We have handpicked some of the raddest bikes to have been ridden in a slick sequence on the screen. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
Some of the best moments in cinema are chase sequences; an adrenaline-infused race against the clock to either flee or follow. While these are great and will definitely be on this list, they should not overshadow the more minimalistic moments where a character chooses to ride off into the sunset or take a leisurely gallop on a beloved hog. The focus here is hog—bikes that allow full view of their respective riders. Actors on motorcycles make way for a more dramatic ride and overall sequence; facial expressions and body language playing a much larger role than they would have hidden behind the steering wheel of a car. The sense of thrill and serenity are elevated —environment playing a key role in the more vulnerable motorcyclist’s journey.
There are some films you can’t think of without your mind wandering to that time a particular character took a ride on a memorable bike. Both the moments and motorcycles will be highlighted here; the bike, rider, and circumstances all playing a huge role in the coolness of a ride.
Honorable Mention: Steve McQueen on a 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy Bird in The Great Escape (1963).
Coolest Rides Ever Ridden On Screen
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Harley-Davidson Street 750, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
In the second Captain America movie, Cap returns with a contemporary vengeance. He's cooler; his fighting ability is elevated—he's able to take out a quinjet with nothing but his Harley and ever-reliable shield.
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1982 Yamaha XT250, First Blood (1982)
Oh young and naive John Rambo, sporting PTSD and some poor sap's dual-sport motorcycle. Rambo evades capture thanks to a very cool ride.
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Kawasaki Ninja, Top Gun (1986)
The image of Tom Cruise's Maverick peeling around a US airbase as fighter pilots took off has been severed into everyone's minds for the better part of three decades. Now, we prepare for the Ninja's return in 2020.
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Custom Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide, Easy Rider (1969)
Peter Fonda's custom made Captain America-esque bike from a movie that's all about the nature of a serene ride and discovering spiritual truth.
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1990 Harley-Davidson FLSTF, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Probably the coolest Arnold has ever been—one hand reloading a shotgun while dominating the screen on an American classic.
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Bat-Pod, The Dark Knight (2008)
This item is not for sale, but if it were, face-painted psychopaths may attempt to gun you down.
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BMW S1000RR, Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Oh, hello again Tom Cruise. It would appear that Cruise's affinity for motorcycles is only growing with age, as is his determination to do his own death-defying stunts. Riding through on-coming traffic in the latest Mission: Impossible is not just cool—it's a tad bit crazy.
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Hoverbike, Star Trek (2009)
The idea of a hoverbike is cool and it does look cool. Kirk's introductory sequence in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot is simply awesome. So, this is basically just a shout-out to that daring kid, the Beastie Boys, and a cherry red 65 vet.
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Munro Special, The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Burt Munro spent years perfecting his 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle—Munro Special. In this biopic, it is poignantly ridden but the brilliant Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins CBE.
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The Indian 101 Scout, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Sometimes, when you're aging backward, the love of your life is God knows where and your life is laced with an overwhelming amount of uncertainty, just hit the road.
