If you ask us, there ain’t nothin’ much cooler than than the humble motorcycle. Of course, we’re biased. While famous people are often seen posing with a bike for cred, there are some celebs that we know to be fair-dinkum riders.
Keanu Reeves
Known for such hits as The Matrix and John Wick, Keanu Reeves probably considers himself as much a motorcyclist as he does an actor. He’s the co-owner of Arch Motorcycles, a boutique American company that builds high-end V-twins, and has owned a number of classic Nortons.
As the story goes, Keanu rode a Norton Commando from his home in Toronto, all the way to Florida to deliver a script and convince the late River Phoenix to star in My Own Private Idaho.
Eric Bana
Aussie actor and comedian Eric Bana has had an extraordinary career, playing in beloved local film The Castle, as well as hollywood blockbusters like Troy and Black Hawk Down. He is also a motorcycle nut, with a particular affection for Ducati.
Eric made headlines earlier this year when he revealed that he is making a new movie about the life and comeback story of Mike “The Bike” Hailwood.
Bana will play Hailwood. He’s also writing the script and he will co-direct the film with Robert Connolly of Arenamedia.
Ryan Gosling
While it might seem easy to question Ryan Gosling’s riding credentials, the American A-lister earned his stripes when he performed his own stunts in 2012’s The Place Beyond the Pines.
It’s a great biker flick too, but you’ll need to excuse the poorly dubbed two-stroke engine sounds. Sigh.
Norman Reedus
It may come as little suprise that Norman Reedus is an avid rider, as he famously got about on a Bonneville-based custom chopper in his breakout role in The Walking Dead.
He now hosts a show in the States called Ride with Norman Reedus where the actor rides with various guests of the week.
Bradley Cooper
Once awarded the title of world’s sexiest man by People magazine (I was unavailable at the time), Cooper reportedly has an extensive collection of bikes.
In the smash hit drama A Star Is Born, Bradley dinks Lady Gaga on a Harley-Davidson CVO Pro Street Breakout.
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
Interestingly I read that biker cool guy, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, was such a hopeless rider the bike wrangler had to stunt double for him just to ride it onto the set. Season 1 had Fonzie on a Knucklehead, but with budget cuts for S2 and no wrangler, the producers switched to a Triumph which was easier to handle – and start! For a TV show set in Milwaukee, that was such a travesty! There you go, true story.