25 best motorcycle movies ever

Akira (1988)

Probably one of the coolest bikes ever designed features in Akira. Kaneda's laid back riding position looks amazing while pulling off a super-cool sliding stop, with the bike's tail light flaring for extra drama. This bike may just be paint on animation cels, but it's inspired dedicated fans to create their own replicas.

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

A feel-good retelling of a true story, starring Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro, the aging New Zealander who spent years building a 1920 Indian bike, then sold almost all his possessions in 1967 in order to travel to Utah and break the world land speed record. Does he pull it off? Well, we did say it was a feel-good movie…

Easy Rider (1969)

Arguably the quintessential counter-culture film of the 1960s, Easy Rider is an unflinching portrayal of the extremes and contradictions of American freedom and the hippie dream – and a damn fine road movie. It made stars of Dennis Hopper (who also directed), Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson – and turned Steppenwolf’s "Born To Be Wild" into the unofficial anthem for bikers worldwide.

Quadrophenia (1979)

Memorably soundtracked by The Who’s earlier concept album of the same name, Quadrophenia's story of disaffected 1960s youth still strikes a chord today. Phil Daniels' protagonist Jimmy is a fully paid-up Mod, tearing around on a kitted-out Vespa and battling with motorcycle-riding Rockers – as well as plenty of angst. Features a highly familiar cast of accomplished British film and TV actors (and Sting).

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Chris Nolan actually had a working Batpod – Batman's chunky-wheeled bike – made for 2008's The Dark Knight, and it gets a second outing in this year's sequel. Although The Dark Knight's truck-vs-Batpod showdown was cool, The Dark Knight Rises pits the Batpod against the whole Gotham Police Department – and adds some new tricks to the bike's repertoire. As Selina Kyle discovers, it can now perform a spectacular slide by – get this – rolling its wheels sideways. Even though Chris Nolan insists on realism in his films, we doubt the real-life Batpod can do that.