Two brands, Triumph and TAG Heuer have teamed up to create this special Bonneville Heuer motorcyle.

It’s distinctive blue and orange livery on the Bonneville was inspired by the Gulf Porsche 917 driven by the one and only, King of Cool, Steve McQueen in the 1971 movie Le Mans, which in turn inspired TAG Heuer’s 40th anniversary Monaco watch.

This special Bonneville Heuer was presented in Paris, in the presence of Lewis Hamilton, 2008 Formula One World Champion and other TAG Heuer testimonials.

Source | moto.it

Triumph Bonneville Heuer

Continue reading: Triumph Bonneville Heuer

Robbie Williams rides a Husqvarna in this video clip of his single “Bodies”. It’s an older-style Husqvarna similar to Steve McQueen’s but apparently the latter’s wasn’t available for filming. Robbie lives out the dream of many offroaders in a desert jaunt, but we’re not sure where this was filmed. The vehicles get bigger as the video goes on, but we can enjoy the two-wheels of the first part.

Continue reading: Video: Robbie Williams rides Husqvarna in Bodies music clip

The Metisse McQueen Desert Racer is a limited edition McQueen replica offroad that will be made in a run of just 300 models. While it probably looks more at home in a desert somewhere, rather than in the greenery of an English country field, it has a nice sound a looks nimble enough.

But if you’re a Steve McQueen afficionado, you probably don’t care because it’s got his signature on it, and is endorsed by the McQueen estate. It is handbuilt in the UK by Metisse Motorcycles and uses a Triumph TR6 engine. The guys at MCN took it for a little ride in the video above.

Source | MCN

Continue reading: Metisse McQueen Desert Racer video

Marlon Brando as Johnny in The Wild One has given us one of the most iconic motorcycle images ever. The dapper hat pushed sideways is accompanied by a classic leather jacket in a time of post-war rebellion.

The image is being recreated by Triumph Motorcycles in a clothing collection featuring a leather jacket with “Johnny” embroidered on the front and emblanzoned on the reverse the letters BRMC with the skull and crossbones underneath. The remake is aimed at anyone who ever thought Brando in his role as Johnny Strabler.

The special edition Triumph Brando jacket has been made with official copyright permission. It is 100 percent leather with a fitted cut and has removable CE shoulder and elbow padding. An internal thermal lining can also be removed. The Wild One jacket costs about 400 euros.

Continue reading: Triumph clothing: Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen jackets

MCN spoke to Marshall Terrill about his Steve McQueen biography, Portrait of an American Rebel. A new McQueen film to be based on the book is to be released, with Brad Pitt or Daniel Craig starring, according to reports.

Terrill discusses the legend that is Steve McQueen but also the strong character behind the movie star, that survived against the odds. An extract from the interview is below, but for more check out MCN.

How did your book get picked up for the biopic project?

I’ve had several offers throughout the years but I only wanted to work with a producer who had the same vision that I did, and that was to go the way of ‘the hero’s story.’

Photo | Flickr

Continue reading: Steve McQueen biography to become film

Flashback to California to the early 70’s and watch this impressive and grueling desert race, where one of these crazy riders was movie star icon and motorcycle lover Steve McQueen.

No leathers, no full face helmets, no cell phones, no GPS, just pure guts, passion and something to prove, even the dog has got the racing bug.

Continue reading: Desert Race 1970's Style

In more news on Steve McQueen memorabilia, his Von Dutch 1929 Scott 596cc Super Squirrel will be on auction at the Antiquorum June 11th auction. The bike was spotted by McQueen for its historical significance, and he made a gift of it back to Kenny “VonDutch” Howard.

Antiquorum says:

Produced by the Scott Motorcycle Company, the present motorcycle is not only a fine example of one of the most technologically advanced machines of its day, but it was restored, painted and pin striped in the 1970s by the legendary Kenny “Von Dutch” Howard. The bike features the infamous Von Dutch ‘flying eyeball’ logo affixed in cloisonné to the toolbox, while the Scott logos are all hand-painted and finished in gold leaf.

