Daryl Dixon Motorbikes in The Walking Dead

Survival is all in the world of The Walking Dead. The world disintegrates into chaos, and zombies are everywhere. The characters in the season have to learn to live, improvise, and move forward. Among all the survivors, one character is memorable not only for his silent toughness but also for his memorable ride. Yes, our very favorite, Daryl Dixon.

It is not Daryl Dixon alone who has the limelight. His motorbikes turned out to be one of the most well-known icons of his adventure in the post-apocalyptic world.

However, what is so special about the Daryl Dixon motorbikes? We should have a closer look at Daryl and his bikes and how they became huge in The Walking Dead.

As soon as Daryl Dixon, a character played by Norman Reedus, makes his entry in The Walking Dead on his bike, he becomes a fan favorite. Daryl has perfectly aligned with the rough, no-frills image with his bike. Daryl’s bike is a chopper. The bike has been associated with freedom, power, and the spirit of survival.

The bike, which is a custom-made chopper, is not only a means of transport for Daryl but a part of him. Daryl has a bike, which makes him move around the deadly world of the zombies. This makes him move with speed and prowess, unlike many other characters in the show who use cars, trucks, or horses. It is not merely about getting from point A to point B. It is the feeling of freedom the bike gives him, even as everything collapses around him.

The Daryl Dixon chopper was a 1969 Triumph T120R, 650 cc bike. It was the original Daryl Dixon chopper bike that the fans fell in love with. This was not just any bike; it was a hand-made machine. It resembled the one found in a post-war biker club, not the zombie-infested world of The Walking Dead.

It is interesting to note that this was not Daryl’s bike. It belonged to Daryl’s brother, Merle Dixon. During the first seasons of the show, they have the bike in the back of their blue truck. Daryl doesn’t ride it at first. However, the motorbike became a part of his image as soon as he made it work in Season 2.

The Daryl Dixon Triumph chopper had those trademark high ape hangers. These are the ones with high grips, offering bikers the old-school biker posture. The engine of the bike was roaring with brutality. The robust, muscular body made it the ideal ride for a hard guy like Daryl in the crazy world.

The Daryl Dixon Triumph chopper matched Daryl’s wilderness and rough charm. The viewers were fond of seeing Daryl riding on the bike with the crossbow on his back. They also loved the ‘will-do-whatever-it-takes’ expression.

The first Daryl Dixon chopper was used in seasons 2, 3, and part of season 4. Following the collapse of the prison in ‘Too Far Gone’, the bike disappeared in the show. Some have guessed that it was abandoned in prison, while others are asking whether it was destroyed. It was never clear what happened to that bike.

Daryl Dixon had a new ride in Season 5. This was when it became exciting. The show's makers turned to Classified Moto to design and build this amazing bike. Classified Moto is among the finest custom motorcycle shops in the United States. What they made was pure art.

Norman Reedus, who played Daryl Dixon, was already a friend of the shop. They have already made a custom bike for Norman. Reedus had the right person to call when the show’s boss, Scott M. Gimple, required a new bike for Daryl.

The Custom bike builders at Classified Moto went with the 1992 Honda CB750 Nighthawk as the base. However, it was not a stock bike. It was fully transformed by Classified Moto.

• The front was based on a Yamaha YZF-R6 sports bike.

• It also took the front wheel and front brakes from the YZF-R6.

• It borrowed the gas tank from an XS650 Replica.

Each section of the Daryl Dixon motorcycle was carefully selected.

As per the custom builders, the hardest part of the job was to make Daryl’s bike look old and beaten up. However, they had to make it look exceptional as well. This was a real challenge.

• The bike had to match the dead things and the ruin of the world.

• It had to appear as though it had been in existence throughout the years of chaos.

The crew at Classified Moto assured that the bike appears that way. They used certain tricks to make it happen.

• They combined rust powder, vinegar, and steel wool.

• They used this mixture in layers.

• After that, they dried it with heat guns.

What came out was rust, which appeared natural and old but was intentionally built.

The painting work was no less precise.

• Every section was scratched and dented.

• The engine was painted to appear as if it belonged to many different origins.

• The seat was a hand-sewn leather one.

• Under the rear fender was a custom bag, holding gear.

Daryl’s custom bike by Classified Moto had one thing that was unique to The Walking Dead World. It was a special rack built above the rear fender. It was a simple crossbow mount that was especially designed to fit Daryl. His popular crossbow can be tied directly to the bike. It was cool and sensible to the character. Daryl was able to keep his best weapon with him when he was riding.

Classified Moto made two similar bikes. This was necessary for the filming. Both bikes looked perfect, whether it was an action scene or a close-up shot. The team strived to ensure that all details were similar.