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10 Famous Male Motorbike Riders

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Bikes are a cool mode of transport and fitting in with a rock and roll lifestyle, motorbikes are the perfect paparazzi dodging vehicle, which means they’re a favourite for a celebrity get away. Well paid as these following male celebrities are, we wonder just how much they folk out on their bike insurance!

Keanu Reeves must surely win the award for the most expensive motorbike insurance due to his past history on motorbikes. In terms of cheapest bike insurance, Ewan McGregor must win this hands down with the amount of miles under his belt! So without further adieu, here’s our guide to the top ten motorbike wielding superstars.

David Beckham


David Beckham has been sporting the grease monkey look for a few years now, it was just a matter of time until he eventually invested in a bike to suit his attire – he’s recently been spotted cruising LA on a £50,000 F131 Hellcat Combat.



Brad Pitt


Pitt is a complete motorcycle devotee and is often papped out and about on his bikes; his collection includes a Ducati Desmosedici RR, Monster 696, Harley-Davidson choppers, BMW R1150GS Adventure, Triumph Bonneville and Yamaha R1 amongst others.



Ewan McGregor


Joined by his friend Charlie Boorman, McGregor has circumnavigated the globe and travelled from John O’Groats to South Africa on two wheels, a third instalment of the Long Way series is planned for 2011, where the two are expected to ride up through South America. For leisure he rides a cream-and-black Moto Guzzi arou.



Orlando Bloom


Part of the LA biker set, Orlando Bloom has been spotted on bikes the world over; riding a new Norton Commando 961 SE at the Festival of Speed, custom models in Australia and a 1941 WWII Army relic in Buckinghamshire, UK.



George Clooney


Despite a crash in ’07, in which George broke a few ribs, he’s still a two wheel fan and has been spotted most recently on his beloved Harley Davidson cruising the LA circuit.



Ryan Reynolds


The Canadian actor Reynolds gets his kicks from riding fast and is renowned for taking to the open road for long trips with his brother in Australia. His bike of choice in recent years has been a red Triumph Bonneville.



Keanu Reeves


Another old school rider, Reeves is known for his classic choice in motorbikes, including his Norton Commando. A motorcycle crash in Topanga Canyon, whilst on a ‘demon ride’, landed Keanu in hospital with broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and an increased bike insurance premium!



Gerard Butler


In July 2010, Gerard Butler won the role of Sam Childers in the movie Machine Gun Preacher, playing out the story of the ex-biker and reformed drug dealer. A biker in real life, his personal collection includes a newly purchased Harley.



John Travolta


One of Travolta’s first jobs was in a Honda motorcycle commercial, he rose to prominence as the motorcycle toting greaser Danny Zukko and played a disenfranchised middle aged American in Wild Hogs in the ‘00s. His private collection includes the obligatory Harley.



Tom Cruise


The man who rose to huge worldwide stardom whilst riding a Kawasaki Ninja in Top Gun, is one of the biggest motorcycle collectors on the LA scene – it’s rumoured that Cruise was the first American to get his hands on the uber Ducati in 2008.

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Cool 1934 BMW R7 Concept Bike

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As cool bikes go, this vintage classic BMW R7 concept motorbike is in a league of its own. Issue #3 of BMW Motorcycle Magazine showcases the amazing R7 concept, describing it as “one of the most important, innovative and visually stunning motorcycles ever produced.” We agree. Although this BMW is over 70 years old, it could almost be a contemporary concept. It was shelved as WWII approached, and put in a box. In 2005, that box was opened, and BMW Classic started the restoration.

Think back 70 or 75 years to a time when design began to break away from the traditional and elaborate rationalism that had ensued for hundreds of years. As the styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Streamline and Zigzag Moderne emerged after the Industrial Revolution, designers as well as consumers fully embraced the Age of the Machine. Shiny chrome surfaces lay across curving forms or over expansive horizontal planes and glorified a dynamic new world on the move.

And suddenly, design was muted as World War II approached. Inspiration was buried away, along with some innovative and visually stunning design work. Skip ahead to 2005 when some curious members of BMW Classic opened a box and found the R7 bike 75 assembled – although not in shining condition. The engine was corroded, the metalwork was in dire shape, the battery was unusable, but the opportunity for restoration could not be ignored.

Various specialists at the BMW workshop discovered the original design drawings in the archive collections and conjured up the ghosts from Streamline Moderne’s past. Missing parts were sourced, others were rebuilt, the chrome was polished and the frame was painted black. And the final test, retuning the 1934 BMW motorcycle to the street, proved to be worth the wait nearly three quarters of a century later.

