Cider - Shop now
See All Buying Options
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Danny Lyon
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Bikeriders Hardcover – May 31, 2014

by Danny Lyon (Photographer)
4.6 out of 5 stars 421 ratings
The inspiration behind the new film with Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, and Mike Faist.

First published in 1968, and now back in print for the first time in ten years, The Bikeriders explores firsthand the stories and personalities of the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club. This journal-size volume features original black-and-white photographs and transcribed interviews by Lyon, made from 1963 to 1967, when he was a member of the Outlaws gang. Authentic, personal and uncompromising, Lyon's depiction of individuals on the outskirts of society offers a gritty yet humane perspective that subverts more commercialized treatments of Americana. Akin to the documentary style of 1960s-era New Journalism made famous by writers such as Hunter S. Thompson, Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe, Lyon's photography is saturation reporting at its finest. The Bikeriders is a touchstone publication of 1960s counterculture, crucially defining the vision of the outlaw biker as found in Easy Rider and countless other movies and photobooks.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    94 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Aperture
  4. Publication date
    May 31, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6.6 x 0.6 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    159711264X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1597112642
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Like an Old Testament prophet, the photographer Danny Lyon has agitated for his fellow man to pursue justice and freedom. This was not always a popular message, nor a lucrative one, but that wasn’t how he saw his role. –The New York Times
Armed with a Triumph, a Nikon, and a unique dual perspective as both participant and observer, Lyon was able to access and portray a disarmingly intimate, familiar, and diverse subculture. –LA Weekly
A seminal work in the modern photography canon –Time
Whether shooting civil-rights protesters, motorcycle gang members or Texas inmates, the photographer empathized with his subjects—sometimes getting so close, he took up their cause. –The Wall Street Journal
Mr. Lyon…did more than anyone outside Hollywood to establish the image of the outlaw biker. –The New York Times Wheels blog

About the Author

Danny Lyon (born in New York, 1942), regarded as one of the most influential documentary photographers, is also a filmmaker and writer. His many books include The Movement (1964), The Bikeriders (1968, reissued by Aperture, 2014), Conversations with the Dead (1971), Knave of Hearts (1999), Like a Thief ’s Dream (2007), and Deep Sea Diver (2011). Lyon’s work is widely exhibited and collected, and he has been awarded Guggenheim Fellowships twice, National Endowment for the Arts grants numerous times, and a 2011 Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aperture; First Edition (May 31, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 94 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159711264X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1597112642
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.6 x 0.6 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 421 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Danny Lyon

Danny Lyon

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
421 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers appreciate the book's classic American photographic art and good pictures of old bikes, with one customer noting it's a must-have photo essay book. Moreover, the content receives positive feedback, and customers find the story interesting, with one highlighting it as the true story of the first outlaw motorcycle clubs. However, the narrative quality receives mixed reviews, with several customers finding it horrible.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

25 customers mention "Photo quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the photos in the book, describing them as impressive and classic American photographic art, particularly noting the good images of old bikes and biker clubs/gangs.

"...But if you want a peek inside, THE BIKERIDERS gives you a pretty good look. I enjoyed it quite a bit." Read more

"I was very excited to receive The Bikeriders book the pictures are fantastic 👌 going to wait for my day off to read 📚 it...." Read more

"...Each photo’s captions are fairly minimalist and does the job in assisting context in images...." Read more

"Good photos but the book is smaller than expected." Read more

21 customers mention "Book content"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fantastic and very impressed with its content, with one customer noting it's a great addition to their library.

"Loved the movie, but wanted more information. This book provided that." Read more

"Excellent book - packaged well - loved the movie which is what prompted this buy - great addition to my library" Read more

"My brother loved the movie and he loves the book." Read more

"I received this book today and was very impressed with the content and then it happened...." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the story interesting, with one customer noting it is based on true events about the first outlaw motorcycle clubs.

"...That is likely for the best. Interesting, idiosyncratic, doing their own thing, The Outlaws are not for most people...." Read more

"This is a true story of the first outlaw motorcycle clubs, and how they began as extensions of teenage street gangs and evolved into young bikers..." Read more

"...Excellent quality, hardback book. Very interesting story and a must read" Read more

"...Familiar with many of the settings. Interesting stories as well. Hope movie of same name stays close to the book." Read more

4 customers mention "Culture"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate how the book provides insight into motorcycle culture.

"...(conducted by Danny Lyon himself) coincide and deliver a look into motorcycle culture from multiple perspectives—a majority through the eyes around..." Read more

"...photo essay with interviews with the subjects, that puts you inside several bike rider cultures...." Read more

"A perfect work as both history, social critique, and cultural documentation as well as a work of classic American photographic art." Read more

"Very impressive images that document a subculture and time in the United States, by an outstanding artist-photographer, accompanied by interesting..." Read more

7 customers mention "Narrative quality"3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality of the book, with several finding it horrible.

