Motorcycles have always played a major role in movies, symbolising freedom, rebellion, and pure adrenaline. Some of the most unforgettable scenes in cinema history were made even more iconic thanks to the motorcycles involved. From high-speed chases to dramatic stunts, bikes have cemented their place in film culture.
In this article, we explore the most famous motorcycles from movies, detailing the bikes, the stars who rode them, and why they became legendary. Whether you’re a movie buff, motorbike enthusiast, or both—this is the ultimate guide to cinematic two-wheeled legends.
No list would be complete without Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Harley-Davidson Fat Boy in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
Scene: The T-800 rescues young John Connor in a gritty LA chase scene, launching the bike off a canal edge in one of the most iconic motorcycle stunts ever filmed.
Steve McQueen’s The Great Escape (1963) features one of the most legendary motorcycle scenes ever filmed, involving a high-speed chase and a bold barbed-wire fence jump.
Tom Cruise brought cool factor to new heights riding a Kawasaki GPZ900R in Top Gun (1986), racing down runways and through romantic sunsets.
The Dark Knight (2008) brought us the futuristic and fearsome Batpod, a custom-built motorcycle designed for Batman’s high-tech arsenal.
Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) features jaw-dropping chase scenes through the streets of Paris with the actor riding a BMW R nineT Scrambler—helmetless and fearless.
Easy Rider (1969) is more than a movie—it’s a cultural movement. Starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, the film’s most famous bike is the Captain America Chopper, a customised Harley Panhead.
In John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), Keanu Reeves features in a high-speed sword fight on motorcycles—yes, you read that right.
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