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A real Star Wars inspired Speeder MotorBike

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Star Wars fans will love this Storm Trooper Speeder Bike. Just how cool is this motorbike! Not sure how road worthy it is but it will certainly turn heads!

Speeder Motorbike

For those of you who don’t know what a speeder bike is from Star Wars, shame on you! here’s a picture and video of a speeder to help you sad people.

Speeder Bike Chase Video

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Cool Harley Davidson Facts

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Let’s be honest – you don’t have to be a diehard fan of motorcycles to be impressed by an epic Harley Davidson. In fact, you really only have to hear the mention of the name to immediately get a headful of enticing…if slightly cliché…images of burning down highways and byways with the wind in your hair. You may have no intention of ever getting on anything with two wheels and an engine, but it’s still an enjoyable daydream!

One of the best things about Harley Davidson motorcycles these days is the way in which you don’t have to hand over a king’s ransom in order to own one. You’ll find plenty of high quality yet affordable used Harleys here, for example. Indeed, it’s becoming easier to own a piece of true motorcycle history all the time – which is of course something we’d happily advise anyone to do!

So to whet the proverbial whistle just that little bit further, here’s a quick rundown of a few semi-interesting facts about Harley Davidson you probably didn’t know:

Harley Made Bicycles

First of all, prior to making any kind of machine with an engine attached to it, the legendary Harley Davidson motorcycle company actually made standard pushbikes. Just like the motor bikes that would eventually follow, they weren’t exactly what you’d call cheap and catered exclusively to an upmarket clientele. Suffice to say, track one of these babies down right now and you’re probably looking at an eye-watering price tag.

Engine Add-On

It was back in the year 1904 the Harley Davidson motorcycles was officially founded, as a partnership venture between William S Harvey and Arthur Davidson. Their initial efforts were somewhat on the remedial side by today’s standards – the first Harley Davidson motorcycle being a standard pushbike with an engine subsequently bolted onto the frame.

Harley Wasn’t Always the Market Leader

The biggest problem the company faced when it first emerged was the way in which they immediately found themselves up against more than 100 established motorcycle manufacturers. Given the fact that so many premium motorcycles had already been coming out of India for more than five years before Harley Davidson even existed, it was inevitable that they would go largely unnoticed for quite some time. Or at least, a couple of decades – Harley Davidson going on to successfully become the biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world by 1920.








Harleys Were Once Powered By Porsche

Certain examples of them anyway, as back in the 1970s the company created a touring bike that went by the name of the Nova. One of the things that made this particular bike special was the way in which it featured a compact liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-4 engine displacing 800cc, designed by Porsche. The project was eventually abandoned and this was the last time these engines appeared in Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Evel Knievel Doesn’t Hold the Distance Record for Jumping a Harley

Last up, you may believe (or at least have presumed) that the longest-ever jump carried out using a Harley Davidson motorcycle would have been the work of Evel Knievel. Which was true for some time, but the 133-foot jump he achieved back in 1975 was smashed by Seth Enslow in 2010, who managed to fly an incredible 183.7 feet on a Harley Davidson. Watch the video of Seth Enslow Harley jump here:

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World’s First Hubless Chopper Bike…Cool!

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This hubless cool chopper bike by Amen Design  is the world’s first fully functional motorbike with two hubless wheels. 

The biker boys at Amen Design have built a chopper based around Franco Sbarro’s hubless wheels. And it really rides! Hubless (centreless) wheel is a type of wheel with no center hub. Advantages of the hubless wheel includes includes decreased weight, lower center of gravity, increased braking leverage, and more accurate steering. We think it looks like a bike from the movie ‘Bolt’…pretty cool but changing the tyres would be a nightmare.

 
 
 
 

Video of this cool hubless bike…

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S1000RR – It’s Fast. Really Fast.

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BMW motorbikes are known for their performance and precision as a sport bike and here we showcase our favourite BMW motorbike to date, the BMW S1000RR. The bike was initially made by BMW Motorrad to compete in the 2009 Superbike World Championship. We love this bike because of it’s cool looks and it’s unbelievable acceleration as you can witness in the videos below. You just need to look at the awards that the S1000RR bike has won to see that this is a special bike including motorcycle of the year.

For a full gallery of S1000RR pictures then check out this page.

0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds!


It’s fast acceleration thanks to its 14,000-rpm redlined 193 bhp engine coupled with the vast array of electronic trickery including top-notch traction control, sharp handling, comfortable ergonomics and excellent build quality make the S1000RR one of our favourites.

