10 Iconic Movies Featuring Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles

Motorcycle lovers love motorcycle movies. Some can even claim to be a motorcycle lover because of a movie. If you’re reading this, you’re likely one of those people. And who could blame you? No sane person can deny the presence that a Harley-Davidson® has on screen. The aggressive look, the unmistakable sound… That’s why Harleys are one of the most popular motorcycle brands to feature in some of the most iconic movies of all time.

With so many movies featuring Harleys to choose from, we considered the views of one person – the writer of this blog post – for our list. These are Barnes Harley-Davidson®’s Top 10 Iconic Movies Featuring Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles.

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

The Film

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is considered by critics to be among the best films ever made. Directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, this science-fiction action film is the sequel to The Terminator (1984), and is considered to be one of the rare sequels to outdo its original film.

The Harley

The Harley-Davidson® featured in Terminator 2 is a 1991 Fat Boy™. Production of the Fat Boy™ began in 1990, one year before the release of the film, and continues to be produced by Harley-Davidson® to this day. It’s a V-twin softail cruiser motorcycle with highly recognizable solid-cast disc wheels.

Bad to the Bone

In the film, the motorcycle is black with red pinstriping, has chrome forks and trim, and a shotgun holster. Arnie’s Terminator steals the motorcycle from a man at a bar to the tune of “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood & The Destroyers. The scene is considered by some to be one of the most “bad-ass” scenes in movie history. It’s hard to argue when watching the T-800 ride away in the dark wearing sunglasses and without turning on the headlamp. Later in the film, the Fat Boy™ is used in the iconic Los Angeles River chase scene as Arnie’s Terminator helps John Connor escape the T-1000 Terminator.

Cool Guys Don’t Look at Explosions

Several motorcycles were used in filming, some for stuntwork and some for Arnie to roll up on. Stunts included leaping off a high jump on the bike to land with sparks flying and riding away from an explosion. One bike ridden by the Terminator himself was sold at auction in 2018 for $480,000 to an anonymous bidder, though the value was estimated at $200,000 – $300,000.

Lightning in a Bottle

The filmmakers knew they had caught lightning in a bottle when Arnie’s T-800 started up the Harley for the first time, and they weren’t going to waste it. The motorcycle was used heavily in the promotion of the film, including the front and center position in the poster and a main feature in the trailer. It’s natural to wonder whether the success of the film is the reason for the success of the Fat Boy™, one of Harley-Davidson®’s best-selling models to this day. It’s undeniable that the exposure the Fat Boy™ received from the film was beyond the norm, but consider this – would the film be the same if the T-800 rode a Honda Gold Wing instead?

2. Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014)

Okay, we know this one isn’t a movie. But how do you make a list about Harleys on screen without including the show about a Harley motorcycle club?

The Show

Sons of Anarchy, created by Kurt Sutter, is an American crime drama television series that follows the lives of members of an outlaw motorcycle club – Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, or SAMCRO – and stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, and Ron Perlman. It aired from 2008 to 2014.

The Age of Hardtails is Over, the Time of the Dyna® Has Come

Most members of SAMCRO ride a customized Harley-Davidson® Dyna®. The Dyna® platform was offered by Harley-Davidson® from 1991 to 2017, and featured big V-twin engines and a stripped down, traditional chassis. They are easily recognized by their traditional coil-over suspension connecting the swingarm to the frame, and the position of the oil reservoir in the transmission. They typically featured footpegs and a narrow, XL-style front fork and front wheel. The massively popular Dyna® platform was discontinued in 2017 and replaced in 2018 by a completely redesigned Softail chassis, much to the dismay of Dyna® fans everywhere.

Wearing a Reaper

Several Harleys were used in the series. Each character had one or two in their personal arsenals, and each was heavily customized to represent its owner’s individual style. Jax rides a black 2003 Dyna® Super Glide™ Sport with custom T-bars and wrapped pipes. Piney rides an Electra Tri-Glide™, a trike, because of his age and deteriorating health, which had a special mount to hold his oxygen tank and displayed SAMCRO’s mandatory Grim Reaper image on the gas tank. Clay rides a black 2008 Dyna® Super Glide™ with custom T-bars and a taped Thunderheader exhaust.

Why Dyna®s?

