Easyrider the movie

**AllanB** · 15th December 2007, 21:53

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** · 15th December 2007, 22:29

This one has moved on a bit.

**AllanB** · 16th December 2007, 06:19

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

This one has moved on a bit.

EEEEKkkkkk someone stole the spokes!

Wonder how that corners!

**jrandom** · 16th December 2007, 07:34

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

This one has moved on a bit.

Now that is cool.

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

**Maha** · 16th December 2007, 07:38

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......

**scumdog** · 16th December 2007, 07:58

Originally Posted by maha man

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......

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** · 16th December 2007, 08:05

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

This one has moved on a bit.

That is cool.

**warewolf** · 16th December 2007, 08:06

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

This one has moved on a bit.

Geometry and handling hasn't changed.

**crashe** · 16th December 2007, 09:04

Originally Posted by scumdog

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** · 16th December 2007, 09:11

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

**Big Dave** · 16th December 2007, 09:12

Originally Posted by crashe

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** · 16th December 2007, 09:48

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** · 16th December 2007, 10:17

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** · 16th December 2007, 10:26

Originally Posted by Big Dave

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** · 16th December 2007, 10:36

Originally Posted by scumdog

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.