Easy Rider.

[dobbslc]

I watched this for the first time last night and what a great film. My wife has just come over and told me Jack Nicholson has died
One of my favourite actors, sad.
I really should make the effort to actually go for a ride on my bike today.

 

[Stueeee]

I saw this film at the cinema when it came out. I think it was responsible for a vast number of the local motorcycles suddenly sprouting ape hanger handlebars and "banana" seats -one bike I particularly remember had an old ironing board re-purposed as a sissy bar

 

[reb78]

I dont think he has.... it was Peter Fonda. Nicholson was on one of the news clips where they were announcing Fonda's death.

 

[stuvy]

I just googled Jack Nicholson and it’s peter Fonda that has died sadly

I watched the starsky and hutch movie(remake) last night and they stole the infamous chopper scene

 

[dobbslc]

Bloody wife!
I should NOT listen to her!
I didn't read the article just saw the photo of Jack.

 

[stuvy]

Bloody wife!
I should NOT listen to her!
I didn't read the article just saw the photo of Jack.

Fake news spreader

 

[8ob]

I saw this film at the cinema when it came out. I think it was responsible for a vast number of the local motorcycles suddenly sprouting ape hanger handlebars and "banana" seats -one bike I particularly remember had an old ironing board re-purposed as a sissy bar

My younger brother is big into bikes and always pops in to show me his latest toy, I get to wizz them around the block. One day he turned up with a Harley hard tail chop and I only managed a few hundred yards on it before turning back, what a godforsaken uncomfortable heap it was. beggars belief how them dang Mericuns can sit on them for days on end

Bob

 

[dobbslc]

You can see them bouncing around all over the place in the film!

 

[stuvy]

My younger brother is big into bikes and always pops in to show me his latest toy, I get to wizz them around the block. One day he turned up with a Harley hard tail chop and I only managed a few hundred yards on it before turning back, what a godforsaken uncomfortable heap it was. beggars belief how them dang Mericuns can sit on them for days on end

Bob

No word of a lie we had this chat yesterday at work, my mates have chops and I hate them. They look great outside the pub but that’s it. So uncomfortable to ride and handle like a bag of nails

 

[dobbslc]

I rode my Yamaha XV750 (custom type thing) before I stripped it down and found that a little weird but I was laughing away doing it! Some of the ape hangers I've seen on bikes are stupid, I've seen people trying to filter through London traffic riding them

 

[Morrisman]

I watched Easyrider way back in the 70’s, changed my life forever. I’d always liked bikes, but that movie put a new perspective on the whole scene for me.

Just last night I was watching bike/chopper/hot rod movies on Amazon Prime, 40 years later......

RIP Peter Fonda.

 

[Morrisman]

No word of a lie we had this chat yesterday at work, my mates have chops and I hate them. They look great outside the pub but that’s it. So uncomfortable to ride and handle like a bag of nails

I believe their roads are somewhat better than ours.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

I've not seen it yet but read about it a while ago.

The bikes used in filming were stolen before the movie was released. Likely broken for parts and vanished, would be worth an absolute fortune otherwise. What a shame.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I remember reading that Peter could already ride custom bikes but Dennis couldn't hence the difference in machines

 

[Hopefuldave]

I always preferred Billy's (Hopper's) bike, myself - a sad loss, all the same.

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I believe their roads are somewhat better than ours.

beggars belief how them dang Mericuns can sit on them for days on end

And they probably all have better padding than you, @8ob

 

[daleyd]

I saw a picture of Peter Fonda on BBC website, he has a fairly striking similarity to Jack Nicholson in later years so perhaps it was just mistaken identity? Good film, though never cared much for the bikes, though in my younger years I did go through a patch of buying Back street heroes, though they were never really my scene.

 

[Tom O]

My 73 Norton Commando came with shoulder height ape hangers as stock with a curved banana type seat / low sissy bar.

 

[Farside]

Yes, the XS650 Special was victim of that fashion for a few years.
First thing I did was remove the Clown Bars and put a fairly narrow set of road bars on to it. Transformed its road manners, and got much more out of the work the PO (one of whom had spent a lot of money on the improvements) had done on the suspension. Apart from the 16" rear wheel, it's almost like a standard bike now.

 

[chunkolini]

I just watched the film.
Fifteen+ years ago I dismissed it as 60's hippyshit twaddle.
Today I agreed with that.
A cultural heathen?