STURGIS, S.D. – Former Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Director Keith R. Ball has acquired Easyriders Magazine, the legendary voice of biker culture, and plans to bring the iconic publication back to prominence in the motorcycle riding community.
On Saturday, September 20, Ellen Teresi, widow of publisher Joe Teresi, signed over the magazine’s rights, trademarks, and archives to Ball in a moving ceremony at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
For decades, Easyriders Magazine defined the freedom, rebellion, and outlaw spirit of the open road. In recent years, the magazine struggled through publishing shifts before being reclaimed by Joe Teresi, who passed away in April of this year.
Ball, an accomplished writer, editor, builder, Bonneville racer, and author, intends to reestablish Easyriders as the definitive voice of custom motorcycling. He is also the owner and publisher of Bandit’s Bikernet (www.bikernet.com), a news and entertainment site targeting the biker audience.
“Easyriders connected the world to the biker lifestyle for hundreds of thousands of readers,” said Ball. “It created admiration for custom-built motorcycles and brought the craft of bike building into the homes and shops of riders everywhere.”
The new headquarters now stand on historic Main Street in downtown Sturgis, SD, near the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. Ball, a longtime officer and committee chairman, continues to serve, volunteer, and reside on numerous Sturgis Museum boards and committees.
Ball previously worked with Ellen Teresi and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum to deliver the Easyriders Streamliner—forever the fastest Harley-Davidson on the planet—to the Museum. The signing ceremony for the transfer of ownership featured a historic gathering of Streamliner crew members, past Easyriders staff, museum board members, and local riders celebrating both the Streamliner legacy and its new exhibit.
“In recent years, the audience changed, and the print magazine business faced the impact of the internet and digital technology,” Ball continued. “We’ll embrace today’s riders while celebrating the past—delivering spectacular content in print, online, and on YouTube for those who love freedom, getting their hands dirty, and chasing the adventure of the open road.”
The Easyriders brand is more than a magazine. Ball intends to relaunch the brand as a global lifestyle powerhouse through publishing, merchandise, licensing, events, partnerships, and immersive experiences for riders around the world.