Motorcycles in Terminator 2: Beyond The Harley Fat Boy

The Terminator 2: Judgement Day was released in 1991 in theatres, and it brought more than just action and thrills. The movie featured one of the most legendary Hollywood motorbikes. Many H-D fans are only interested in having a glimpse of their most loved bike in the movie. However, the story of the bikes in the film is much deeper. We shall venture into the entire story of the motorcycles used in one of the most epic movies of all time, The Terminator 2.

The initial encounter with the T-800 (the main character of the movie), in Terminator 2, is when the T-800 is searching for two things: a bike and clothes that fit. This takes him to a bar where he sweeps past the bikes. It is then that he notices his prize: a 1991 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy.

The cold and killer persona of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2 could not find a better match than the Fat Boy. It was not just any bike; it was raw power in a piece of steel, just like the T-800 itself. The 1991 Fat Boy model had a 1,337 cc V-Twin engine. It produced 49 hp of horsepower. Thus, reaching a top speed of 92 mph. The Softail frame was tough and could support the charm of a strong actor and character.

The selection of the H-D Fat Boy in Terminator 2 was for a reason. In Terminator 1, the T-800 was riding a Honda bike. In Terminator 2, he was filmed riding an American-made Harley. It showed how he changed from a cold robot into a hero who would rescue mankind. The motorbike was as much of a legend as Anrold was.

The Fat Boy used in Terminator 2 was painted black with red pin-stripes on the edges. The shiny chrome trim in the sun made it look more ruthless. It had a custom shotgun holder attached to the side, which was a great idea for quick action shots. The motorbike was 657 lbs heavy, but appeared mean and rough. The message was clear when Arnold got on it: all power, all style, and all danger in one.

Here’s where things get wild. A scene in the second part of the Terminator series made the movie iconic. The T-800 and John Connor flee a tow truck on the back of the Harley up a hill and fly over a chasm. It was just 10 seconds on screen, but it took much longer to shoot this jump.

Director James Cameron desired to do something different at that time. He demanded that a genuine 780-lb Harley actually jump. This was not safe. This was not normal. But it was Cameron who challenged his team to do the magic.

A stunt double portrayed Arnold, Peter Kent, in that iconic jump scene in Terminator 2. The arrangement was quite confirming. A steel cable 200 meters long was suspended between two heavy cranes. This cable was hooked to a spreader bar that was attached to the bike. A truck pulled the bike at 35 mph at full speed off a cliff. The motorcycle flew 85 feet into the air, then was caught by cables and lowered to the concrete below.

It appears on the screen that the bike is flying over the divide in a single arc. In fact, it took 18-20 takes to achieve the ideal shot. Stone was scraped together with metal. The bike appeared strong and grimy. Peter Kent himself was going to give it a try, and Cameron believed in him and his ability.

The leap also brought about certain problems. During one take, Kent lost control of the bike and landed on a camera rig. Cameras flew and crew members scattered. However, that footage wasn’t used. It was the most discussed motorcycle stunt in the history of the films when it finally worked.

The original H-D Fat Boy used in many stunt scenes in the Terminator 2 movie sat for years. In 2018, the bike was auctioned. Fans and collectors bid hard. Finally, the iconic Terminator 2 bike sold for $480,000. This is true! Almost half a million dollars for a Fat Boy used in Arnold’s movie. This shows how significant this motorbike was to the fans worldwide.

Where Arnold rode a huge Harley Fat Boy in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, young Hon Connor rode a Honda XR80 dirt bike. This was a light and fast off-road bike. It enabled Edward Furlong's character to travel at high speed through the LA River and dodge through narrow places. In certain scenes, adult stunt doubles, who were taller and heavier, used the Honda XR100.

The most exciting pursuit in the movie occurs in the deserted riverbed of LA. John is riding his small Honda XR, and the T-1000 is following him in a massive tow truck. It is a sharp contrast; one is riding a small Honda XR80 dirt bike, and the villain is driving a giant metal monster. The sound of the dirt bike was also dubbed with 2-stroke engine sounds to make it appear rougher and wild.

The T-800 (Arnold) finally appears on his Harley Fat Boy to rescue John. He drags John on the back of the bike in a smooth motion. John then rides with the T-800 on a heavier, more powerful machine. The Harley Fat Boy roars as they get away from the truck. The little dirt bike couldn't handle the power, and the Harley's power came to the rescue.

The majority believes that the T-1000, the enemy played by Robert Patrick, rode a Harley in the movie. However, it is wrong. The Villain, T-1000, was riding a white Kawasaki KZ1000P police bike. It was a quick police bike model that used a 1,000 cc inline-four engine. The bike was smooth and agile, but not as assertive as the Harley Fat Boy ridden by T-800 in the movie.

This was not a happy decision for Patrick. Later in the interviews, he mentioned that Arnold got the sexy, bold Harley Fat Boy, and he was left with a simple police bike. However, maybe it was the demand of the script and the scene. Also, the Kawasaki KZ1000P did justice to the high-speed chase scenes. It was pretty prompt and swift in narrow passages.

During a wild stunt in the Terminator 2 movie, the T-1000 throws himself off the Kawasaki KZ1000P police bike and lands on a flying jet. These scenes are shot by fitting the bike with cables and special rigs. It is a hardbop bike that keeps up with the action.

It didn’t start with the Harley Fat Boy in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The first motorcycle that starred was the Honda CB750 in Terminator 1. The first T-800 was a villain in the first part, and it used a 1969 Honda CB750 Four-Cylinder bike. It was a typical bike in the US market. A 736 cc engine powered it and could deliver around 65 hp.

The Honda CB750 in Terminator 1 was modified to resemble a cafe racer/cruiser-style bike. Still, the engine and internal components remained stock. Sarah Connor in the movie hits the Honda bike ridden by the T-800 with her truck. Both vehicles get brutally destroyed in the crash.

