Guzzi is Cool, but Billy Jack rode a Triumph

[sign216]

In an idle moment, brought on by the death of Peter Fonda, I looked up what motorcycle film icon Billy Jack rode.

A Triumph.  Which makes sense, and I applaud (a Guzzi would be stretch too far). 

Steve McQueen in The Great Escape also rode a Triumph. 

But I appeal to the community.  Did Guzzi ever have a presence in the American media?

Joe 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Magnum Force - Clint Eastwood. All of the cop bikes are Guzzi Ambassadors, until the end when one magically changes into a Triumph and goes for a swim.

[slopokes]

Up in smoke—-chp rode a v700 or ambassador . 👍

[oldbike54]

  The Ann Margaret video , a few more . I'm not a movie buff .

 Dusty

[Sasquatch Jim]

 I one of the Dirty Harry movies some of the cops rode Motoguzzi.  Clint Eastwood rode a Guzzi that morphed into a Triumph when it needed to make a jump.

[Dave Swanson]

Tom Laughlin was cool.



But he couldn't beat the king of cool.

[yogidozer]

Yes Dave Swanson, Steve McQueen was the real deal. 

[LowRyter]

I thought Billy Jack rode a Yamaha in the first movie, Born Losers.  Didn't care for the other ones.

[Ncdan]

Yea but Prince rode a 750 Honda with a vetter fairing 😂

[oldbike54]

Yea but Prince rode a 750 Honda with a vetter fairing 😂

 Pretty sure that was a 400 Hondamatic .

 Dusty

[bad Chad]

Close but no cigar, Prince rode a honda 450 with a Vetter!

[bad Chad]

Whoops, Dusty is right, Hondamatic.  After all he was only 3 feet tall.   Prince that is, not Dusty!

[guzzinka]

In the Muppet Movie, the Muppet bus gets pulled over by a LEO on a Goose - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jenP3kvXUa4  - 37 seconds in

[TodkaVonic]

Pretty sure that was a 400 Hondamatic .

 Dusty

1) FYI you can sit on Prince's motorcycle. It's in the museum of pop culture in Seattle. There aren't even any ropes around it. Def a Honda. I don't know enough about them to say which Honda though.
2) Look, I'm as big a fan of Steve McQueen as anyone, but, well....https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_jAb0kWJHxY
3) Regarding Peter Fonda (RIP), here's a nice short article about Captain America. https://www.npr.org/2014/10/11/354875096/behind-the-motorcycles-in-easy-rider-a-long-obscured-story

Nate

[Ncdan]

Pretty sure that was a 400 Hondamatic .

 Dusty

Darn you Dusty, you are right again:( but in my defense when I saw the movie 35 some odd years ago I was so distraught about it being a Honda I didn’t note the exact model. 😂

[Matteo]

You can keep the rest😉

[LowRyter]

I like Peter Fonda and Hopper,  Jeremy Slade, and Billy Jack's first girlfriend.  But if I wanted to watch anyone ride a motorcycle (or do anything else),

I'd rather watch Ann Margret.   

[Robert]

Eastwood - -
It seems that in one of his movies, he 'appropriates' a motorcycle (Triumph) to roar through the park in pursuit of ???

[Bulldog9]

2) Look, I'm as big a fan of Steve McQueen as anyone, but, well....https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_jAb0kWJHxY

Nate

I've always heard of that movie, never seen it.  Ann Margaret has to be one of the most beautiful women God ever created... ever.

As for cool, check out these guys... ;-)

 

[tazio]

"Harold and Maude" '69 V750 Police Special
"Rush Hour" 1100 Sport

[mtiberio]

Magnum Force - Clint Eastwood. All of the cop bikes are Guzzi Ambassadors, until the end when one magically changes into a Triumph and goes for a swim.

Right after the "Guzzi" was kick started...

[rocker59]

Taken during filming of The Wild One, though in the film his ride was a bobbed Matchless.

[sign216]

Taken during filming of The Wild One, though in the film his ride was a bobbed Matchless.

Rocker,

Is that photo legitimate?  In that era the film was black n white, and when I looked I didn't see any Guzzi singles there at all. 

Joe

[JJ]

Taken during filming of The Wild One, though in the film his ride was a bobbed Matchless.

Actually, TWO BIKES -





 

[LowRyter]

Rocker,

Is that photo legitimate?  In that era the film was black n white, and when I looked I didn't see any Guzzi singles there at all. 

Joe

Psssst Joe,

That is Rocker.

[guzzi771]

Clint Eastwood on a BSA

[JJ]

Clint Eastwood on a BSA

Look closer...it's a NORTON!! 

[rocker59]

Rocker,

Is that photo legitimate?  In that era the film was black n white, and when I looked I didn't see any Guzzi singles there at all. 

Joe

The photo is legit.  It was taken at the studio with color still camera film.  It's not a frame from an outtake from the movie.

I've never seen an explanation for the photo, but it's been public for as long as I can remember.  Maybe it was his bike, or a friend's bike at the studio.  Who knows?  Like you, I don't recall seeing a Guzzi single in the movie.  But, then, there were a lot of supporting bikes in that movie.

[rocker59]

Actually, TWO BIKES 

Ah, yes.  The Speed Twin!  I forgot that one!

[sign216]

The photo is legit.  It was taken at the studio with color still camera film.  It's not a frame from an outtake from the movie.

I've never seen an explanation for the photo, but it's been public for as long as I can remember.  Maybe it was his bike, or a friend's bike at the studio.  Who knows?  Like you, I don't recall seeing a Guzzi single in the movie.  But, then, there were a lot of supporting bikes in that movie.

A color still taken in the studio?  Interesting.  Perhaps it was intended for promotional materials.  It'd be great if the studio made that into a poster. 

Joe