There’s no mention of Torque in this list so I almost want to immediately cry “fail,” but there are some seriously great moments in this list that are a little more than just the obvious. The list is put together by some insurance company, but whoever put it together at least did some amount of homework. I’m reposting here so don’t click away just yet.
Another glaring omission I can see if the motorcycle chase in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. What say you? Find anything particular smart in here or is there some big missed opportunities?
Over the course of film history, the motorcycle, be it a souped-up chopper or humble scooter, has become much more than a symbol of rebellion, sexual prowess, and freedom. Well, maybe the two-wheeled ride is still all of that. But, as you’ll see below, great motorcycle moments have appeared in movies other than so-called biker films.
10) Zed’s dead, baby!, Pulp Fiction (1994)
“It’s not a motorcycle, baby. It’s a chopper.” There’s nothing more stressful, after you’ve just escaped the dungeon of two sadists and narrowly avoided getting killed by the local crime boss, than trying to hurry up your wife so you both don’t miss a train. It’s enough to tear a couple apart and tears are inevitable. But a gentle word with a big hug goes a long way when two people love each other. Having a tricked out chopper ready to go doesn’t hurt either. No doubt these two will make that train. But what will they do with the chopper?
9) Buster Keaton’s motorcycle ride, Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Okay, so there are a few camera tricks here and there, but for most of this crazy montage, it’s just Buster Keaton riding, block after block, street after street, on the front handle bars of a policeman’s motorcycle with nobody in the driver’s seat. Keaton’s stunts prove that today’s CGI is for sissies. The final crash through the wall of the hideout probably put Keaton in the hospital. That said, it’s still incredibly funny. The soundtrack you hear in this clip is a new one created by The Clubfoot Orchestra.