The bike chase scene in Terminator 1 was quite brief. As a result, the movie's fans forgot about the Honda CB750. Also, when Arnold Schwarzenegger rode the Harley Fat Boy in Terminator 2, the Honda bike was completely forgotten. Nobody knew which bike featured in the first Terminator movie. The impact of the Fat Boy was so strong.

The Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was released in 2003. The T-850 in the movie rode a 2003 Indian Chief motorcycle. It was a bold choice. The Indian Chief is an American traditional bike that dates back to the early 20th century. There were certain modifications made to the bike, including sirens and lights, to make it a police motorbike.

The Indian Chief possesses good muscle and style. It was not as iconic as the Harle Fat Boy of Terminator 2, but it looks like the baton of an American machine. But the fans will never forget the Harley Fat Boy as compared to the Indian Chief in the third Terminator movie.

Harley sales skyrocketed when the movie, Terminator 2, was released. James Cameron, who was the director of the movie, had requested the company to provide bikes to use in the movie. Harley-Davidson said ‘Yes’, and they went so far as to provide them with bikes for free for the movie. This decision paid off huge.

Those who had not considered owning a Harley were not looking at Arnold riding on the Fat Boy. This made every fan want one of these bikes. The bike became a symbol of being cool, powerful, and in action. Sales went through the roof. The company received millions worth of free marketing. It is all because of one legendary scene in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

What had only taken 10 seconds on the screen had taken weeks to accomplish. It took the stunt rider, Peter Kent, six weeks to prepare. He rode the Harley and jumped. He used to ride the bike, getting acquainted with every inch of it and training his body to perform the difficult iconic stunts.

The special effects team created the cable system used for the bike jump stunt in Terminator 2. Cranes stood steady for the jump to be executed safely. The bikes were placed in a position so that they could be pulled by the trucks at the appropriate speed. Nothing could be out of place. A single error could have resulted in major damage.

The most dangerous parts were handled by James Cameron, the director of the movie. In one scene, he was sitting in a car and driving at the same time as a helicopter performed air stunts. Cameron insisted on perfection and received it, but he endangered his crew. A few years later, Cameron confessed that he would never shoot some of these stunts in contemporary times.

The motorbikes in Terminator 2 were not bone-stock Harleys. Mechanics modified the exhaust, carbs, and valve systems. These changes improved the bikes' performance in the movie's action scenes. The shotgun holster is an addition to the story. Special paint and pinstripes were applied to make the bike stand out.

Still, the base bike was the same. It was a stock Harley Fat Boy pushed to do things Harley never intended.

This is where you can’t be clear about the answer. Reports say between four and 6 Harley Fat Boys were used during the filming. One bike was ridden by Arnold, another was used by the stunt double Peter Kent, and the rest of the Fat Boys were used for the bridge jump and other action scenes.

We are only sure about the one 1991 Harley Fat Boy, which Arnold rode in Terminator 2. It was kept in really good shape and was later sold at a price of $480,000 in 2018.

This is a common question. The answer is mostly no. Peter Kent, Schwarzenegger’s stunt double, did most of the actual riding and all the big stunts in the movie. However, Arnold did ride the bike in some scenes when it was safe and slow. For the dramatic and fast scenes, particularly the bridge jump in Terminator 2, Kent was the man on the bike.

Kent was wearing a rubber mask to resemble Arnold. At a distance, viewers saw what they believed to be Arnold riding the bike. But it was Kent’s skills, dare, and training that made the scenes work. Kent has earned his place in stunt history for his work on ‘Terminator 2’.

When you think of iconic movie motorbikes, there is none quite like the one ridden by Arnold in Terminator 2. The iconic 1991 Harley Fat Boy is more famous than any other movie motorcycle. The bike became a character in the film, almost as important as Arnold himself.

The 1991 Fat Boy was already a good bike. But Terminator 2 made it a legend. Decades later, people are still talking about that particular Harley model. They still remember the scene. The clip is still popular online. The bike is still cherished in the biker culture. Not to forget, it went to the auction and was sold at a whopping price of $480,000.

Harley took advantage of this fame. They created special editions and tribute models. The Fat Boy became a best seller thanks to Arnold and Terminator 2. The marketing couldn’t have been better even if the company had spent millions.

Beyond just the famous and muscular Harley Fat Boy in the Terminator 2 movie, there were other bikes that were brought to the limelight. The little Honda XR80 symbolized youth and agility. The white Kawasaki police bike had both speed and muscle. The Harley brought raw power and American pride.

Director James Cameron knew that bikes could tell a story in a very unique way. Each bike choice meant something. Each bike fits its rider. That is pure movie-making craft at work.

The film posed the question: What bike would a reprogrammed robot with a human soul ride? The answer was simple: The most American, most powerful, and most iconic bike out there. The Harley Fat Boy was ideal for that purpose.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day gave the world more than great action and sci-fi thrills. It gave us the most famous motorcycle in movie history. The 1991 Harley Fat Boy became more than a prop; it became an icon.

But the story of bikes in the film doesn’t end there. John’s little Honda XR, the T-1000’s police Kawasaki, and the nods to the original CB750 all add another layer to the story. Each bike served a purpose.

When you see Terminator 2 today, pay attention to the bikes. See how they move. Notice how they are shot. Understand the reason for each choice made. You will find that James Cameron and his team took a lot of thought about every detail.

The Terminator 2 bridge jump on the Harley still is the crown jewel. It is a stunt that changed cinema and made one motorcycle famous. The legacy of the Fat Boy bike in Terminator 2 lives on even today, more than 30 years after the film's release. The motorbikes in Terminator 2 aren't mere props; they are movie magic in themselves