"...Who cares? The stories suck. The title should not be "The Bikeriders" ; It should be, " Another book about low-life trailer-trash bikers"...." Read more

"...It’s a photo book overall, with words towards the end...." Read more

"...1960 ( Sears Alstate thru Harley Electra Glides) and these stories are poorly written...." Read more

"...Peeped the flick previews and was impressed how closely the dialog followed the book. Good buy for me." Read more

Printed in China
5 out of 5 stars
Printed in China
First book I've received sealed in plastic when shipped, versus tossed in the box and left to fend for itself, which oddly enough, even when the books are shipped unprotected in a box, they never seem to be damaged. I've not cracked the plastic yet, no reason to until I first read it. One thing I did notice, and have not yet noticed on any other book, is that it's printed in China. Considering the nature of the content, this is kinda funny. A story of history and biker culture here, printed on the other side of the planet and returned here. That's a journey!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael Dickey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty monumental documentary photography Art Piece. .
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent condition for a truly authentic view of a late sixties, 70's happenings.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • tessa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great information
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Loved the movie, but wanted more information. This book provided that.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dash Manchette
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Insider's View
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I first became aware of Danny Lyon from an exhibition of his work at Atlanta’s art museum and was immediately taken with it. I bought one of his prints of The Outlaws for my house, where it now hangs prominently. But I had never read or really looked at this book, THE BIKERIDERS, before but decided to do so after seeing a preview for an upcoming movie based upon it.

    The photographs are fantastic. Taking us into an American subculture everyone knows about but does not really know, these photos of The Outlaws reveal the group in a more close-up manner than the usual newsprint photos we see of them. These are guys who, put plainly, do not care one bit about what the larger society thinks of them. They are part of America yet distinct from its mainstream culture. They care about riding, women, drinking, and the adventures that go with them. The members do not seem to operate with a long-term vision of their lives, foregoing that for immediate gratification and the fun such an outlook delivers.

    Lyon does not focus much on the actual criminal activity of outlaw motorcycle clubs, and perhaps that was not much at the forefront when he was among them. Though that is not to say criminality does not seep in. The essays at the end of the book, while entertaining, reveal a tenuous concern for the law as well as their own personal safety. These are rough characters even at their best.

    This book will probably be the closest one ever gets to such people (though I did get to chat with a member of the Jacksonville chapter at a pizza joint in Savannah some years back). That is likely for the best. Interesting, idiosyncratic, doing their own thing, The Outlaws are not for most people. But if you want a peek inside, THE BIKERIDERS gives you a pretty good look. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
    21 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rhonda L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book is always better!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book - packaged well - loved the movie which is what prompted this buy - great addition to my library
    Helpful
     Report
  • Biker Born
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I was very excited to receive The Bikeriders book the pictures are fantastic 👌 going to wait for my day off to read 📚 it. The only reason I took a star off was because it was a lot smaller then I expected I was hoping it was a letter size or bigger because of the pictures in them but it's still a fantastic buy 😎👍
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rahul Lal
    5.0 out of 5 stars A look into the lives surrounding motorcycle culture
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Photographs and interviews (conducted by Danny Lyon himself) coincide and deliver a look into motorcycle culture from multiple perspectives—a majority through the eyes around and of the Chicago Outlaws.

    It’s a photo book overall, with words towards the end. Each photo’s captions are fairly minimalist and does the job in assisting context in images.

    Important buy for anyone into visual storytelling/documentary photography/photojournalism.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Iris Readsalot
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Bikeriders
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    My brother loved the movie and he loves the book.
    Helpful
     Report
  • jallen
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good but Small
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Good photos but the book is smaller than expected.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Cellini Antonio
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottima ristampa
    Reviewed in Italy on February 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Ristampa del libro primo di Danny Lyon, tratta la nascita del gruppo MC Outlaw, non è soltanto un libro fotografico, ma anche scritto, in inglese naturalmente, ma se vi affascina l'ambiente delle motociclette ne varrà davvero la pena, bellissime fotografie in bianco e nero ne fanno la cornice perfetta.
    Report
  • mr d freer
    5.0 out of 5 stars I’m a biker
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great read just what I wanted P&P was fantastic thanks
    Report
  • mephisto
    3.0 out of 5 stars Mejorable en muchos aspectos, pero a la vez único
    Reviewed in Spain on May 20, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Danny Lyon no es un autor que se prodigue mucho al publicar su obra. Por ello esta nueva edición de Bikeriders es un evento a celebrar, pero quizás el libro no está a la altura. Algunas de las fotos son muy pequeñas, lo que no permite apreciarlas correctamente, y la calidad de la imagen (aunque no es mala) dista mucho de asemejarse a la de los originales, que tienen una gama de tonos y un relieve extraordinarios. Una pena que un libro tan esperado y deseado no cumpla al 100% las expectativas.
    Report
  • Cleiby
    5.0 out of 5 stars ótimo livro
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    ótimo livro!!!
    Report
  • Jordi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the film
    Reviewed in France on March 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Impressive collection of pictures of this motocyclers gang. A few testimonies of some of the members make it even more interesting. Can't wait for Jack Nichols' film staring Jodie Comer and Autin Butler.
    Report