Fans of the movie, ‘The Terminator’, were thrilled when its sequel was released. ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ soon became more popular than the original, making it one of the top pop culture movies of its decade. A highlight of the movie for motorbike lovers was the Los Angeles River chase scene, where we see Arnold Schwarzenegger steering a Fat Boy 114.
Let’s go behind the scenes to learn how Harley-Davidson came to play such a prominent role in ‘Terminator 2’.
The 1990 Fat Boy's Role In Terminator 2
The Fat Boy 114 was initially featured in promotions for the film, before the movie’s release, attracting the interest of motorbike lovers worldwide. When the movie was released, we saw one of the most iconic scenes: the Harley-Davidson in a chase scene along the dry Los Angeles River bed.
Terminator 2 Overview
Before we dive into the bike’s appearance in the movie, it’s important to set the scene for ‘Terminator 2’. This 1991 movie, directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, was the sequel to the 1984 ‘The Terminator’. Skynet (a self-aware supercomputer gone rogue) sends a T-1000 Terminator back in time to 1995 in an attempt to kill a child, John Connor, who is destined to become the leader of the human resistance. However, the resistance sends a reprogrammed T-800 Terminator (Schwarzenegger) back also, so that the child can be protected and go on to save humanity. And so the battle of the Terminators ensues.
The Significance of Harley-Davidson in Action Films and Greater Pop Culture
Harley-Davidson bikes are associated with rebellious power, timeless style and being cool - ‘badass’ bikes - and can be seen in many action films and greater pop culture throughout the decades. You may also remember them featuring in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ or ‘Pulp Fiction’. Elvis Presley was one of the greatest stars to be a fan of the brand!
The Role of the Harley-Davidson in Terminator 2
The Harley-Davidson became a character of its own in ‘Terminator 2’, gaining just as much attention as some of the actors in the movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger begins his mission to save the young John Connor by stealing the Fat Boy 114 from outside a biker bar named The Corral. ‘Bad to the Bone’ plays in the background, setting the scene for the bike’s appearance in the movie.
The Selection Process
Just as actors are selected for movies, props are also carefully chosen to fit the aesthetic and story of the movie. The Fat Boy 114’s ‘Terminator 2’ appearance was part of the script way before filming started, allowing the team to modify and prepare the bike as needed. Five Fat Boy 114s were acquired for filming, ensuring there were enough bikes should damage or wear occur during more challenging scenes. The bike itself was chosen to fit in with the character, the scenes and the overall look of the movie - it was the perfect choice for ‘Terminator 2’!
Technical Modifications for the Film
The Fat Boy 114 naturally came with many great features, but it was modified to fit the scenes and requirements of the movie. Of the five bikes purchased, two had their speed boosted by adjusting the exhaust, valves and carburettors. The Harley-Davidson’s appearance was tailored to the movie with the addition of the iconic shotgun holster, red pinstriping and chrome trim.
Filming with the Harley-Davidson
Due to the nature of an action movie, the bikes were kept on set, ensuring the team was ready to film at any moment. Arnold Schwarzenegger had a personal stuntman, Peter Kent, who doubled for him in the movie, taking on many of the more dangerous and challenging scenes.
Iconic Scenes
The Fat Boy 114 is first seen at the biker bar, where Schwarzenegger’s character finds it and starts his journey. The other key scene with the bike takes place along the LA River when he tries to help the young John Connor escape from the T-1000.
Stunt Work and Challenges
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stuntman, Peter Kent, spent six weeks in the lead up to filming practicing on the bike, ensuring he was ready for the challenges ahead. As with any type of stunt work, the two worked closely together to ensure Kent took over during any scenes that put the actor at risk. Working with a bike (or any type of vehicle) naturally presented a range of challenges, including ensuring that the camera setup was suitable for the speed and type of driving taking place in each scene.
Impact and Legacy
The legacy of the Harley-Davidson’s appearance in the movie was felt by the company for years after. As with any high profile movie, the company continued to see great sales and interest in not only the Fat Boy 114 but in their full range of bikes.
2018 Auction
One of the Harley-Davidson Terminator 2 bikes used by Schwarzenegger in the movie was sold in 2018 for a whopping USD$480,000 at auction. It had hardly been used during shooting, with just 392 miles on the clock. More than 25 years after its appearance in the movie, interest in the bike was much, much higher than the USD$200,000-$300,000 anticipated!
Influence on Harley-Davidson's Popularity
The appearance of any vehicle in a famous pop culture movie only helps to accelerate sales of the model. People who hadn’t considered purchasing a Harley-Davidson before were suddenly enquiring about availability. While there were some custom modifications made to the model used in the movie, fans could still enjoy feeling like Schwarzenegger on their own Fat Boy 114.
Fan Reactions
While fans saw the bike featured in advertisements for the movie, everyone was surprised by how excited people were by the scenes it featured in. Fans loved the daring addition of the bike and how seamlessly it fitted in with the storyline. One of the bikes is on display in the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, displayed next to the Harley that was used in ‘Easy Rider’.
Other Action Films Featuring Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson bikes have been featured in many movies, including ‘Terminator Genisys’, ‘Fast X’, ‘Wild Hogs’, ‘The Green Hornet’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’.
Conclusion
Years after the movie’s release, Terminator 2 is still seen as one of the most iconic movies featuring a Harley-Davidson.
Lasting Impressions
Fans still watch Terminator 2 over and over again to enjoy the incredible scenes featuring the Fat Boy 114. It’s an action-packed movie that has gone down in history as a pop culture moment we’ll never forget!
Invest In Your Own Fat Boy
So why not ‘make like Arnie’ and contact us at Perth Harley-Davidson to test drive a Fat Boy today.