Similarly to the Fat Boy™ in Terminator 2, many have attributed the popularity of the Dyna® platform to the success of the Sons of Anarchy television series. And again, it’s impossible to deny the exposure the Dyna® platform received during the show’s run, considering the majority of the bikes used by SAMCRO were members of the Dyna® family. The prevalent use of the motorcycle begs the question, why was the Dyna® chosen as the star bike of the show? The Dyna® may have been chosen as the series’ main bike partially for the reason that it is so easily customizable. It may also be due to its chopped, “outlaw” appearance, ideal for the lawbreaking characters in the show. The true reason, however, is because the technical advisers for the show were Hells Angels members from northern California, where the slim Dyna® with T-bars is ideal for easy lane-splitting in freeway traffic.

3. Wild Hogs (2007)

When we said “Iconic Movies” in the title of this blog post, we were kidding.

The Film

Wild Hogs is an American comedy directed by Walt Becker about four middle-aged everymen from the suburbs in the midst of their middle-aged crises, escaping their routine lives on weekends by riding in their motorcycle club, the Wild Hogs. The film stars Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy.

The Harleys

Doug, played by Tim Allen, rides a black Fat Boy™. John Travolta plays Woody, who rides a Screamin’ Eagle Fat Boy™ with red flame graphics. Ever since Terminator 2, the Fat Boy™ is an obvious choice for making an impact on screen.

Bobby was played by Martin Lawrence and rides a blue Softail® Springer. Softails have separate mini frames for a hidden rear suspension, making for a more retro look, as opposed to the clearly visible front suspension system included in the same frame in the classic hardtail body. The term “Softail” was trademarked by Harley-Davidson® in the early ’80s, but has since become a generalized term for cruiser motorcycles with hidden rear suspensions.

Last but not least, Dudley, played by William H. Macy, rides a reddish brown 2006 Sportster® 1200 Custom. The Sportster® line has been produced continuously by Harley-Davidson® since 1957, and are designed to be lighter with more precise handling.

Fake It Till You Make It

The bikes chosen for the film were likely meant to represent their owner’s personalities or, more likely, how each character likes to see themselves. Doug and Woody both ride Fat Boy®s, the most iconic motorcycle model ever seen on film and ridden by one of the toughest dudes in the biz, Arnold Schwarzenegger. They are confident riders, perhaps overconfident, and see themselves as true, tough bikers. Bobby’s life is more contemporary than the retro design of his Softail® Springer. He’s a stay-at-home dad and his wife is the breadwinner of the family. He is criticized often for not providing for his family, so he could be compensating by choosing an old-school bike. Dudley’s Sportster® 1200 Custom is light and quick, with easy maneuverability. It’s the perfect bike for running away. Although Dudley tries to fit in with the rest of his Wild Hog buddies, he is insecure, awkward, and skittish, and his Sportster® is his quick escape.

Actors on Bikes

The cast of Wild Hogs trained on the bikes for about a month before shooting started. Travolta was the only actor with previous riding experience. Lawrence struggled to get comfortable on the bike throughout shooting, according to an interview with Allen. In the same interview, Allen said he had notes about the design of his character’s motorcycle, and it ended up being the most customized bike in the Wild Hogs. He also admitted to dropping the bike more than anyone else.

Rotten Reviews

The film received a mediocre audience score on Rotten Tomatoes® of 61%, and a dismal 14% on the tomatometer. For comparison, Terminator 2 holds a steady 93% on the tomatometer. The critic consensus on Rotten Tomatoes® called Wild Hogs a “dreadful combination of fish-out-of-water jokes, slapstick, and lazy stereotypes.”

Sadly, Harleys can’t save every movie.

4. The Green Hornet (2011)

“That’s not a Harley!” we hear you saying. “That’s a modified 1966 Chrysler Imperial Crown!” Okay, player. You’re right. This is the first poster in this list that doesn’t feature a Harley-Davidson®, but there’s a cool one in this movie, we promise.

The Film

The Green Hornet is an American superhero film based on a character from a 1930s radio program created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. The character is a wealthy crime-fighting criminal. It stars Seth Rogen in the title role and Jay Chou as Kato, the Green Hornet’s valet and ass-kicking partner.

The Harley

The Harley featured in this film is a V-Rod® Muscle. The V-Rod® is a line of V-twin cruiser motorcycles made by Harley-Davidson® from 1999 until 2017, featuring double overhead camshafts and liquid cooling. They were built to compete with Japanese and American muscle bikes, and were designed as a platform for drag-racing competitions. The unique style of the V-Rod® and its technical prowess were so impressive it converted buyers from other brands and even threatened the sales of other Harleys upon its release. The V-Rod® was discontinued after the 2017 model year, likely because its engine no longer met the Euro 4 emission standards, and could not be sold in Europe. Dwindling sales may have been another factor in the decision to axe it from the lineup.

