Intro: Biking Meets the Big Screen
Following on from one of my previous blogs around motorbikes in music videos, I thought I would share my top films on the subject.
Harley Davidson Fatboy Terminator 2
The first one that springs to my mind is, of course, the Harley-Davidson Fatboy ridden by our friend Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2. The rider is bedecked in casual black leather, oozing attitude and coolness, especially while wearing those shades! The image is made complete by the muscular presence and classic lines of the Fatboy. You’ve got to love Fatboy’s wheels!
Unfortunately, the reality of a Fatboy surviving the actual car (truck) chase is less likely to be successful. If any Harley is going to successfully land a jump and survive, it’s not going to be a Fatboy.
If any film is going to epitomise the coolness of a Harlequin, this one is. (Winchester shotgun optional). If you want to be the Terminator, buy a leather jacket, some sunglasses, and of course, a Harley-Davidson Fatboy.
BMW R1200C, Tomorrow Never Dies
Next up has to be the BMW R1200C in James Bond Tomorrow Never Dies and the rather spectacular chase scene where it is being ridden by Pierce Brosnan and Michelle Yeoh away from a pursuing helicopter.
It was a clever move by BMW as it secured a position in this film round about the time they released the R1200C on a rather surprised and unsuspecting general public. Many criticized it for its oddball looks, but I reckon it’s a pretty cool take on the cruiser theme. Although I think I’ve only seen one on the road since its release in 1997.
Back to its role in the film. If you are going to escape from a helicopter while riding along the roofs of decrepit buildings, you would not do it on a 260kg cruise; instead, you need a KTM for that work! Even so, I think the BMW stuck in people’s minds for being a bit more ‘unusual’ looking, and it’s good enough for James B, and it’s good enough for the rest of us. The best scene, of course, is where the rather nimble Michelle climbs from the pillion seat and straddles Mr Bond (whilst on the move) to take a few shots at their pursuers. If that’s not reason enough to buy a bike, then I don’t know what is!
Kawasaki GPZ750R – Top Gun
Next up is Top Gun, and probably the most realistic use of a bike so far. The specific scene is where he is at the airstrip, blasting up the road on a Kawasaki GPZ750R. Not much more to say other than like The James Bond movie if it’s good enough for Tom Cruise…
There is an element of truth in this also,o in that it is not cars that fighter pilots get their kicks on when they are ground,it’sits bikes! Did you know Tom Cruise had to learn to ride for this film and has been hooked on it since? A Vyrus, Confederate Hellcat, and of course a Ducati Desmosedici are among his collection.
Honourable Mentions
Of course, there are loads of other films featuring bikes that I would like to talk about: Ducati in the Matrix, Zed’s Chopper in Pulp Fiction, and the customised Triumph (disguised to look like a BMW) in The Great Escape. But I would be up all night! Let me know your favourite films featuring bikes. Oh, the Triumph Speed Triple in Mission Impossible, the Harleys in Wild Hogs, the hardtail-panhead choppers in Easy Rider.
