From “The Terminator” to “Easy Rider,” movie motorcycles have made quite the impression over the years. In fact, the prominence of such sweet rides on the silver screen could account for the vehicle’s enduring popularity, with American ridership holding steady at 10.4 million, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. If your penchant for motorcycles was initially spurred by the film industry, why not honor that source of inspiration by modeling your bike on one of your movie favorites? All you need is the right motorcycle, a few essential accessories and a willingness to get down and dirty in the shop.

Select The Perfect Movie Motorcycle

Your first step to motorcycle glory is to choose a bike model featured in one of your favorite films. Your ability to actually obtain the requisite model will depend on the availability of said bike, as well as your willingness to shell out for a potentially rare motorcycle. Your best bet may be to seek one of the more common models portrayed in the movies, such as the Yamaha XT 250 which, according to Complex, is Sylvester Stallone’s bike in “First Blood.”

Photo by RXrenesis8 via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re dead set on showing off your retro cool with a 1970s movie bike, consider the 1977 Kawazaki KZ 1000 featured in “Mad Max.” Finding the correct motorcycle model may require some extensive hunting on your part. Throughout this process, CraigsList, eBay and retro motorcycle auctions will prove your best resources.

Amp Up Your Ride With Cool Accessories

A cool motorcycle may go a long way to transforming you into your favorite movie biker, but to create the full effect, you’ll also want to invest in the right motorcycle accessories. After all, as integral as Peter Fonda’s Harley was to “Easy Rider,” he’d be far less memorable as a silver screen biker if he’d lacked that iconic patriotic helmet. Similarly, a sleek leather jacket is an absolute necessity for capturing what Stuff highlights as Marlon Brando’s rebellious vibe in “The Wild One.” If you’re looking for an example of female motorcycle chic, consider modeling your biker footwear after Sarah Connor in “Terminator”.

Photo of Easy Rider bike and helmet by my bulldog via Flickr

Hit The Shop For Essential Tweaks

Some of movies’ greatest motorcycles look absolutely nothing like the original models. As production designer Martin Whist tells the OC Register, a huge makeover was required to transform a basic Kawasaki 1000 into a futuristic wonder for the 2014 “RoboCop” remake. This meant extending the seat and leaning it forward in a decidedly menacing position, plus ditching the fairings and moving the gear shift to the handlebars. A similar redo was required when Justin Kell transformed a basic Honda CRF 450X into Tom Cruise’s “Oblivion” white wonder, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Deliver A Final Punch With A Sweet Paint Job

If you aren’t willing to completely revamp your bike, you may still be able to capture the feel of your favorite movie motorcycle with a top-notch paint job. This may be the easiest way to recreate a memorable film bike, particularly if your target is the eponymous purple Honda featured in the Prince classic “Purple Rain” or the iconic yellow Kawasaki Ninja 250 from “Kill Bill.”

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