Muscle Bike, Through and Through

In the film, the bike is a unique, matte black, customized 2011 V-Rod® Muscle. It has a chopped rear fender, V-Rod® Destroyer wheels, rear-set foot controls, a one-off LED headlamp, custom paint, custom oversized drag bars, a straight pipe exhaust, and a custom diamond-stitched leather seat and rear hugger.

Black Panther

Although the V-Rod® does not get much screen-time in the film, it makes a statement when it does. It pounces when it accelerates and Kato rides the bike like it’s a wild panther he’s trying to tame. It may even be one of the cleanest customized motorcycles featured on the big screen.

5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

The Film

Number 5 on the list is another American superhero film. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is based on the Marvel Comics character Wolverine, and was the fourth installment of the X-Men film series. Hugh Jackman stars as Wolverine, Liev Schriber as Sabretooth, and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.

The Harley

Wolverine himself rides a 1964 Harley-Davidson® Duo-Glide™ in this film. The first Duo-Glide™ was produced in 1958, replacing the Hydra-Glide™, and was named for it’s dual front and rear-suspension. It was Harley-Davidson®’s first venture away from the “hardtail” frames with a front suspension only.

Test the Suspension

The Duo-Glide in the film is black with a white Harley shield logo on the gas tank. It has the standard sprung seat and round headlight, but the windshield, crash guards, and saddlebags are notably missing. These were almost certainly removed to make the bike lighter and more mobile for stunts. When Wolverine is provided shelter by a kindly farmer, he notices the bike in the barn. The farmer encourages him to take it for a spin and “test the suspension.” When Wolverine sits on the sprung seat, the bike squeals and sinks from the weight of his adamantium skeleton. Later in the film, Wolverine rides the bike in what we’ve dubbed the “H-Race” – a car-chase scene including the Harley, Humvees, and a helicopter.

The Spiritual Successor

The Duo-Glide™ was replaced by the Electra-Glide™ in 1965. In 2021, the release of the Electra Glide™ Revival™ launched Harley-Davidson®’s Icons Collection with 1,500 limited edition modern reproductions of the ’60s classic, fully loaded with all the current technologies. The Electra-Glide® name lasts to this day in the United States.

6. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

The Harley is back in the poster! Huzzah!

The Film

The fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, hit theatres in 2008, 19 years after the previous film, and starred familiar faces Harrison Ford and Karen Allen, and newcomers Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf. It was once again directed by Steven Spielberg. It received mixed reviews, despite absolutely nuking the box office with ticket sales.

The Harley

A 2007 Harley-Davidson® Softail® Springer Classic was modified to look 50 years older for the film, using original Harley parts and accessories. The builder of the bike, Justin Kell, said it was modeled to look like a postwar Knucklehead. The term “Knucklehead” refers to a type of Harley-Davidson® engine, named for the distinct shape of the rocker boxes.

It’s Not the Years, Honey. It’s the Mileage

The “Knucklehead” in the movie is burgundy and black with soft saddlebags, wrapped chrome pipes, and a springer seat. When building the bike, Kell lightened the bike by about 70 pounds and added around 30 horsepower so that it could perform the high-speed stunts required for the film. The disc brakes, though, were a dead giveaway to motorcycle connoisseurs that the bike was modern. The strain on the suspension from the stunts prevented any safe method of covering them, according to Kell.

It Belongs in a Museum!

Five motorcycles were built for the movie. Some were used for riding scenes, some for stunts, and one was used as an effects bike to be intentionally destroyed in the course of filming. One stunt includes Mutt Williams, LaBeouf’s character, riding through a college campus with Indy seated behind him as students dive out of the way. The two are forced to bail and slide under the desks along with the bike. After filming wrapped, the production company bought two of the motorcycles and the remaining two were returned to Harley-Davidson®, who put them on display at the Harley-Davidson® Museum in Milwaukee.

Designed for Nostalgia

The reason a 2007 Softail® Springer Classic was chosen to modify for the film is in the model name. The classic Springer front end has a retro look. And even though the fuel tank was eventually replaced in the build, its trim and metal-stamped emblem, along with the stamped oil tank patent label, are reminiscent of the Knucklehead era – exactly what the filmmakers wanted. The nostalgic design of the Springer Classic did half the work for them.

7. Pulp Fiction (1994)

When we said “Iconic Movies” in the title of this blog post, we weren’t kidding.

The Film

The award-winning 1994 American crime film, Pulp Fiction, was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, and stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis. Pulp Fiction is considered by many to be Tarantino’s magnum opus, and one of the most significant films of its era. And, like Terminator 2, it’s regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

The Harley

The Harley-Davidson® appears in the latter half of the film, a modified 1986 Harley-Davidson® Super Glide™. The first Super Glide™ was released in 1971, designed to look like a custom bike with elements of both the company’s large touring models and smaller Sportster®s. The Super Glide™ name was retired after the 2014 year.

