Here at the Machine Alley Motorcycle Workshop, we love a good motorcycle movie. If you're looking to relax on the couch and watch something to get you inspired, we've put together our top 5 Motorcycle Movies Of All Time.
1. Stone - 1974
Okay, so we're kicking it off with a classic Australian movie, Stone.
Stone was a low-budget, “Ozploitation” movie, that has some raw and realistic motorcycle action. This is mostly due to the fact the director enlisted the help of local biker gangs for some of the stunts and action scenes.
The story is simple, starring a police officer who goes undercover with a gang of bikies called the Gravediggers, the production values are pretty low, but the custom Kawasaki Z1 bikes, and excessive gore more than make up for it.
2. Easy Rider - 1969
Two bikers head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands, and along the way, they meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap of which they had been unaware.
This is one of the most iconic American counter-culture films ever made, it follows the entertaining and illegal adventures of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, with Jack Nicholson chiming in for good measure.
3. The World's Fastest Indian - 2005
The World’s Fastest Indian is a personal favourite of mine, Anthony Hopkins is an amazing actor, and plays the role of Burt Munroe perfectly. Based on the true story of an over-the-hill but very determined New Zealand mechanic and racer, Burt Munro, who against the odds shipped his custom Indian Scout to the Bonneville Salt Flats to set land speed records.
They may have taken some liberties with the facts, but there it's a heartwarming story, and you really start to empathise with this character Burt, and the massive challenges he must overcome to reach his dream.
4. Akira - 1988
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.
The iconic bike in this anime belongs to Shotaro Kaneda, it is a futuristic, high-tech motorcycle and an iconic feature of the series.
5. On Any Sunday - 1971
Considered to be one of the best motorcycle sports documentaries ever made, this 1971 film was nominated for an Academy Award. Director Bruce Brown successfully reflected the lives of various types of motorcycle enthusiasts who were racing in motocross, desert racing and the Grand National in the early 1970’s. From a motorcycle point of view, they are all here – BSA, Bultaco, Harley-Davidson, Hodaka, Honda, Husqvarna, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha. It's a feel-good film that focuses on the people and what makes them want to ride a motorcycle competitively and features famous names such as Steve McQueen, off-road racer Malcolm Smith, and AMA champ Mert Lawwill. An amazing glimpse into the world of recreational motorcycle riding, and why people race bikes, and still an extremely relevant film today.
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