Mad Max: Fury Road is definitely a movie for action lovers and weapons geeks. Fans of the original movies will not be surprised to hear that it’s also got lots of eye candy for motorcycle fanatics as well. Underneath the heavy customization many of the bikes are recognizable to the enthusiast. Here are some of the most prominent bikes from the film and the story behind them.
Max on his machine
Yamaha R1: The Big Star
The star among the motorcycles of the movie
Never in a Mad Max movie has Max actually ridden a motorcycle – until now. While there wasn’t an extended shot of the titular character on his bike, it’s still a momentous occasion. Max’s Yamaha R1 was barely recognizable under the gaudy carpeting it was cloaked in, but other less-decorated R1s made appearances in the movie as well, mainly with huge swinging boom arms on their backs.
Yamaha YZ250F: The Stunt Man
A born Yamaha YZ
Those who have seen the movie know that the Rock Rider scenes were some of the most intense in the film, and those who haven’t are in for a wild ride once they do! Most of the Rock Riders rode YZ250Fs during the major stunt sequences. The Rock Riders themselves were played by a team of motocrossers put together by Australian Motocross Champion Stephen Gall.
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BMW and Honda: The Feminine Touch
You can see the BMW-boxer
The women of Fury Road were not without their bikes, either. BMW’s distinctive R80 engine was showcased in all its glory in an R69 frame ridden by Furiosa. A Honda Goldwing, laden with supplies and desert dust, was adorned with a feather crown above the headlight for one of the Vuvalini women to ride.
The Customization Process: Who and How
This was once a majestic Gold Wing
Most of the credit for customizing these bikes goes to Colin Gibson and his production design crew. Scrap parts from miscellaneous sources were bolted, welded and tied to the bikes to add to the impression that these motorcycles were cobbled together desperately post-apocalypse. Paint was stripped, leaving only bare metal, which was then skillfully coated to mimic the appearance of having spent years in the desert. For some of the bikes, that was enough. Others got covered in leather and carpet, and still more were adorned with sails and medallions. No two bikes look the same – a testament to both the original bike designers and the film crew who gave them that unmistakable Mad Max treatment.