It’s Not a Motorcycle

In the film, the bike is black with a blue and purple graphic on the tank that reads “Grace,” ape hanger handlebars, saddlebags, chrome trim, and extended forks. It has a Fat Bob™ tank, dash, and rear fender. Willis’s character Butch obtains the “chopper” – as he calls it – outside a pawn shop after a traumatic incident with the bike’s owner, Zed. Some chopper enthusiasts criticize the use of the term “chopper” to describe the bike in the film. A chopper is a stock bike that has been modified, or “chopped,” to the point that the frame has been adjusted, the wheels stretched apart, and all unnecessary parts removed, leaving only the original engine, transmission, and primary. Choppers can also be built from scratch. Some believe Grace has not been customized, stripped, or “chopped” enough to make her a true chopper.

Cultural Impact

In the film, the motorcycle is spared the stress of any stunts and is used for riding shots only. Despite having barely over 2 minutes of screen time, the bike has had a lasting cultural impact. Real-world copies of Grace have been constructed by Pulp Fiction fans since the movie’s release, and the scene in which Butch picks up his lover Fabian on the bike is one of the film’s most quotable scenes:

“Whose motorcycle is this?”

“It’s a chopper, baby.”

“Whose chopper is this?”

“Zed’s.”

“Who’s Zed?”

“Zed’s dead, baby. Zed’s dead.”

8. Rocky III (1982)

The Film

Rocky III is our first sports drama on the list, written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the sequel to Rocky II (1979) and the third installment in the Rocky franchise.

The Harley

The Harley-Davidson® motorcycle in the film is a 1981 Shovelhead Electra Glide™. The term “Shovelhead” refers to a specific type of Harley-Davidson® engine, which was produced from 1966 to 1984. It was built as a replacement for the Panhead design, and offered an additional 10 horsepower and a new look.

The Italian Stallion

The Shovelhead in the film is yellow and black with a chrome trim and a black horse head graphic on the tank. It is included in one of the movie’s most pivotal and emotional scenes, in which Rocky rides through town after the loss of a close mentor.

Up for Adoption

The motorcycle that was used in the film went up for auction in 2015. The auctioneers lovingly called it the “Rocky Balboa Italian Stallion.” More memorabilia from the Rocky series, including the helmet he wore while riding the Shovelhead, also went up for sale. Over $3 million was raised for charity. The helmet sold for almost $7 thousand, but – surprisingly – the Shovelhead did not find a new home. The bike was eventually sold a few years later at auction to an anonymous bidder. Only a year later, it went up for auction again and sold for around $200,000.

Yellow is the New Black

The choice to use a yellow Shovelhead for Rocky’s motorcycle is an interesting choice. Yellow is hardly a common colour for Harley-Davidson®s, most fans and films preferring a classic black. At the auction in 2015, Stallone explained the decision and his feelings on the Harley: “The motorcycle was designed using the Rocky colours. This bike is probably the only motorcycle that ever drove up the museum steps. The bike itself has always had a special place in my heart.”

9. RoboCop 2 (1990)

The Film

Number 9 on our list is RoboCop 2, a science fiction action film written by Frank Miller and directed by Irvin Kershner. Peter Weller stars in the title role. The film was nominated for three Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Performance by a Younger Actor, and Best Special Effects.

The Harley

In RoboCop 2, RoboCop gives up the Kawasaki 1000 from the first film, choosing this time around to ride a 1986 Harley-Davidson® Softail® Custom. The Softail® Custom joined Harley’s Softail® family in 1986, and featured a narrow, Sportster®-like fork, chrome covers and accents, and a passenger backrest. The Softail® Custom was produced until 1999, then reintroduced in 2007, and discontinued once again in 2010.

Playing Chicken

The motorcycle in the movie is black with chrome trim, and has red and gold detailing on the tank. It has a skinny front wheel and forward footrests, a fully stock Harley. RoboCop steals – ahem, commandeers – the bike from its rider and plays chicken with his target, a game in which two vehicles speed straight at each other until one of them swerves to safety, making them the “chicken.” Spoiler alert: neither of them swerve.