In March 2010, BMW released a video on YouTube titled “The oldest trick in the world”which highlighted the S1000RR’s acceleration by pulling a tablecloth off a long 20-seat dining table without disturbing the place settings and table decorations. Its popularity turned the ad viral, with 1.4 million views in the first ten days, and more than 3.7 million views as of October 2010. Here is that video:

The S1000RR is in our opinion the finest machine BMW have produced to date. We remember when the S1000RR first came out in 2008/09. The first 1,000 bikes that were produced were snapped up very quickly. This prompted BMW to go into full-scale commercial production in 2010.

BMW S1000RR vs Bugatti Veyron

Another cool video here demonstrating the power of the BMW S1000RR bike against one of the fastest cars in the World.

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Most Expensive Motorbikes in the World

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Having showcased the most expensive cars in the world in a previous post, we have decided to do the same with motorbikes so here are the most expensive motorbikes in the world.

4. 2006 MV Agusta F4 CC ($135,000)
Lots of power, 315 km/h (195 mph) topspeed, the fourth most expensive motorbike in the world is the MV Agusta F4 CC created by Claudio Castiglioni, the motorcycle company’s director. He wanted to create a spectacular motorcycle that met strategic marketing needs while also being something truly special and unique.

 
 

The expensive motorcycle bearing his very own initials “CC” has a top speed of 315 kph (195 mph), 1078 cc’s and a 198 hp engine. Each bike will boast a platinum plate located near the top of the steering column showing the model number from 1 to 100, making this motorcycle all the more special to its owners. This Italian dream costs 100,000 Euros ($133,745US).

3. MTT ‘Turbine Superbike’ ($201,000)
Third most expensive motorbike in the world is the MTT Turbine Superbike costing $201,000. Not only is this motorcycle expensive, its also extremely fast. The Superbike is the Guinness World Record holder for the “Most Powerful Motorcycle Ever to Enter Series Production”.

 

The turbine engine in this one is made by Rolls Royce and is capable of over 300hp. The motorcycle also boasts carbon fiber fairings, a rear mounted camera with LCD color display, forward-and rear-looking radar detector with laser scrambler, one touch “Smart Start” ignition, and many other cool gadgets. This bike seams to be pretty popular in Hollywood. It starred in the movie “Torque” and even Jay Leno owns one!

Listen to the sound of the bike in action…

2. Macchia Nera ($250,000)
The Macchia Nera Concept Bike is near the top of the list of most expensive motorcycles. Built around a Ducati 998RS engine, its Italian designers and engineers set out to create an extremely high tech and expensive motorcycle that would be thought of as “the ultimate track bike” that is “simply beautiful and beautifully simple”.

The Testastretta engine is fitted with lightweight metals and alloys like titanium and aluminum making it very lightweight. The view from the side of the Macchia Nera shows exposed belts and engine components, giving its design a minimalist feel while still being aesthetically pleasing. We should add that this bike is a one of a kind and not in produced for retail at this point. According to Guinness Word Records, the MTT Turbine Superbike is the most powerful production motorcycle ever. It is even more powerful than the Ducati Desmosedici RR, which we believed was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

1. Dodge Tomahawk ($550,000)
Production of this super cool, super fast bike (or is it  bike as it has 4 wheels!) was limited to just 10 models and they retailed at $550,000 each! The Dodge Tomahawk has the honor of being the fastest motorcycle ever (675 km/h, 419 mph), but it isn’t street legal unfortunately.

 
 

The production of this mean machine is limited to a few hundred models. The Dodge Tomahawk V10 superbike boasts 8.3 liter engine (505 cubic inch), and the 10 cylinders can bring the bike to a maximum speed of almost 400 mph. The 1500lb bike has an independent 4 wheel suspension and can reach 60 mph in around 2.5 seconds.

Dodge Tomahawk Video

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Top 10 Super Bikes

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Motorcycles are the ultimate symbol of cool. The faster the bike, the cooler it is. Here are 10 of the most advanced super bikes today, in no particular order.

1) Dodge Tomahawk
This beastly muscle-bike houses a nuclear generator of an engine in its chunky metallic chassis–one that is derived from that of the famous Dodge Viper. While not as sleek and sexy as many of its competitors, the Tomahawk throws itself from point A to point B in a blink of an eye with its unrivaled speed and power. This is definitely one of the baddest boys on the block.

> Engine: 8.3-liter V10 SRT10
> Horsepower: 500
> Top Speed: 480 km/hr

2) MV Agusta F3
This mechanical work of art is dubbed “The Most Beautiful Motorcycle in the World.” Quick and compact, there isn’t really another super bike with such a tiny engine in this elite class.

> Engine: Three-Cylinder 675cc
> Horsepower: 126

> Top Speed: 260 km/hr



3) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R

Although relatively large and heavy, the ZX-14R has an incredible displacement of 1441cc. It has been dubbed “The World’s Most Powerful Production Motorcycle” and has yet to live up to that moniker. Only in due time will we see if the Ninja assassinates every rival that competes against it.

