Matt's Top 5 Motorcycle Scenes from the Cinema!

Hi there again, this is Matt Gardner, founder of Long Ride Shields.

Many People don't know this about me but during college I Majored in Film, and to this day the movies are one of my favorite aspects of this life on earth! One of my favorite types of chase scenes is the Motorcycle Chase. Most chase scenes have some commonality in that there is usually good guy vs bad guy, or the opportunistic escaping protagonist taking advantage of the readily available motorcycle that just so happens to have the keys in it or the engine running, but what makes the motorcycle chase better than a car chase is the fact that you can squeeze the bike into places that a car wont go, or jump over things the adversary will simply crash into. Being an avid motorcyclist and a lover of films I wanted to share with you some of my favorites.

This all began a few nights ago while I was revisiting some silent films I loved during school and discovered a motorcycle scene that had been shot without many studio effects in full live action and it absolutely blew my mind away. It was from Buster Keaton's - Sherlock Jr. (1924) - I remember seing the same type of bike at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and it dawned on me that this might be the first ever motorcycle chase scene filmed for entertainment.

I have decided to include it in this weeks list of the Top 5 motorcycle scenes of all time (According to me)



#1:     Sherlock Jr. (1924)

Simply Amazing, Talk about having guts, Keaton is famous for doing all his own amazing stunts. 

#2:   Great Escape (1963)

Everyone knows that Steve McQueen was and is the best motorcycle actor to ever grace the silver screen. 

#3: James Bond: Skyfall (2013)

I would have loved to be there when they were filming this in the Grand Bazar

#4 Escape to Athena (1979)

Note: you have got to love the scream from the guy falling from the tower, I believe that is the Wilhelm scream made famous by Star Wars and Indian Jones.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream


#5: Indiana Jones -

Note: Just so you know I have tried the umbrella bird thing, it works fairly well. Also if you haven't seen it Myth-busters tested the whole pole in the spokes thing and it doesn't exactly make your bike flip over, but it will mess you up!






Here is a video clip on the making of the new motorcycle scene in Jurassic World.

IF you have a favorite not mentioned in this blog post please email us your reference at longridesheidls@gmail.com

Riding with Style (Funny, Awesome, and Odd Helmets)

Although, helmets are not absolutely necessary when it comes to riding, many riders still consider the safety aspects of their apparel and even try to match their safety equipment with their own personalities. I, myself, would not don a helmet that was bright pink and sparkly. There is nothing wrong with the color or style, I just do not have the skin tone to compliment it. However, there are a few helmets that we have seen from around the internet that we would love to have in our collection of safety gear. ATGATT is an acronym for all the gear, all the time. This should pertain to your safety equipment as well, even your helmet.

   

Nana-nana-nana-nana-BATMAN!

Sleeker looking full helmet. Nice!

I have always thought that Batman was the greatest superhero ever. Not because he has some personal issues with crime and punishment, but because he was the only hero to make it into the Hall of Justice who didn't have super powers! Now, you too can become the night. Ladies, I heard this story for expecting mothers. If you name your newborn Gotham, you can always tell your husband, "Gotham needs you" if your newborn wakes up in the middle of the night.

There has been several posts of really talented artist using Sharpie makers to decorate their bikes and other vehicles. Here are some helmets that have a lot of details and designs that are hand drawn on helmets.

To get people to notice you smile when they are envious of your hog, why not show them how much fun you are having while they imagine being you from inside of their enclosed cage of metal and fiberglass. Show them that you are not only riding in style, but that you are having way more fun riding with one of these Smiley Face helmets. 

I AM IRON MAN!!!

Custom make your own helmet. 

For those of you who like to rock out to Black Sabbath's "I am Iron Man" while you ride, you can also look like Iron Man from the movies and turn heads wherever you go. Feel like a superhero as you arrive to your destinations. The custom helmet is reported to be easy to make (right picture above) and attaches to a standard helmet. If you have a Reevu helmet (a motorcycle helmet that uses mirrors in the helmet to see behind you), you can actually feel like Iron Man.

I had to geek out pretty hardcore when I saw this Star Wars - Storm Trooper helmet. As bad ass as it would be to be part of the largest fictional military in the universe, just the look of this thing is awe inspiring enough to get people to see you. This is definitely well made and stylish enough to show off your nerd level. These are not the droids you are looking for, but this may be the helmet you have always wanted. 

Transformers. More than meets the eye is the popular theme behind these movies, and now you can also represent the same theme with an Optimus Prime helmet. If you loved the movies, than this is how you can show the world.

Created by Jim Hensen, The Muppet Show aired in 1976 and continued until 1981. With a million jokes and satirical comedies, the show spun many movies and other shows that we all grew up with and loved. With these helmets, you can be your favorite muppet character and show the world your sense of humor.

Viking helmets and skull helmets can let other riders around you know that you are a horseman of the apocalypse. The great thing about viking horns and skins is that they are relatively easy to attach to a helmet. Unless you want to spend a couple hundred dollars on a custom helmet, the attachments are fairly inexpensive and fun to display. There are some that are even made of real bone too.

Here are a few other honorable mentions that are fun to look, and cringe at.

Getting noticed at night is now easier.

Mobile anatomy class

AAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Does not have a recurve windshield.

Do you have a custom helmet that you want everyone to see? Let us help you display it by sending us pictures of your helmet. We will post them to our Facebook and get you noticed.