Whether it’s a high-speed getaway or part of their character’s overall personality, adding a motorcycle or a bicycle into a movie can create kinetic energy. Sometimes, they’re only featured for one scene; other times, they’re part of the entire story. But these vehicles often end up being talked about for years to come by fans because of how iconic they are.
2004 MV Agusta F4-SPR 750 in I, Robot
I, Robot is a futuristic science-fiction movie, so it’s no surprise that the motorcycle Del Spooner gets to ride is also ahead of its time. It’s a vehicle that makes his character feel like a great action hero, and the scene of him driving through the tunnel is a particularly iconic one from this movie.
Elasticycle in The Incredibles 2
The Incredibles 2 focuses much more on Mrs. Incredible as a character, as she gets ample opportunities to fight and solve the crime. That comes with perks for her, including getting the Elasticycle. It’s a motorcycle created by Pixar specifically for this movie, and it looks fantastic. The design is modern and sleek, while the scenes of her attempting to learn how to use it provide some comedic relief before her chase scenes later on.
Triumph TSX 750cc in Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave
Wallace and Gromit use a motorcycle in A Close Shave for their window cleaning business. It provides some great visuals, but things are taken up a notch later in the movie when the vehicle is needed for a chase scene. The fact that it’s created out of claymation makes the entire process even more impressive.
The Hog in Dumb and Dumber
Not every motorcycle moment in movies has to involve incredible action sequences, as Dumb and Dumber proves. Seeing Jim Carrey ride down on his hilariously undersized bike gives a great laugh in this classic comedy. Seeing both the lead characters hunched over it and clinging on to try not to fall off doesn’t provide the cool factor that most motorcycle scenes do, but it does bring plenty of humor.
1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy Model in The Great Escape
Steve McQueen did many of his stunts in this movie, and considering his incredible talent, he made them look fantastic. The iconic scene of him riding up the grass hill to leap over the barricade is one people always think about with this movie, showcasing how memorable a good stunt can be.
Ducati 998 in Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix franchise has many brilliant special effects and some fantastic scenes that utilize the technology of the time. However, the motorcycle scene in Matrix Reloaded still stands out as one of the best. It showcases how effectively bikes can be used, and this chase scene is compelling to watch.
Yamaha XT250 in Rambo First Blood
The motorcycle scene in Rambo First Blood is one of the most significant elements of the movie, and it highlights how to do it right. With tons of action going on, seeing Sylvester Stallone board the back of a Yamaha and ride away from the police is iconic.
Dnepr MT-11 in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones uses a range of transport throughout the franchise, but one of the most iconic sees him on the back of a motorcycle equipped with a sidecar. This famously allows his father, played by Sean Connery, to sit beside him, providing a memorable visual.
1959 Triumph T120 Bonneville in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One
Hagrid gets to use a particular motorcycle throughout the Harry Potter franchise, as it has the magical ability to fly. It’s unique to most motorcycles in movie history, with the sidecar providing the perfect place for Harry himself to sit during the chase to the burrows scene. Of course, this scene has flying elements, but there’s also time on the road in one of the most intense chases throughout the franchise.
Yamaha MT-09 in John Wick 3
The John Wick franchise has many excellent scenes that utilize dark lighting with fast-paced moments. The motorcycle chase in John Wick 3 is an example of that as he aims to get away from a group of different riders all at once. It simultaneously features high-speed riding and great action, which come together for one intense scene that people will remember.
Honda Montesa Cota 4RT in Quantum of Solace
There are plenty of vehicles throughout the James Bond franchise, and this motorbike is one example. Daniel Craig’s version of Bond steals this one in an epic chase scene that sees him leap off the roads as he rides through boats to reach his destination. It’s a fantastic scene that proves how dynamic these vehicles can be and why they’re sometimes so helpful.
Honda Montesa Cota 4RT260 in Bourne Ultimatum
Another spy movie that brings in a Honda Montesa Cota is Bourne Ultimatum, which creates an engaging and realistic scene. Jason Bourne is in a busy environment with this chase scene, and his ability to move through that at speed creates a compelling moment.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Black Widow is involved in various incredible scenes throughout her time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One of the best comes in Avengers: Age Of Ultron, where she gets on the back of a Harley-Davidson in pursuit of Ultron. With Captain America’s shield on her back, she slides under a moving lorry in what proves to be an iconic scene.
RC Duke Caboom Bike in Toy Story 4
Motorcycles always work well as toys, so fitting one into the world of Toy Story 4 was a brilliant idea by Pixar. Keanu Reeves brought the character of Duke Caboom to life, bringing an eccentric attitude to the role. The Evel Knievel-style character provides some great moments, with many of them being on his bike as he attempts big stunts to help the rest of the characters.
The Harley in Easy Rider
A classic Harley Davidson always looks fabulous in a movie, and that was certainly the case in Easy Rider. On a custom-built chopper, Wyatt instantly felt like an even more extraordinary character as he rode around in some of the most picturesque shots ever created.
Kawasaki ZZR 250 in Kill Bill Volume 1
Specific vehicles are remembered purely for how cool they look, and that was certainly the case with the racer bike used in Kill Bill: Volume 1. Uma Thurman’s character is notorious for her black and yellow-inspired attire, and the fact that the motorcycle matched that color scheme ensured nobody would forget it.
Panhead Chopper in Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider might not be the comic book movie that people talk about the most, but due to the character’s nature, it would always feature a brilliant motorcycle. Ghost Rider spends most of his time on the back of his Panhead Chopper, and the movie did a great job with that particular aspect.
The Harley in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 Terminator is one of the most incredible action characters of all time, and a big reason for that was all the epic stunts he was involved in. One of which saw him steal a classic Harley-Davidson. The bike had a space for his shotgun, and the large size and the black color scheme all helped to enhance his character.
The Batpod in Batman: The Dark Knight & Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
Over the years, Batman movies have provided some genuinely iconic vehicles for the titular character to use. These are typically fancy cars filled with gadgets, but Christopher Nolan shook things up by putting Christian Bale on a motorcycle. It was a crazy high-tech design that was sleek to look at, with the enormous wheels standing out.
Kuwahara BMX in E.T.
One of the most famous scenes in cinematic history just so happens to feature a bicycle. The iconic shot of E.T. sitting inside the basket attachment of a BMX as Elliott rides up into the sky is a piece of movie magic. It’s this movie’s most memorable shot and something everyone will know. While the bicycle isn’t the flashiest compared to others used in the film, this scene proves how much a vehicle can add to a scene.
Kawasaki GPZ900R in Top Gun
Tom Cruise thrives when involved in high-octane scenes full of danger and adrenaline. Top Gun is full of those due to the nature of the movie, and seeing Maverick on a sports bike is a great example. It helped enhance the cool factor of the character riding it while the jet takes off at the side of him, which is one of the most memorable scenes from this movie.
