Johnny Hallyday
When Johnny Hallyday passed away in 2017 at 74, everyone, even French President Emmanuel Macron, recognized him. Macron said that the musician, AKA “the French Elvis,” credited for bringing rock and roll to France, “transcended generations and is etched in the memory of the French people.”
As a tribute to Hallyday’s love of motorbikes, 1,000 motorcycles attended his funeral procession through the Champs-Élysées, where almost one million mourners gathered. Hallyday was an H-D man known for cruising his Harley out to the desert from his LA home. But his collection included European brands and also Ducati, Honda, and Kawasaki bikes.
Bob Dylan
Before Bob Dylan crashed his Triumph, he was an avid rider. The incident happened on the winding roads just outside of Woodstock in 1966. He is suspected of having broken his neck, but the truth has been buried since then; no one knows what really happened.
All we know is that he quit recording albums for three years, and then his music style changed drastically. But he hasn’t given up bikes completely. Dylan was spotted in 2004 riding a Harley-Davidson.
Usher
The elusive pop musician Usher, who, sources say, secretly dated supermodel Naomi Campbell is known to ride. He’s been spotted on a brand-new green Ducati in NYC. He also owns a custom Darwin bike based on a Brawler GT. Yes, it’s fast.
Usher was photographed, pictured here, riding the orange-trimmed bike through Beverly Hills after leaving Barney’s. Not many people can pull off riding a performance bike in a suit.
Dean McDermott
Dean McDermott and wife Tory Spelling have hit some dark places financially. But that didn’t stop McDermott from buying a brand-new Harley-Davidson Victory. It’s a beauty! The $20,000 ride is pearl white with black trim. It’s surprising that he still likes bikes at all after his crash in 2010.
Then, he went dirt biking with his friends and ended up in the ICU with a collapsed lung and a lot of bruising from hitting his chest when he was pitched onto the handlebars. In a Tweet, McDermott announced that his dirt biking days were over.
James Dean
Marlon Brando’s image was often labeled “rebel without a cause,” but James Dean played the part. As Jim Stark in the iconic film where he is forever enshrined, Dean drove a ’49 Mercury Coupe. Dean loved cars. He was on the way to a race when he crashed his Porsche Spyder and died. But he also loved bikes.
He got his first motorcycle for his 16th birthday and was soon known for racing full throttle. He owned a Norton, an Indian, and a Harley. The bike he’s pictured with often is a Triumph Trophy, chosen in deference to Brando.