Icons on Two Wheels

Motorcycles in the Movies

Motorcycles have stolen the show in some of cinema’s greatest moments. They roar onto the screen not just as machines, but as symbols of rebellion, freedom, menace, or pure style. From cult Aussie classics to Hollywood blockbusters and anime visions of the future, here’s how bikes became stars in their own right.

Stone (1974)

In the mid-70s, Australia gave the world a gritty, homegrown biker flick called Stone. The Gravediggers outlaw gang tore up the screen on Kawasaki Z1 900s — a choice that was as much about raw muscle as it was about attitude. These bikes weren’t polished showpieces; they were stripped, chopped, and fitted with custom fairings and tall bars that screamed menace. Stone didn’t just show bikes, it showed a subculture, and the Z1 became forever linked with that outlaw image.

Wild Hogs (2007)

Fast forward to the 2000s, and Wild Hogs gave motorcycles a comedic twist. John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy saddled up on Harley-Davidsons that matched their characters’ personalities: Fat Boys for the macho, a Sportster for the misfit, and a Springer Softail for the traditionalist. The bikes weren’t heavily modified — because they weren’t meant to be. They represented the weekend warrior’s dream: to roll out of suburbia and taste freedom. It was lighthearted, but it reminded audiences that Harley still symbolised the open road.

James Bond – Skyfall (2012)

When Daniel Craig chased a villain across the rooftops of Istanbul in Skyfall, it wasn’t in an Aston Martin — it was on a Honda CRF250R. These dirt bikes were dressed up as local police machines, prepped for insane stunt work. Craig’s Bond didn’t just ride; he leapt across tiles and crashed through bazaars, showing a rawer, grittier side to the spy. The CRF, built for agility, was the perfect match. Suddenly, a humble motocross bike looked every bit as glamorous as Bond’s tux.

I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990)

Only the Brits could dream up a horror-comedy where the villain is literally a bike. A possessed Norton Commando became the “monster,” complete with blood-red accents and sinister styling. The film itself was tongue-in-cheek, but it turned the Norton into a cult symbol — not as a machine of freedom, but as something alive, dangerous, and uncontrollable. For riders, it was a wink: sometimes, our bikes really do feel like they’ve got a mind of their own.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Few images are more burned into pop culture than Arnold Schwarzenegger astride a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, shotgun cocked one-handed. The Fat Boy wasn’t the fastest or most practical choice, but it was a rolling symbol of unstoppable force. The production team reinforced the bike for the brutal stunts, but otherwise left its hulking presence intact. When Arnie drops into that storm drain and powers away, the Fat Boy became forever tied to the  idea of indestructible cool.

The Dark Knight (2008)

When Batman burst out of the wreckage of his destroyed Batmobile, fans expected a backup car. Instead, we got the Batpod.  a futuristic, low-slung, cannon-mounted beast unlike anything on the road. Built from scratch with 20-inch wheels and hub-centre steering,  it was as much a prop as a stunt vehicle, but it worked. On screen, it looked like an extension of Batman himself: angular, brutal, and otherworldly. The Batpod wasn’t just a bike — it was a revelation in design that redefined superhero machinery.

Top Gun (1986)

Maverick’s Kawasaki GPZ900R wasn’t just product placement; it was a character in its own right. When Tom Cruise raced his jet down the runway with the Ninja screaming beside him, the GPZ cemented itself as the bike of the 80s. No wild modifications, just raw speed and the kind of glamour that only comes from being paired with fighter jets and leather jackets. Sales of the Ninja soared, proving the power of Hollywood to sell a dream.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Not all movie bikes are about speed. In The Motorcycle Diaries, Che Guevara’s battered Norton 500, nicknamed La Poderosa II, was the vehicle of a life-changing journey across South America. Constantly breaking down, patched up on the roadside, the bike became a metaphor for struggle, resilience, and discovery. It wasn’t glamorous — it was real. And that’s why it resonated.

Akira (1988)

Animation gave us what live-action couldn’t at the time: Kaneda’s iconic red bike. Low, stretched, and glowing with futuristic tech, it looked like nothing else. Inspired by Honda sportbikes and Suzuki racers of the era, it became the symbol of Japanese cyberpunk and influenced decades of design. Even now, custom builders and concept designers try to replicate it. In Akira, the bike was more than transport — it was identity, rebellion, and style, all in one.

The Great Escape (1963)

Steve McQueen’s Triumph TR6 Trophy, disguised to look like a German military bike, carried him through one of cinema’s greatest chase scenes. The fence jump — actually performed by McQueen’s stunt double Bud Ekins — became a legend. The Triumph itself wasn’t heavily modified, just tweaked cosmetically, but its role was bigger than mechanics. It symbolised defiance, courage, and the eternal link between motorcycles and freedom.

The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)

Based on the true story of Kiwi legend Burt Munro, this film showcased the ultimate in backyard engineering. His 1920 Indian Scout, painstakingly modified with handmade pistons, streamlining, and countless garage hacks, went from a humble cruiser to a land-speed record breaker. The bike, battered but brilliant, embodied the spirit of ingenuity — proving you don’t need factory backing when you’ve got determination and a shed full of tools.

Easy Rider (1969)

Few films captured the 60s counterculture like Easy Rider. Wyatt’s stretched-out Harley chopper and Billy’s flame-painted ride weren’t just bikes — they were rolling symbols of rebellion. Extended forks, ape-hanger bars, high sissy bars, and custom paint jobs turned stock Harleys into freedom machines. On screen, they weren’t props. They were the soul of the story, carrying two outlaws across America in search of something bigger.

Ghost Rider (2007)

In comic books, Ghost Rider rode a Harley chopper, but on screen, Nicolas Cage’s hell-bound hero mounted a Yamaha V-Max transformed into the flaming Hell Cycle. CGI turned its wheels into fire and its frame into bone, creating one of the wildest motorcycle designs ever seen in film. Ridiculous? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely.

Other Notables

Mad Max (1979): Kawasaki KZ1000s turned into wasteland rat bikes by Aussie stunt crews.

Mission Impossible II (2000): Tom Cruise sliding Triumph Speed Triples and Daytonas across a Sydney beach.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003): Uma Thurman on a Kawasaki ZZR250, her yellow bike perfectly matching her jumpsuit.