoyed it.

[Drunken Monkey]

Personally, I much preferred "Electraglide in Blue" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070022/). I think it's still just as watchable today, IMHO anyway.

[toycollector10]

I watched this movie in 1969 or something at the Majestic Theatre in Nelson with my 'crew'..

We came out of the theater hating "the Man" and vowed that we wouldn't wind up as red-neck, hating, mofars.

Up to Abe's Place (Abraham Heights) for some 'socializing' etc, etc...Yes, I watched the movie today on the MGM channel on Sky TV this arvo prior to going for a thrash..I wuz kind of bored watching it. The music was great. "I wasn't born to follow", which was a very important state of mind back then.

What did I do, joined the Air Force and signed up with the Civil Aviation Division of the M.O.T., and I've done 37 years with the same employer so who was I kidding? :Oops:

[scumdog]

I watched this movie in 1969 or something at the Majestic Theatre in Nelson with my 'crew'..

We came out of the theater hating "the Man" and vowed that we wouldn't wind up as red-neck, hating, mofars.

And that would have been the 'cut' edition too eh?
(Without the drug related grave-yard scenes)

I saw the movie there too - and saw the much-advertised 'uncut edition' lots later in Dunedin and thought "That's IT?":shit:

[fergie]

I remember when it was released, lied about my age to get in to see it.watched it again last week on sky. kept looking at all the lack of safety features on those bikes of the time.

[Paul in NZ]

Regarding the bikes, they used two old ex-police Harley Davidson's and had them customized. The funny thing was that these bikes had no frame suspension but instead used a special type of seat. Of course, the seat was removed as were the actors spine, kidneys and liver.

Actually (puts on cloth cap and tartan 'train spotters' waistcoat) they built 4 bikes... 2 of each and one of the 'Captain America' bikes had an extra 2 inches in the front.

The bikes used were a 1950, two 51's and a 52 all using the chopper classic HD straight leg rigid frame purchased by Fonda at a Police auction. Fonda was helped with the bikes by Dan Haggerty who was better known as Gizzly Adams.......

Towards the end of filming one bike was burnt during the final scenes and the other 3 were stolen and never recovered or been seen since. The burnt cpt america bike was later rebuilt and is pretty well known.

Like Motu - this movie inspired me and my mates to build choppers and we loved every minute of it...

Critically - while its a great road movie its also one of the movies that spearheaded a cultural awakening in Hollywood as the studios realised that there was money to be made by these low budget flicks turned out by avante guard directors...

[sunhuntin]

seen is a few years back, and didnt understand a thing of it, lol. i do plan on giving it another go one day.

mr hopper is in another bike movie currently being released in the states. from quentin taratino, so should be quite good. he rides a vintage indian with sidecar.

[AllanB]

Apparently in the US of A every few years one of the 'original' Captain America bikes is 'found'. To date all have been proven as copies.

Most likely they were stripped and sold by wart infested, scum licking motorcycle thief's:angry2:

I had not seen the movie for probably 20 years, it was a bit slower than I remembered, but that's probably a result of the speed of most new ones.

Billy's bike was the better one! :rockon:

[jrandom]

Billy's bike was the better one!

I agree!

:rockon:

I remember thinking exactly that as I watched Easy Rider for the first time, aged 15 or so.

(I had to borrow a copy on VHS and wait until my parents were out to watch it - they would have disapproved mightily...)

Still, the Captain America bike is the evocative one, and that's as it should be.

[AllanB]

Choppers, girls and choppers, interesting high pipe project chopper.

Choppers.

[AllanB]

And the only chopper I have ever ridden.

One day that bobber project will happen......