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Best motorbike films

Noel Hernandez Noel Hernandez
Friday 16 September 2011

From Hollywood blockbusters to modest productions, motorbikes have always played an important role in cinema. They have been portrayed as the ultimate rebellion icon; a passport to freedom for those who feel forever young. Here is a list of the finest moments of this sub-genre:

poster-movie-1025.jpgThe Wild One (1953)

With a leather jacket and a 650cc Triumph Thunderbird young pin-up Marlon Brando is the leader of the  Black Rebels Motorcycle Club in the original motorcycle movie. "What are you rebelling against, Johnny?," asks a town girl, only to hear him snapping back: "Whaddaya got?"

Easy Rider (1969)

The cult classic that has influenced generations and defined an era has Nicholson, Fonda and Hopper in search of the dark side of the American Dream. It features mainly Harley-Davidson Hydraglide models from 1949, 1950, and 1952, and, of course, Steppenwolf's hit "Born to be Wild."

Quadrophenia (1979)

Scooter tuning was a big thing among mods in 1960s London. In the film Phil Daniels' Jimmy rides a 1967 Lambretta Li 150 Series 3 that was auctioned for £36,000 in 2008.

Mad Max (1979)

In post-apocalyptic times the baddies come on top of a Kawasaki KZ100. Luckily Mel Gibson is in charge of keeping dystopian Australian motorways safe.

The Wild Angels (1966)

"We want to be free! We want to be free to do what we want to do! We want to be free to ride. And we want to be free to ride our machines without being hassled by The Man," is part of Peter Fonda's  motorbike manifesto in this Harley-Davidson infected outlaw biker film genre blueprint.

Top Gun (1986)

Technically this is a film about fighter jets, but one can't miss Tom Cruise riding a Kawasaki GPZ750R with no helmet on in a cringing epic sunset scene after playing volleyball with his pals. Apparently Cruise became hooked and has owned bikes since.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Talking about rebels, here comes the poster boy: Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. The young Argentinian gains social awareness at crossing South America in 1952 on the back of a single cylinder 1939 Norton 500cc dubbed La Poderosa ("The Mighty One")

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