London has been the backdrop for many iconic motoring scenes, from the classic cops-and-robbers chase through Central London in Robbery (1967) to Harry Potter’s chaotic ride on the fictional Knight Bus through North London’s Palmers Green in The Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).
Motorcycles have also weaved their way past many famous London landmarks on both film and television over the years. On-screen appearances help to cement the legacy of particular models in the hearts and minds of both motorists and general audiences who fondly remember those scenes
Researchers at Bikesure, a specialist motorbike insurance company, analysed data from the Department for Transport and IMCDb (the Internet Movie Car Database) to highlight some of London's most memorable on-screen motorcycles and determine how many of those models are still in use by British motorists today.
The Sweeney (1975-78)
This time capsule for the grittier streets of 1970s London follows two members of the Metropolitan Police’s fictional Flying Squad as they battle armed robbery and violent crime.
To the modern viewer, The Sweeney offers a healthy dose of 1960s and ‘70s automotive nostalgia too — more than 90 vehicle models are on show from both decades, according to Bikesure’s calculations from IMCDb. These include a range of scooters from that era: the 1972 Hercules M5, 1966 Honda Super Cub, 1970 Honda Dax ST, 1972 Kreidler MF 2, and 1973 Yamaha FS1 E.
Bikesure findings also show almost all these models from those particular years are extinct from registered UK ownership (neither registered for road use or Statutory Off-Road), with the exception of the Yamaha FS1 model line of which just 194 remain.
Quadrophenia (1979)
A classic tale of youth rebellion told through the eyes of a young ‘60s mod named Jimmy (played by Phil Daniels). Contrary to its ‘swinging sixties’ reputation, London in this movie is portrayed as a repressive environment that Jimmy and his mod entourage look to escape from in search of Brighton’s seaside thrills.
The vehicle that transports Jimmy on said journey is a 1967 Lambretta Li150 Series 3. UK licensing figures show nearly 38,000 Lambrettas are registered under today, and its 1960s’ legacy continues to survive, with over 1,600 models from 1967 alone still registered.
The exact bike used by Jimmy in this film last sold at auction for £36,000. Among the few versions of this scooter that are publicly listed for sale, prices can currently reach as high as £7,000 for a second-hand model in good condition.
Along with the Lambretta, many other classic bike and scooter models of that era make an appearance too, from the likes of Piaggio, Triumph and BSA — adding to an authentic representation of mod and rocker tastes from that decade.
Long Way Round (2004)
An epic world tour starring Ewan McGregor and Charly Boorman saw the two friends traverse the world on motorbikes over ten memorable episodes with London as its starting point.
The motorbike that carries them through multiple continents en route to New York is the BMW R1150GS. Three of these were provided to the pair and their crew after Austrian brand KTM refused to provide bikes out of concern that the stars wouldn’t be able to reach their destination.
According to Bikesure, the number of UK owners for this model has declined only slightly over the past 10 years, however there are still 2,227 remaining overall.
Attack the Block (2011)
Motorbikes play a key role in navigating this film’s unlikely heroes between gang rivalry and battles against alien invaders on the streets of South London.
Prominent bikes in the film include the Suzuki RM-Z450 and the Piaggio Zip 50 (2005). The latter is ridden by Franz Drameh’s character, Dennis, a member of Moses' (John Boyega) crew, who serves as the gang’s enforcer and a pizza delivery boy.
Bikesure’s findings show that spotting a Suzuki motocrosser model is as rare across the UK as it is in the real South London, with just 20 models currently registered under licensed or SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) status. Versions of the Zip 50 are comparatively more common with over 2,000 owners, which is equivalent to more than a quarter of all Piaggio Zip models.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
The long-running Fast & Furious franchise brought its usual brand of souped-up vehicles, explosions and testosterone-fueled stars to London in 2019’s Hobbs & Shaw edition.
One of its particularly epic chase scenes sees Hackney-born Idris Elba and his cyborg entourage wielding Triumph Speed Triple RS bikes in hot pursuit of Luke Hobbs (the Rock) and Deckard Shaw’s (Jason Statham) characters — who are behind the wheel of a Mclaren 720S, no less.
Luke Hobbs can also be seen riding a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy (GTB), which was custom built for the movie. Although you won’t find this exact model on the streets of London (or anywhere else, for that matter), there are 1,043 of the Fat Boy model line and over 10,000 of the Triumph Speed Triple RS model line under UK ownership. Manufacturing and ownership of this Triumph model line happened to grow considerably in the years that followed the release of Hobbs & Shaw.
Locked Down (2021)
This romcom heist movie gave viewers a taste of riding through London’s empty streets while 2020’s pandemic lockdown measures were in place.
Both Anne Hathaway’s character Linda and ex-partner Paxton (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) can be seen taking a 2020 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC Showcase for a spin. This model is a relatively rare Triumph to own in the UK, with just 42 currently registered.
The Triumph brand has a storied history that stretches back more than 120 years. Currently it is the UK’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, but it has survived extinction from previous parent companies that have gone bankrupt to become the UK’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles today.
Other notable motorbike models from film and television haven’t been so fortunate in avoiding a decline in UK ownership, some of which are on the verge of disappearing completely. Take a look at more of Bikesure’s research into the most endangered of those models here: https://www.bikesure.co.uk/motorbike-extinction/2040/