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What happened to the Bikers dream?
"It’s hard to believe that the iconic movie Easy Rider
is 40 years old this year and that another generation has gone by, when
the sixties promised all things would change; much like the politics of
the current American President! The film was (and still is) a Biker
classic, as it portrayed the social culture of its day and was a
snapshot of what was going on then. Do we have a movie like it to
represent the culture of today? I fear not. Are there any Peter Fonda
and Dennis Hoppers that you know? There are, but the dream is over – or
is it …
There are still Harley riders going on their jaunts
across Europe but not in search of a cultural dream, but more to live
out their fantasies, maybe selfish, but true. So, are you the Jack
Nicholson type who will join the ‘gang’. Would who thrust a fist into
your deep pocket and pull out the cheque book to buy into the dream,
yours if only the deal was right. Too right, I hear some say. Would we
stick to our stiff upper lip and compromise with, say a Harley Davidson
hydra glide, to mock out our superiority as a pretend Policeman as did
Peter Fonda? Or would we splash the cash and build our own British
‘chopper’, that is one better than its American original. Now this is
more a dream, if only the Wild-thing inside could make it possible. The
design, a 45 degree rake, coupled with 12 inch forks, no suspension,
but everything visible chromed (except the seat, of course). I suppose
fishtail exhausts will not anger the health and safety mob, but the ape
hanger handlebars – could you really swing the thing into a tight
corner and not scrape off your elbows? So what happened to the bikes
used on set: the only mystery was one got burnt – the other stolen, to
live out the dream, or break into parts and sold as memorabilia. Those
Americans, what if we found the original, would you be willing to pay,
or will it be a Japanese racing bike, much safer, much more boring? Are
you for or against living out the dream, for or against
anti-establishment … are you still 'Born to be wild'? Then this is your
dream, it’s in your head and will always remain there, am I wrong?"
This is from our occasional series of all things motorcycle
Contributed by Ray
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