What has happened to Easyriders magazine?
In the lead up to Christmas 2021 when, at a local bookstore, I noticed the latest issue of Easyriders magazine. But that magazine did not look at all correct, it did not have a hot bike and girl on the cover.
In fact, glancing through it at the newsstand, it did not have “really” have any hot bikes and no nude or scantly clothed women.
The new Easyriders magazine looked more like coffee table style magazine then anything else. All this raised my curiosity to find out just what happed to the old school motorcycle magazine.
Death of Easyriders Magazine
The original Easyriders magazine was a champion of the counterculture, on the road biker symbolized in movies like “Easyrider”. But, as we all know, the printed word is in decline due to the evolution of digital media. From my point of view, magazines have been the hardest hit with many, to many, motorcycle magazines failing to survive the transition.
Easyriders magazine started in the early 1970s and always showcased the best motorcycles from across America along with the aforementioned scantily clad women. Later Easyriders would host and run events, rallies (or as they called them rodeos), and motorcycle shows.
From what I can gather, that Easyrider magazine closed its doors and auctioned off what was left in 2018.
So, What Happened Next?
It appears that a Canadian clothing company called StrongHold now owns the name and trademark of the old company. If you go to the new Easyriders website you can purchase $16 shaving kits, $30 t-shirts, $25 boxers, and $60 hoodies.
The magazine, as noted above, is now more “up-scale” targeted to a very different audience then the original Easyriders. On their website they state that this is an “Elevation of an Iconic Brand”, that it is more then a magazine it is a lifestyle.
I purchased the second issue and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Short stories and great pictures laid out in a modern format; the magazine looks nothing like the classic version.
Rodeos and events
Easyriders did support three events 2021 but the long running, over 30 years, rodeo in Chillicothe, OH will not be back in 2022 but not due to the pandemic.
The town, fairgrounds and county will not allow the Easyriders event to return because, during the 2021 event, there was, very nearly, a “gang” battle.
According to reports an undercover cop stopped the unnamed biker gangs from starting a shootout when he spotted “his” gang putting guns together and getting ready to move against their rivals. The gangs were not identified.
Easyriders is dead, long live Easyriders.
I am sure many purest will not like the new Easyriders but, at least it is still around. I don’t have any issue with the new direction while at the same time, I am kind of missing the old magazine. Things change and in this new age, at least we still have a motorcycle magazine on the news stand.
Ride On, Ride Safe
(If I did not get anything right, please let me know!)
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 