> Engine: 1441cc
> Horsepower: 200
> Price: $14,699




4) BMW S1000RR

In a black and yellow paint job, the aggressively-designed S1000RR looks like an angry killer bee ready to ruin someone’s day. With its finely-tuned engine and ultra-light construction, it will wreck almost every opponent it gets matched up against. BMW’s high-end offering is both aesthetically attractive and pleasantly affordable.

> Engine: Four-Stroke 999cc
> Horsepower: 193
> Top Speed: 305 km/hr
> Price: $14,000

5) Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R

The Hayabusa is a super bike named after the fastest bird in the world–the Peregrine falcon. This bird is able to dive at top speeds of nearly 200 mph. Similarly, the Hayabusa can reach just about the same maximum velocity. With beautiful curves and a price tag that isn’t reserved for the rich and famous, the Hayabusa is like a fine lady who isn’t just after your wallet.

> Engine: Four-Stroke 1340cc
> Horsepower: 197
> Top Speed: 330 km/hr
> Price: $14,000

6) Ducati 1199 Panigale Superbike

This new version of the Ducati flagship model has been enhanced in a number of ways. Lighter, sleeker, stronger, and faster, the 1199 Panigale takes high-performance to another level. It is one of the most powerful pound-for-pound super bikes ever made.

> Engine: 1199cc V-Twin
> Horsepower: 195




7) Honda CBR1000RR

Starting in 2008, the speedy CBR was redesigned to be even lighter and faster than before. Much of the focus was on making the body more aerodynamic and reducing weight wherever it wasn’t needed. The end result was a better version of this already excellent import crotch-rocket.

> Engine: 999cc Inline-Four
> Horsepower: 178
> Price: $13,800

8) Erik Buell Racing 1190 RS

This super bike is another futuristic marvel of engineering that combines luxury with performance for those who want everything in a cycle. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to pay up if you want a taste of this milkshake.

> Engine: 1190cc V-Twin
> Horsepower: 175
> Price: $39,999

9) Yamaha YZF R1

A favorite among sports bike enthusiasts, the YZF R1 is the perfect blend of velocity and drive-ability. Ranked among the “Japanese Big 4” super bikes, this speed demon is guaranteed to put pretty much any Eastern or Western opponent to shame.

> Engine: Four-Stroke 1000cc
> Horsepower: 150
> Price: $14,500



10) MTT Turbine Superbike

This super bike is super sleek with its futuristic armor-plate-like body. Like all things from the future, this bike is equipped with an arsenal of high-tech devices including a laser scrambler and rear-mounted camera. The unbelievable part about the MTT Turbine is that it actually runs on a turbine engine unlike those found in jet planes. If this thing had wings, it would definitely take off.

> Engine: Rolls-Royce-Allison 250 Turbo Shaft
> Horsepower: 320
> Top Speed: 370 km/hr
> Price: $175,000

This guest post was written by Will who writes for a host of motoring companies and related businesses titanium supplier Dynamic Metals. Metals they stock include 17/4PH amongst many other metal alloys.

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Top 5 Wackiest Motorcycles

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Sometimes it’s not about the sleek and shiny metals that make you stop, stare and lust with desire. Sometimes it’s all about making an impact and standing out from the crowd. Bike Builders are fanatics about their hobby and many have taken the craft of building custom motorbikes to a whole new level. Whatever your motorbike looks like, make sure you’re covered with Bike Insurance! Here are some of the wackiest motorcycles we’ve come across for you to marvel at and enjoy!

Like so many impulse purchases, this would really take some explaining when taking it home to the other half… Half bike, half Winnebago and a great way to spread unease through any campsite. 

How to beat rush-hour. To death. When asked by a car magazine to build a bike with ‘a military look’, stuntman Eddie Paul, certainly did not disappoint. Half way between Mad Max and Aliens, this bad boy includes twin 7.62mm mini-guns, armour plated body and a bullet proof windshield. Get your road rage on.

Wow. So meet the Dodge Tomahawk. With a top speed of just shy of 300 mph this is pretty much guaranteed to kill you at some point after you buy it. But hey, live (very) fast, die young right? It’s a beast.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just NEED to ride a motorbike dressed up as a cow. Wearing trainers. Anyone? No?

If H.R. Giger rode a motorcycle then I’m guessing it would look something like this. Made out of spare parts, this is the creation of 54 year old, Bangkok based artist, Roongrojna Sangwongprisarn, who runs Ko Art Shop and exports his creations worldwide. Just a thought though, it might not be ENTIRELY road legal where you are…

 
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