Famous Motorcycles From Contemporary Movies

Motorcycles appear in movies as a symbol of adventure, excitement, rebelliousness, and freedom. When watching the film, you can’t help but feel the rush of adrenaline and excitement during a chase sequence or when a motorcyclist jumps off a platform as it blows up—it’s a guilty pleasure.

However, there are notable motorcycle appearances in movies. Sometimes the motorcycle is part of the character’s story or helps them get through stressful scenarios. Here are four famous motorcycles from contemporary movies that are iconic.

Skyfall

Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes (Actors)

In this post:

Skyfall – Honda CRF250R

Every Bond movie begins with an action-packed scene introducing Mr. Bond as a strong, heroic figure. However, in Skyfall (2012), Agent 007 rides his beat-down Honda CRF250R through the streets and across rooftops as he chases down the antagonists.

The Honda CRF250R is one of Honda’s modern dual-sport classics and is a great beginner bike for first-time riders. Although the bike was stripped down for the film, this 230-pound lightweight bike has recently gotten a makeover and packs a lot of power. You see this power on display in the movie when Bond is being chased and needs a helping “hand” from his power-driven dual bike.

Kill Bill Vol 1 – Kawasaki ZZ-R250

When you think of famous motorcycles in contemporary films, you might not immediately think of Kill Bill. The yellow bike that Uma Thruman’s character, The Bride, uses in Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003) is a Kawaski ZZ-R250 that she rides through the colorful streets of Tokyo. Although the bike appears in the movie for a total of 40 seconds, Thurman’s yellow suit and the yellow bike made the scene an iconic moment.

John Wick 3 - Parabellum

Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne (Actors)

John Wick 3: Parabellum – Yamaha MT-09

Movie buffs know that Keanu Reeves is a motorcyclist. When he’s not filming, he’s busy promoting and testing for his own motorcycle company called ARCH Motorcycles. So, he will take every opportunity to ride one on film.

John Wick 3: Parabellum (2019) features an intense scene on a bridge where John Wick is chased down by several assassins, all equipped with swords, riding Yamaha MT-09s. This scene took a month to choreograph and film, but it was all worth it because that scene is considered a masterpiece of cinema.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames (Actors)

Mission Impossible: Fallout – BMW R nineT Scrambler

Another actor who loves the thrill of a motorcycle is Tom Cruise. With him being the producer of his movies and the owner of United Artists, he has the control to ride any bike and do as many stunts as he pleases.

In almost every Mission: Impossible movie, you will see motorcycle action. For Fallout (2018), a BMW R nineT Scrambler was used in an intense chase scene that involved Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, riding through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, going the opposite way of traffic. Although it was a short part of the movie, it was still one of the most dangerous stunts in the film.

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