Mutt's Motorcyle - some details and opinions

[Havana]

latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2008/05/the-indiana-jon.html

Here’s an article giving the details on Mutt’s motocycle from Indy 4. It’s nice to have such information readily available these days rather than having to track it down 20 years after the fact. Mutt’s bike was a 2007 Harley Davidson. The new bike was made up to look like a late 40’s Harley Davidson. Riding such a bike is a bit of a family tradition. Indy rode a similar Harley in the novel I.J. and the Dinosaur Eggs and in the comic I.J. and the Iron Phoenix.



If you’ve got $18,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can buy a new one like Mutt’s. Then, take it home and start distressing it.



Being a motorcycle person, I was very unhappy when I first saw the movie bike. I thought they did a poor job of making it appear vintage. Later, I cooled down and tried to look at it in the context of an average moviegoer. Close enough, I guess. They did a fairly good job of making the bike looked used and adding some period details, such as the fake kick starter. I do like the cavalry style horse saddlebags. The two things that really scream that this is a modern bike are the very visible disc brakes and the engine. They claim they needed the discs for safety. I can’t fault them on that. I’d rather them have a safe bike for the actors to ride rather than fake it all with a blue screen. Having experience (too much of it) with vintage motorcycles, I also can’t blame them for going with a modern machine. Time is money on a movie set and they can’t sit around waiting to figure out why a 60 year old bike won’t start on cue. Still, the engine should have been painted black. That way its modern design wouldn’t have been so noticeable. The bike, like many of the vehicles in the film, uses modern tires instead of period correct bias ply tires (which are still widely available from places that specialize in just that). I guess not many people would know that or even notice. Most of these “cheats” really only show up in still pictures and aren’t that noticeable in the film itself. I’m not complaining about any of that. I’m just noting it. I can say that the attention to period detail does seem to be a bit more lax than in the previous films.




I have to give them kudos for actually letting the Shia and Ford ride the bike for real and not just having it towed or on a trailer 100% of the time. This is very rare. A few years ago there was a Bond movie with a lengthy motorcycle chase. In that one, Pierce Brosnan, who is an experienced and licensed rider, was furious on the set because he was not allowed to ride the motorcycle at all or even sit on it unless it was bolted to a trailer rig or some other kind of support. At least, Speilberg had the stones to let two competent adults ride a bike around town. I’m just glad Shia was evidently sober for those shots.

[GCR]

Excellent thread, Havana! Your knowledge of vintage vehicles is quite impressive! I always enjoy reading your posts, as they're very well researched and usually come with a laugh or two. (Shia being sober on set...nice one ;D )

Not being a bike person myself, and readily admitting that I have zero knowledge on the subject, I was curious...is the model of Harley they used in KOTCS at least modeled after a vintage style bike?

[Havana]

The picture above is a stock 2007 H-D Heritage Springer Classic. This is what they started with. The bike(s) used in the movie were supposed to replicate a bike known as a Panhead which first came out in 1948. I guess Mutt's bike was supposed to be well worn by the time Indy 4 takes place. It looks it. The picture below is an original Panhead.


Notice that the genuine bike has a hand shifter on the left side similar to that on a car. This was aptly referred to as a suicide shifter. Also, the super feeble drum brakes were known as "squeeze and pray" brakes. My earlier post may have sounded critical but they really did a pretty decent job. Only a purist would see the differences. Luckily for the filmmakers, the Harley Davidson of today specializes in building nostalgic time machines - for a price.

[Ragingblues]

Brilliant research and information Havana!


Ken

[Damned Dan]

I agree that the motorcycle was obviously modern from the moment it first appeared on-screen. I've had several motorcycles over the years, and even with retro styling you can still tell a new bikes from a vintage one. As you stated, it makes sense to go the new bike route for safety issues. They did it with "The Great Escape". They used a bike that came out over 15 years after the war ended and it wasn't even German. At least "The Great Escape" Triumph was a little more convincing. Since Lucas is obsessed with CGI, he could of dumped a little more money into computer generating some of the more authentic parts over the live action. I remember when Bruce Willis did "Hudson Hawk", he made them go back and digitally fill in his bald spot frame for frame. Don't we deserve more Mr. Lucas.

[New Yorker Jones]

In George's eyes, he probably thinks we're "lucky" that Indy IV came out.

[jsl5150]

In more then a few scenes the belt drive was clear as a bell. And there is no way to can disguise the twin cam engine.

There are several complete 1940's panhead kits out there with repro 74" and up panhead engines and it could have been built for 30k.

Yeah, the great escape bikes were Triumph TT 650's with the Bonneville low pipes. McQueen was familiar with how these bikes handles since he ran his own TT's in scrambles. In no way do ther resemble BMW R12's but it is still one of the great movie of all time!

[BazzanoJones]

I'm an Harley Davidson owner and fan, but I agree with have said that only a purist can see the difference.
For example: the Nazi's bikes in Last Crusade were japanes trial bike, painted olive drab and filled with packs and mud.
I'm not an expert of WWII bikes or trial bikes and I've never noticed that point until I've read it in internet.

I really dislike only one thing into the CS bike chase, and I've noticed it the first time I've saw the movie.
At the very start, when Mutt kick-start the bike, it's pretty evident that is a fake start pedal: if you pay attention Shia push down his foot BEHIND the pedal!
Hey, guys! They are in a millions dollar production having the ILM artists working full time on set! Why they didn't made a fake but functional and pushable kick-start?!

[DetectiveJones]

I too have alot of opinions about Mutt's bike. However, It is much cooler just to kep my mouth shut and show you my Muttcycle.

[Ragingblues]

I have no idea if it's exactly like Mutt's motorcycle or nothing at all like it. I was too busy cringing during KOTCS to notice such things. However, it is a cool looking bike!


Ken

[Havana]

I love the black look of that bike.