On July 14th, with the sponsorship of American bikers everywhere, Easyriders went to the salt flats of Bonneville with our twin Harley Shovehead-powered streamliner and took the absolute Land Speed Record away from Kawasaki. With over 200 issues under our belts 1990 was a banner year and we were ready to do something big. These new riders joined the old school bikers at rallies in droves and attendance tripled at the major rallies.Īs it turned 20 years old, Easyriders became the largest-selling motorcycle magazine in the world while still offering a wacked-out point of view to scooter tramps worldwide. New riders on bulletproof Evolution motor-powered Harleys couldn't help but notice Easyriders' coverage of such traditional biker parties as the Sturgis Black Hills Classic, Daytona Bike Week, and the Laconia Rally and Races. We continued to grow, adding In The Wind, Biker and Tattoo and foreign editions helped to spread the biker lifestyle to Germany, France, England, Australia, and Japan. This would soon mutate into an entire products division including everything a biker might need, from leathers and riding gear to tools and bike lifts. Cool products produced by bikers for bikers began to appear beginning with Easyriders T-shirts, belt buckles, boots and more. ![]() By 1980 the rag was already going through refinements, adding more tech tips and legislative news, offering more color photography, more bike events, runs and parties, more gorgeous gals and wilder art. There's never been any guess work in finding out what they want, and so Easyriders success has been the success of the American Biker, independent, loyal, and proud.Īs the custom bike scene changed and evolved over the years, so has Easyriders magazine. Easyriders readers have always been very vocal. The magazine was and is a sounding board for readers who keep the biker lifestyle alive. We went monthly with the November 1976 issue. Mann soon became known as the Norman Rockwell of the biker lifestyle. The first issues were published bi-monthly with the very first David Mann centerspread appearing in issue three. The magazine dreamed up an image of hard partyin' bikers and a life where beautiful women were plentiful and begging to go for a ride on a chopped Hog. In June of 1971, the first issue of Easyriders magazine jumped off the shelves and soon, the magazine had a life of its own. The idea with Easyriders was to create a magazine that captured the people behind the custom bikes as well as the wild lifestyle that surrounded them. Motorcycle magazines of that time showcased bikes but not the people who built or rode them. Mil was also into cameras and acted as Easyriders first photo editor. Joe was the technical editor on Big Bike and along with bike builder and parts fabricator Mil Blair, designed many aftermarket parts at Jammer Cycle Products for people who wanted to build a chopper of their own. In the early '70's, Joe Teresi had already logged over 100,000 miles on choppers and was known as a custom bike builder in his own right. ![]() The two-wheeled-trio wanted their new magazine to be completely different than any other motorcycle magazine and succeeded with the irreverent and madcap format which became Easyriders magazine. Lou had been an editor of drag racing and men's magazines, creating such titles as Drag Racing, Drag Strip, and Big Bike. ![]() ![]() Gearheads Mil Blair and Joe Teresi teamed up with magazine editor Lou Kimzey to produce a lifestyle-driven magazine that would appeal to bikers. In 1971, the two-wheeled world was primed and ready for Easyriders magazine. Looking back to its humble beginnings, the 1970s were labeled as the flower power years of sex, drugs, rock n' roll, custom choppers, hot rods, disillusioned youth, and righteous rebellion. Known as “the biker’s bible” Easyriders has been sharing the motorcycle culture with the world for over 52 years.
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