BBC News - In pictures: Dennis Hopper
Unlike many riders I have meet over the last few years I'm not one that can say I read Ted Simons 1970's Book Jupiter's Travels, and was Inspired to ride a bike and Travel the world.
For me it was some what different .
My inspiration for travel came from watching Allan Wicker's TV show in the 1970's.
I would use my pocket money to buy map's and plan my trip around the world,and dream of copying Allan Wicker.
My Idol on a Motorcycle was Evel Knievel...Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.
Evel Knievel For his Stunt riding and Dennis and Peter for looking cool on Harley Davidsons.
So to here that Dennis Hopper had lost his fight with cancer was sad new's
Ride on Dennis...

RIP

Easy Rider is one of my favourite films. The songs on the soundtrack are all superb. I enjoyed many of his other films too.

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

"Easy Rider" is the movie that moved me to the motorcycle rider lifestyle.

RIP, Dennis...

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

Reggie on Doc's PC,

RIP Dennis.

My favourite bike film, in fact one of my favourite ever films has to be Electra Glide in Blue.

Regards

Reggie

Dennis Hopper checked out way too early. From child actor, to teen actor, to major star, with a career that went all over the map, Hopper carved his niche.

He worked with many greats and always held his own. Consummate pro when on his game. I knew him briefly in the Venice art scene (L.A.) Dennis was a collector and huge supporter of the Arts in SoCal.

Later I met him on Apocalypse Now (post production at Zoetrope Studios) again in 1985 on Blue Velvet, worked with him for 4 months in N. Carolina. I bought a new bike down there ... he LOVED bikes. So we had something in common there. I let him ride my Ninja 600R! Good rider.

Last time I saw him was on Speed. (terrible film) I was only visiting a friend on the set, not working. As a sort of method actor he could get a bit weird on set. Talented actor ... who was never caught "Acting".

Awesome in Easy Rider and fantastic in Apocalypse Now, I have to say I enjoyed watching him play Victor Drazen in the first season of 24.

Easy Rider was of course mindblowing at the time and still good.

I was disappointed to see D Hopper a few years ago doing an advert for cars where he laughs at a bike rider for (it's implied) not having a car.

Much as I enjoyed Easy Rider when I first saw it in 1970, as an unworldly and ignorant 16 year old Australian, I learnt later what a distortion of truth it really was.

Peter Honda and Dennis Chopper were placed on a pedestal of self righteousness, gunned down by the ignorant redneck Southerners just for "being themselves". The reality was, of course, that they had been cocaine dealers - hardly the sort of individual most of us would wish to associate with, given a choice.

When I did my own "easyrider" ride across the Southern US in 1975 I was surprised how little resemblance there was between the film and the truth.

Even though I looked like a stereotypical hippy, the vast majority of older USAlians were friendly, interesting and helpful. I never felt at risk of being shot at just because I rode a bike (something easyrider had made me fear would be the case), and my interactions with the local constabulary were always good ones - no risk of being locked up in a cell just because of what I looked like.

No, easyrider painted a rose colloured picture of a counterculture who were in reality combative and thumbed their noses (and stronger) at the existing culture - not the peaceloving individuals they claimed to be at all.

.... and nowadays in the USA there are very few longhaired bearded males who are not rightwing rednecks - isn't that interesting?

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

Ha - My boss got me to watch this film, trying to discourage me from leaving and going on a motorcycle trip!

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