Celebrities reveal their passion for motorcycles away from the spotlight
Astros of cinema, TV presenters and sports idols find in motorcycles an escape that luxury cars never provided. Enquanto paparazzi chase celebrities for their fleet of supercars and expensive watches, two cylinders and a front wheel offer something rare: anonymity. From De Jay Leno with his 160 motorcycles to Keanu Reeves riding his Ducati 998, the obsession transcends Hollywood and reaches names in football, television and action cinema.
The connection is more intimate. Uma Lamborghini noisy attracts attention; an Triumph Tiger 800 disappears in traffic. Para celebrities constantly in the spotlight, this freedom is not just a hobby. Representa control, youth and, above all, an escape valve from the chaos that surrounds their public lives.
Jay Leno: the collector with more than 160 motorcycles
Jay Leno surprises no one with his obsession with two wheels. The TV presenter who turned his garage into an archive on motorcycling history on wheels collects more than 160 motorcycles, complementing his fleet of 180 cars. Diferentemente of many collectors, Leno pilots their machines. Ele once wrote for Hagerty magazine: “Riding keeps you on your toes, sure. But best of all, it makes me feel young.”
Sua first motorcycle was a modest 350 cc Honda. The collection has evolved to include rare pieces such as a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning and a 1955 Egil-Vincent Black Shadow. A 1922 Uma Megola and a MTT Manufacturing Y2K with a helicopter engine line his garage. The crown jewels, however, are the various Brough Superior—machines compared favorably to the Rolls-Royce for impeccable engineering and craftsmanship.
Leno finds, buys and rides these bikes not because he collects them, but because he truly loves the experience. Cada machine represents a chapter in the history of motorcycling.
Keanu Reeves: from abstinence to brand co-founder
“When I don’t ride a motorcycle, I go into withdrawal. Não is good for my health.” Keanu Reeves’s statement to GQ magazine sums up his obsession. The actor started riding while filming in Munique and never stopped. Alguns’s first film contracts prohibited him from driving — too much of a risk for such a valuable star. Reeves ignored the clauses.
In 2011, that passion evolved into ownership. Reeves co-founded Arch Motorcycle into Hawthorne, Califórnia. The KRGT-1, with a 124 cubic inch V-Twin engine, has a rigid machined aluminum chassis. The Arch 1s has a sportier look and a main axle designed for high torque. In his personal collection are a 1973 Norton Commando 850 MK2A and the 2004 Ducati 998 that appeared in “Matrix Reloaded”.
Reeves also highlighted motorcycles in his completed 2025 TV miniseries “Visionaries,” which addressed human innovation from multiple angles.
Ewan McGregor: traveling across continents on two wheels
Ewan McGregor, known as “Star Wars” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi”, told Esquire magazine that driving is “the best feeling in the world”. Essa passion led him in 2004 to cover 35,990 kilometers from Londres to Nova York with his friend Charley Boorman in a 1,130 cc BMW R1150GS, covering Europa, Ásia and América from the Norte to the “Long” series Way Round”.
Quinze years later, the two were on the road again, this time from the southern end of América to Sul to Los Angeles. Desta made onboard Harley-Davidson Livewire electrical prototypes. An electric motorcycle on a transcontinental journey could have failed. McGregor and Boorman successfully completed the mission.
McGregor’s personal collection reflects good taste and history:
Leia Também
Striker Estêvão details the emotional impact of a serious injury that made his trip to the World Cup unfeasible
YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and wife terminate pregnancy after Down syndrome diagnosis and suffer threats
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex release new records to celebrate daughter Lilibet’s fifth birthday
- Moto Guzzi V7 Sport from 1972
- Eldorado Police Bike 1974
- Chopper custom style Indian Larry
- BSA Bantam D1 from 1952
Richard Hammond: gathering rarities in one place
Richard Hammond, star of the show “Top Gear”, revealed his biker side in October 2025 during a recording for DriveTribe. Hammond brought together his entire collection in one place, displaying a true museum of classic and rare machines. A mid-1970s BMW R90S parked next to an Kawasaki ZXR 750. A discreet Uma Brough Superior SS80 completed the trio.
“Eu just love riding motorcycles; not on tracks, but just for riding. I love it,” he confessed to Motorcycle News. Sua garage also houses an Suzuki Katana described as “a true bedroom poster” — a 1980s piece with an iconic design — as well as two red Ducati 916s, including the limited edition Carl Fogarty SPS number 114 of 202.
British Motos are well represented with an OK-Supreme racing car from the early 1930s and an Royal Enfield INT 650. The collection also includes a 1946 Indian Chief, Yamaha FZR750, Indian FTR R Carbon, Suzuki GSX-R1100 and BMW R 1200RT.
Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds and Norman Reedus: elegance, escape and freedom
Brad Pitt would choose motorcycles “over a car, without a doubt.” The Hollywood actor owns iconic Harley-Davidson Panhead machines, but the jewels in his crown are the 1974 custom Ducati Shinya Kimura — raw, minimalist, handcrafted with a 3mm aluminum tank — and the Ecosse Titanium Series XX with a 225-horsepower supercharged engine. Sua garage also includes BMW R1150GS, BMW R80 customized by Roughchild Moto, Zero Engineering Type 9, Ducati Desmodedici RR and Husqvarna Nuda 900R.
Ryan Reynolds started at age 15 with a “pile of junk” Honda CB750, in his own words. Motorbikes saved him from the madness of Hollywood when he was a young actor. “It was my escape valve, my refuge,” he revealed in a YouTube video. Sua current collection includes the CB750 customized by Raccia Motorcycles, Triumph Thruxton customized by Dustin Kott, Ducati Paul Smart 1000LE and Arc Vector valued between US$135,000 and US$203,000.
Norman Reedus presents the documentary series “Ride with Norman Reedus”, completing the trio of celebrities who turned their passion for motorcycles into television content. Sua’s most unique motorcycle is an Indian Sport Chief Chopper built especially for him, with a redesign from the tank to the rear and an improved V-Twin engine. Antes of this build, Reedus had never flown an Indian. Também has a custom Triumph Scrambler Hammerhead Jack Pine, replica of the 1992 Honda CB750 used in “The Walking Dead”, 2008 Sportster Harley, 1946 vintage Knucklehead, 1987 custom FXR, and Triumph Tiger 800 — your favorite.
David Beckham: Amazonian invisibility on two wheels
David Beckham, English football legend and co-owner of Inter Miami, finds motorcycles a special form of invisibility. Publicou message on Instagram: “Empty your mind, [freedom] is all you need to think about.” Sua collection includes:
- Custom 93 cubic inch Knucklehead “Super Vintage” with S&S KN93 engine
- Confederate F131 Hellcat Combat
- British Customs DBSC
- Triumph Bonneville T100 customized
- Triumph 850 custom Street Scrambler
The Triumph Bonneville T100 deserves to be highlighted as it was his first major customized motorcycle. Apareceu in the 2014 documentary “David Beckham Into the Unknown” for the BBC, in which Beckham and three friends traveled the Brazilian Amazônia. The custom T100 features spoked wheels with Sun Racing aluminum rims and Beringer four-piston competition brakes for powerful braking with minimal effort.
The Super Vintage 93 Knucklehead boasts a purposefully rugged, distressed finish, combining the soul of a 1940s Knucklehead with modern engineering through a five-speed transmission and electric start.
