Steve McQueen: Motorcycles First, Acting Second.

Me and McQueen

My dad has ridden motorcycles since before I was born, and I always remember as a child our large stone-built shed being full of them.  Anywhere between 6 and 12 at any one time. I remember him riding his Yellow Suzuki PE when we were snowed in when I was about 8. I almost fell off the back of his Rothmans Honda 1000 in my teens when he forgot I was there.

I remember the day he sold his Moto Guzzi Black Prince, which is now enjoying the sun in Australia; he’d just come back from a trip on it to the South of France. I loved going to watch him ride his red Bultaco 250 trials bike and 200 Sealey Honda (the Honda he still has) competitively on many weekends. 

My first motorcycle memory, the one that made me adore motorcycles, was when he took me to the Motorcycle Club movie night at the Memorial Hall in Wrexham, where they showed ‘On Any Sunday’.  I must have been about 6 years old, so it would have been 1978.  I can even remember where we sat; I had an aisle seat about 10 rows from the front.

Steve McQueen changed my life for the better that day, and I’ve never looked back, and it is all thanks to my dad. One inspired me to get my first motorcycle at the age of 10, and the other allowed me to.

McQueen and His Love of Motorcycles 

Steve McQueen will always be remembered for his iconic roles in movies such as Bullitt and The Great Escape, but those who love motorcycles must also appreciate his love of two wheels, especially his love of motorcycle racing, a passion that started before his acting did. 

He started riding when he was just a teenager. Growing up in a difficult household, McQueen found escapism in riding motorcycles. He bought his first motorcycle at the age of 16, a Harley-Davidson, and spent all his free time riding through the hills of his hometown in Indiana.  After joining the Marine Corps, he spent his off time racing motorcycles in local competitions.

It was clear from the start that he had a natural talent for riding.  After leaving the Marine Corps, McQueen moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting.  It wasn’t long before he started including his love for motorcycles in his roles. 

McQueen’s love for motorcycles continued throughout his Hollywood career. He would often ride to the movie set, and he even incorporated his own personal motorcycles into his movies. In the 1971 movie Le Mans, McQueen rode his own Triumph.

McQueen and Motorcycle Racing

I’ve watched the movie ‘On Any Sunday’ numerous times since that first time in the 1970s.  McQueen had no problem holding his own with some great riders of the day.  His first dirt bike was a Triumph 500, and later he rode a Husqvarna, which he used in that movie. 

McQueen was a big fan of the International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) and managed to watch it while on location for a movie early on in his career. A few years later, in 1964, McQueen had been riding as much as he could and managed to get some qualifiers under his belt. This led to his representing the USA in the 1964 ISDE in Germany. McQueen also competed in many other notable races, such as the Baja 1000, Mint 400, and the Elsinore Grand Prix.

In 1971, McQueen appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, pictured with his Husqvarna motorcycle. It’s a little bit pathetic, but I’ve always wanted a 400 just because Steve McQueen rode one. If I’d won the lottery, I’d have bought his own 400 that sold at auction in California a few years ago, a bargain at $186,500!

McQueen was inducted into the Off-Road Hall of Fame in 1978. At the time of his death in November 1980, he had over 100 motorcycles in his collection. Steve McQueen added so much to the sport of Enduro, and his legacy will never be forgotten.

McQueen’s Motorcycle Collection

McQueen’s motorcycle collection was extensive, including brands such as Harley-Davidson, Husqvarna, Triumph, Honda, Indian, and, of course, his Crocker.  Here are some of the standout ones for me.

1937 Crocker – Crocker Motorcycles are considered among the rarest and most expensive motorcycles in the world, with around 60 built between 1936 and 1942, each unique, and today only a few have survived.  McQueen’s Crocker had a Harley-Davidson ‘Hemi-Head’ V Twin engine and a custom-built exhaust system.  It was sold at an auction in 2006 for $276,500 bought by a private collector.

1914 Indian – McQueen’s 1914 Indian Model F was one of the earliest models produced by the Indian Motorcycle Company and was used by the US Army during World War I.  McQueen’s Indian Model F was restored by his close friend, Kenny ‘Von Dutch’ Howard.  The motorcycle was fitted with a custom seat and a new fuel tank. His Indian Model F was bought by a private collector at auction in 2010 for £32,200.

1970 Husqvarna 400 – I have two particular favourites out of McQueen’s collection. The first of the two also happens to be one of McQueen’s favourites, his Husqvarna 400.  He bought the bike in February 1970 through his production company, Solar Productions. It went on to gain fame in its own right, appearing in the closing beach-riding scenes of ‘On Any Sunday’.  This bike was one of the 5 400s that he owned.  His Husky was sold to a private collector in 2018 for $230,500.

Triumph Metisse Desert Racer – My absolute favourite McQueen motorcycle was also the one he was most proud of, his Metisse Desert Racer.  The bike was heavily customised for desert racing.  McQueen and his great friend Bud Ekin bought the kit from the Rickman Brothers, who produced the Metisse in Oxfordshire. 

It had a 650 Triumph TR6 engine and a specific request for a BSA fork crown because of its strength.  The colour chosen by McQueen was also very specific, Battleship Grey, which Derek Rickman helped to source.  Metisse built a limited run of 300 Steve McQueen replicas released in 2008, endorsed by his estate.  McQueen’s original Metisse is owned by Gerry Lisi.

And Finally……

Steve McQueen was a complex and fascinating figure who left an indelible mark.  He was a philanthropist who lived life on his own terms and used his fame and fortune to help others.  McQueen was a huge supporter of the Boys Republic, a school for troubled youths, establishing the McQueen Racing Team to raise money for them. 

He also supported the City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment centre, donating the proceeds from ‘Le Mans’ to them. He will always be remembered as the King of Cool, a true icon of American culture, and a symbol of the rebel spirit that defined the 1960s and 1970s. 

His influence on motorcycle culture is significant and continues to be felt today. His love for two wheels and his involvement in the motorcycle community helped to make motorcycles more mainstream and accessible to the public. McQueen’s movies, especially “The Great Escape” and “On Any Sunday,” helped to popularise motorcycles and motorcycle racing.

He inspired a generation of motorcycle enthusiasts and helped to create a culture that celebrated the freedom and individuality that motorcycles represent. Today, McQueen’s legacy continues to inspire motorcycle enthusiasts around the world.