Motorcycles—icons of the open road. Whenever you see one, you can’t help but stare in awe. With their paradoxical sleekness and grimy complexity, they’ve always inspired a fantasy lifestyle that has attracted millions.
When it comes to books, comics, and movies, motorcycles have always heightened people’s interest toward the characters riding them. In celebration of this National Motorcycle Day, here are four iconic characters who ride motorcycles.
Rubeus Hagrid
Remember in Chapter 1 of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when Hagrid showed up with the “Boy Who Lived” on Privet Drive? If we’re being honest, it was the motorbike that first hooked you to the series. It’s basic psychology. Combining the narrative power of the books and the visual splendor of the films, it’s safe to say that Hagrid’s icon status is partially owed to that extraordinary ride. However, it was actually owned by Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black, according to the Harry Potter Fandom. The only other time we see Hagrid ride it is when he, Harry, and the others escape the Death Eaters at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But, really…can you imagine Hagrid without it? The vehicle suits his rustic, yet classic personality well.
Lisbeth Salander
Let’s think about this: What kind of vehicle would a computer hacker ride?…Though the motorcycle meshes well with her chosen profession, the vehicle’s agility, speed, and risky nature says a lot about Lisbeth Salander’s character. Some nasty stuff happened to her in the past, according to Wikipedia, and motorcycles are nothing like your innocent Subaru sedan; instead, they exude resilience, depth and mystery that can easily intimidate. Considering Lisbeth’s character in The Millennium Series, that’s a combination that she’d appreciate.
Logan / Wolverine
We’ve all seen those movies with people speeding across highways on motorcycles. We’ve seen them crash, ride through fire and explosions, and continue to function. They can skid across asphalt to make death-defying turns and be battered with hot desert dust for long durations. With all that in mind, there is one character that personally shares in that level of physical resilience and brute strength: Logan, better known as Wolverine. With the mutant ability to heal both physically and memorially from trauma, according to Marvel.com, Logan’s character mirrors the fundamental aspects of his signature ride, plus, he’s partly made of metal.
Terminator / Cyberdyne Systems Model 101
As demonstrated in the previous examples, it takes a certain type of character to pull off riding a motorcycle; however, this mention isn’t exactly a person. Being mechanical, with an Arnold Schwarzenegger appearance, Terminator is a villain seemingly built to make the fullest use of such a vehicle. With relentlessness beyond what is biologically possible, he literally crosses the boundaries of time to achieve his objective. Can you think of any other vehicle that would better suit the Terminator? I didn’t think so.