A unique feature of the bike is that Von Dutch mistakenly lettered the date on the front number plate ‘1926’ instead of the correct ‘1929.’ Having recognized the historical and artistic significance of this motorcycle, prior to his death, Steve McQueen gifted the bike back to Von Dutch so that he may personally own his masterpiece.

Continue reading: Steve McQueen memorabilia on sale: 1929 Von Dutch Scott Super Squirrel on auction

We reported on Steve McQueen’s FIM Race card selling at a Bonham’s auction for the princely sum of 42,700 USD and after the jump we give you the other lot details. The licence was part of an auction of motorcycles and memorabilia, which included the ex-Steve McQueen, 1929 Harley-Davidson 45ci DL, incidentally going for less than the licence at $39,780.

The biggest win at the auction was for a 1950 Vincent Series C White Shadow, one of only 15 produced, at $111,150, and in more Steve McQueen memorabilia, the ex-Steve Mcqueen, Bud Ekins modified, Von Dutch painted,1963 Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled went for $84,240. The full motorbike auction results below.

Source | Hell for Leather and Bonhams

Continue reading: Steve McQueen FIM race licence sells for $42,700

Bonhams & Butterfields auctioned last Saturday at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, Steve McQueen’s 1963 Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled built by Bud Ekins, motorcycle racer, stuntman and close friend of McQueen. It was Ekins who doubled for McQueen on the famous fence jumping scene in the The Great Escape.

Ekins built the bike for cow trailing and desert racing. Serial numbers indicate it was built up from a 1963 Triumph Bonneville. Steve and Bud’s friend, Kenny Howard, better known as Von Dutch, painted the bike.

A bidder paid $84,240 for this special Triumph Bonneville and another bidder paid $42,700 for the movie star’s 1964 FIM license.

After the jump a pic of Steve McQueen’s license.

Continue reading: Steve McQueen's 1963 Triumph Bonneville goes for $ 84,240

The Great Escape 2 from Wes Siler on Vimeo.

In the words of motorcycle stunt rider, Steve Colley, in attempting to recreate Bud Ekins’ (or Steve McQueen’s) famous motorcycle jump from the Great Escape: “What they lacked in equipment, they sure made up for with balls. Wow!” (Colley could have tried it with a helmet, though).

The Times newspaper of the UK decided to recreate the jump using a similar machine to the Triumph apparently used in the film: in this case a Metisse Desert Racer. It all appears to be in the name of resolving a controversy over whether the jump was attempted with a standard factory-built Triumph as Bud Ekins claimed.

But what’s there to prove, anyway? As one reader on Hell for Leather Magazine says, “If Bud said they got a Triumph Bonneville to run on salad dressing and walk on water I would be inclined to believe him.”

Source | Hell for leather magazine, from The Times

Video | Vimeo.com

Continue reading: Great Escape jump recreated

Remember the Steve McQueen Métisse Desert Racer? Since it’s associated with the King of Cool, even the BBC decided it was worth a story.

Continue reading: Métisse Desert Racer Video

Debate on Fireblades forum includes many rider and motorcycle topics, one of which is a classic: the best motorcycle movie ever. Opinions range from the beauty of the South American scenery in “Motorcycle Diaries”, to the hilarity of “Wild Hogs” and 1969 cult film “Easy Rider”.

But my favourite that came up was “The Great Escape” with Steve McQueen jumping a fence on a motorcycle. Another classic film mentioned with McQueen was “On Any Sunday“. “The Great Escape” is perhaps not a “motorcycle movie” in the strictest terms, but above we give you the trailer with the closing scenes of McQueen’s famous jump.

Source | Fireblades Forum

Continue reading: The best motorcycle movies: The Great Escape motorcycle stunt