More Motorcycle Movies We All Love

For nearly the last decade, Hollywood has been gorging itself on car movies of an increasingly ridiculous nature (blame Fast and Furious), but there was a time when motorcycle culture had a big impact on filmmakers. Some of the greatest films of all-time have had Harley’s as the star, or at least, they made sure to put a star on a Harley. And yeah, while some flicks like Easy Rider come to mind easily, there’re are a few more greats you’ve might’ve missed that folks in the forum have been reminiscing about.

“On Any Sunday”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qklwSsBlbk

Bruce Brown and Steve McQueen got together in the early seventies to shoot this documentary exploring the world of burgeoning motorcycle racing. The film follows the lives of motorcycle racers in different disciplines like motocross and desert racing. More importantly though, it highlighted the spirit of those who rode, and how wide a breadth of rider there were. It is—easily—the finest motorcycle documentary of all-time and a must-watch for any fan of motorsport.

“Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man”

I hadn’t heard about this movie until someone one the forums mentioned it, so let me bring y’all up to speed… Harley Davidson is the name of the main character. His best friend is named Marlboro. Together, they decide to rob a bank car in order to save their local bar (after all, what kind of bikers would they BE without a local bar?) What follows is a action-packed flick done with a kind of ridiculousness that only could only fly in the 90’s. Is it a good movie, deserving of critical acclaim and admiration? No, no it not. Is it a zeitgeisty, important piece of american cinema? Nah. Is it quotable? Oh yes. Is it entertaining? Abso-fucking-lutely.

“Wild Hogs”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3J5VWr6lvM

I don’t blame people for skipping right over this one. Martin Lawrence, John Travolta, Tim Allen, and William H. Macy seem like an odd group of people to get together for, of all things, a motorcycle comedy… And yet, there are some genuinely great moments of this group of friends enjoying a cross-country ride, getting into trouble and managing to catch all manner of flying creature with their faces. It’s surprisingly relatable and funny. The reality is everyone who rides a Harley isn’t some outlaw renegade and they don’t need to be. Riding is for everyone. In that way, I think Wild Hogs (for all of its corniness) is probably the most honest movie on this list.

“Worlds Fastest Indian”

The true story of Burt Munro is pretty incredible, to start with. Simply put, he was a motorcycle salesman, living aloe, who bought an Indian in 1920. Like any good gearhead, he thought it was too slow. Over the years he maintained it by himself, in his garage, with tools he made himself, and even parts he managed to make himself, building the bike into a 950cc triple-chain drive beast. At age 63 (his first trip to Bonneville) he set the world landspeed record for a motorcycle. And again, in 1966. At age 68 he broke the record again as his final run on the salt flats.

Anthony Hopkins stars in this docu-drama, and of course, is fantastic. This movie is a love letter to every busted knuckle, every greasy wrench, and every stubborn old man on Earth. Watch this one.

“The Wild One”

“The Black Rebels.” Damn that’s a cool name for a motorcycle gang, right?Marlon Brando to plays the lead role in this classic that kicked-off the entire genre of outlaw biker movies. It’s still super entertaining, honestly, and worth a watch for a bit of nostalgia and suspense. Yes, this is Harley-Davidson Forums, and yes, this movie is all about Triumphs, but come on—if you want to know how cool became “cool,” you gotta start here.

“Easy Rider”

If there’s any film that could be held up as the definitive “biker movie,” it’s Easy Rider. Dennis Hopper and  Peter Fonda head across the country in search of… Well, a lot things actually. Acid. Meaning. Discovery. Truth. In a way, Easy Rider is sort of a microcosm of the entire late sixities and early seventies counter-culture put on film. Every outsider, weirdo, loner, rides-to-the-beat-of-his-own-drum american should watch this film. It’s not just the best motorcycle movie of all-time. It’s one of the best movies of all-time period.

Did we miss your favorite? Do you wish Biker Boyz had made the cut?

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Bonus: Steve McQueen in the Great Escape

Calling the Great Escape a motorcycle movie would be doing that film a massive disservice. That said… It has one of the best motorcycle chase scenes ever from the king of chase scenes. Watch Steve McQueen outrun the Nazis on a Triumph below.