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Easyriders Hires Industry Veteran to Launch Franchising Campaign

3 December 1998

Easyriders Hires Industry Veteran to Launch Aggressive Franchising Campaign

    AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--Dec. 3, 1998--Easyriders Inc. (AMEX:EZR) has named franchising industry veteran J. Gaylon Smith to head up the company's franchise expansion program, it was announced Thursday by Bill Prather, chief executive officer of the company.
    With more than 30 years' experience in franchise sales and operations, Smith will pursue an aggressive growth strategy designed to enhance Easyriders' position as a leader in the motorcycle marketplace.
    Smith has worked with numerous leading food-service corporations, including Denny's Inc., Arby's Inc., Burger King Corp. and International Multifoods. At Denny's, he was responsible for increasing the number of franchise restaurants from 340 to more than 700 in less than three years. At Easyriders, which currently has 30 independently operated franchises, Smith expects to add several hundred franchises in the United States during the next several years.
    "Franchising is a huge opportunity for Easyriders, and Gaylon Smith can help us capitalize on that opportunity," said Prather. "We want to grow our network as fast as possible, but in the right way, and Gaylon has the right background and experience to lead this important campaign."
    Easyriders Inc. is a diversified publishing, retail and restaurant company that provides products, services and entertainment to consumers in the motorcycle marketplace.

    Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, financial results or projections, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and fall under the safe harbor. The company's actual results and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, the price and availability of raw materials, successful execution of the company's expansion plans, impact of competition, the availability of additional financing and other risks and uncertainties described in detail in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 1997, and in the company's 10-Q. Copies of the annual report are available from Easyriders Inc.'s investor relations representatives.