Harley Rider Stereotypes

It’s impossible to ignore the similarities between RoboCop, an unfeeling machine on a mission, and the Terminator, an unfeeling machine on a mission. Both of these characters steal their Harleys from the bikes’ owners. The Terminator steals from a rider who attempts to attack him, an important storytelling element included to justify the machine’s theft of the riders’ property, and make the T-800 look damn hardcore while doing it. The theft scene in Terminator 2 does play into the Harley-Davidson® rider stereotype more than RoboCop 2, presenting a scary, leather-clad, bearded man in a bar who picks a fight the second he feels mildly threatened.

In RoboCop 2, however, RoboCop steals from a rider for no apparent reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The rider is a far cry from the typical Harley rider stereotype; he wears grey jeans and a green windbreaker, and rides with friends on Japanese sport bikes. The writers of RoboCop 2 didn’t seem to feel the need to legitimize RoboCop’s behaviour the way the writers of Terminator 2 did. Why could this be?

The presence of the Harley-Davidson® could be reason enough. The rider is an asshole and deserves to go flying over his handlebars for the sole reason that he rides a Harley-Davidson®, which is a real mindset that exists for some who see all Harley riders as gangbangers and lawbreakers.

Or, again, the poor rider was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

10. Captain America (2011, 2012, 2014)

This one is a bit of a cheat because we are including three movies in one. But no one told our writer no, so… here we go.

The Films

Captain America, or Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, is one of the most significant characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a media franchise based on superheroes from the Marvel comics. He appears in eleven MCU films as of 2022, but we will only focus on three. Cap’s first appearance was in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), followed by The Avengers (2012). His second solo film was Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

I Could Do This All Day

The First Avenger is a Harley-Davidson® fan, it seems. In most of his movies Cap keeps a Harley close by. In The First Avenger, the Harley-Davidson® is a 1942 WLA, also known as the Liberator. The Liberator was created for military use during World War II. The bike was designed to run on very low quality fuel, and its flathead V-twin engine was tough, reliable, and cheap. The motorcycles served in the deserts of north Africa, the cities and forests of Europe and Asia, and the tropical islands of the south Pacific. The Liberator’s very real history in war made it the perfect choice for Cap’s origin story that takes place in the midst of WWII.

Cap’s bike in the film was army green with saddlebags and a rifle holster. It was modified by Howard Stark and the Strategic Scientific Reserve for Cap’s personal use in combat on the battlefields of Europe. Several weapons and gadgets were added to the bike, including a deployable trip wire, a rear-facing flamethrower, and twin mini rocket launchers. Cap could also mount his shield to the front of the bike to deflect oncoming fire.

Powered by Some Sort of Electricity

When Captain America is unfrozen in the modern era, he opts for a 2012 Harley-Davidson® Softail Slim™ for personal use. The Softail Slim™, inspired by post-WWII bobbers, was introduced to Harley’s lineup in 2012. “Bobbers” were a style of custom motorcycle that came before the chopper. Like choppers, bobbers were stripped of all unnecessary parts. The Softail Slim™ emulated this design, hence the name.

Cap’s Softail Slim™ is all stock in the movie, other than some black leather saddlebags, which were probably used to hoard his photos of Peggy. Steve is far too busy saving the world with the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. to work on upgrading his wheels anyway.

Can’t Run Everywhere

A couple years later, when HYDRA’s presence within S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes known, Cap uses a 2014 Harley-Davidson® Street® 750. The Street® 750 premiered in 2014 along with the Street® 500. With an entirely new platform and newly designed Revolution X engine, these street bikes were built for urban environments and nimble agility.

Steve’s Street® 750 in the film is another stock bike. But this time, he does ride the bike into battle. Cap faces off against a HYDRA quinjet, dodging bullets in order to escape. He brakes hard to lift the rear end of the bike and fling himself through the air towards the quinjet, where he proceeds to kick ass, leaving the bike behind to become a pile of rubble.

Captain America and Motorcycles

Even in the comic books, the character of Captain America has always been synonymous with motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidson®s. But it’s a small wonder that Captain America chooses to ride a Harley-Davidson®, one of the oldest surviving American motorcycle brands, and definitely the most well-known.

Honourable Mentions

• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – Black Widow’s Harley-Davidson® LiveWire™
• Captain America: Civil War (2016) – The Winter Soldier’s custom Harley-Davidson® Street® 750
• Easy Rider (1969) – Wyatt’s custom “Captain America” Harley-Davidson® chopper
• Ghost Rider (2007) – Ghost Rider’s custom Harley-Davidson® Panhead chopper
• Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Eddie’s Harley-Davidson® Flathead
• Expendables 2 (2012) – Barney Ross’s custom Harley-Davidson® chopper
• Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) – Harley’s 1991 “Black Death 3” Harley-Davidson® Super Glide™

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Written by Raven Egan