If you had to pick one iconic two-wheel manufacturer to partner with Mad Max, who’s it going to be? Outlaws, crime, leather, and just general bad-assery. I can’t see a Vespa or a Benelli ticking these boxes. There is only one bike for the job. It’s a Harley-Davidson.
The recent release of George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga sees Harley Davidson shine in a sea of dust, sweat, blood and bad behaviour. Filmed in Hay, Kurnell and Terrey Hills in New South Wales (somehow my invite to be an extra got lost in the mail) the film features a fleet of old school and new school Harleys all the way from a 1972 Servi-Car, Trike, Bareknuckle and 2014 Ultra through to the Lowrider, Softail and the recently released Pan America S and Breakout 114.
Eagle eyed viewers will thoroughly enjoy spotting this mega fleet, perhaps the perfect recipe for a drinking game? (Please consume responsibly)
Not only were Dementus’ dirty dozen sergeants riding these beasts but were also fully decked out in $400k worth of HD gear. That’s a lot of gear, almost as much gear as motorcycles. How many pairs of HD branded leather chaps can you buy for $400k? At $535 a pop you could actually get 747 pairs. Enough for a whole Mad Max army apparently. Imagine that cruising down Sydney’s Oxford St!
Under the watchful eye of Furiosa’s Academy Award winning production designer, Colin Gibson, these bikes are transformed into hellish, demonic beasts and are an inspiring tale of what is possible with a lot of coin and a big imagination. And no compliance or road rules. Or cops.
Colin explains: “The barely-yet released Pan America, fitted with extended swing arm and camel-saddle stitched with hessian and human skin [and] Dementus’ dirty dozen sergeants well represented Harley; Fang on a chromed Chopper; the Octoboss takes to the air on an Ultra fitted with an airplane prop and held aloft on an octopus kite liberated from god-knows-where…”
HD is so well known for its community of die-hards that have taken genius creative liberties on transforming their beloved motorcycles into award winning pieces of art. The synergies between Mad Max and HD are undeniable.
Harley’s presence in films has always been of iconic status in the Western world. It’s a globally recognised American brand and patriotically features in many of the American films we down under idolise. From Pulp Fiction to the Terminator and the just released The Bikeriders, a new film starring Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer, a fictional story depicting the lives of the Outlaws MC, a motorcycle club founded in McCook, Illinois. Tom Hardy rides a bobbed 1956 Harley-Davidson FLH that inspired the limited-edition 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival. And it is Harley all the way in a time of footloose, helmet free frivolity… not to mention guns, drugs and death. You get the picture.
You don’t just have to be a fully licensed, gun wielding, chap wearing gang lord to ride a Harley. If you haven’t seen their Learner approved X350 or X500 then you are in for a treat. These bikes are a brilliant addition to the Learner market, making Harley’s accessible to all.
To help celebrate the launch of Furiosa and HD’s presence in the film, HD have released the Passport to Freedom deal. Learn to ride on a Harley-Davidson X and they will give you $500 towards your new LAMS approved Harley-Davidson X purchase, Genuine Apparel, or Parts & Accessories.
So what are you waiting for, it’s time to go get a Harley! Or perhaps if that’s a bridge too far, maybe just go to the movies first.
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