It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since Sons of Anarchy finished its streaming run here in Australia.
Clearly, it proves that bad guys, action, and motorcycles continue to go hand in hand for top-rating television and movie themes. Max Max Furiosa and The Bike Riders are further proof of the tradition that goes back 70 years to Marlon Brando’s ‘The Wild One’. And let’s not forget ‘Terminator’ and ‘Easy Rider’ along the way.
Overwhelmingly the motorcycle of choice for these cinematic success stories is the Harley-Davidson and so it was with Sons of Anarchy.
The show ran for an incredible seven seasons and even spawned a spin-off series, ‘Mayans MC,’ which ran for five more seasons. No prize for guessing which brand of motorcycle the Mayans rode. Yes, Harley-Davidson.
Sons of Anarchy gave English actor, Charlie Hunnam, his big break playing the lead character Jax Teller. Jax rides a customised Dyna Super Glide Sport (FXDX) and he’s carrying on a family tradition since his late father, John ‘JT’ Teller rode a ‘46 Knucklehead.
Well-known and easily recognised Ron Perlman (think Hellboy) plays Clarence 'Clay' Morrow who rides his own Dyna Super Glide. In fact, Dynas of various descriptions are the chosen mount for the other main characters like Opie and Chibs (Dyna Street Bob).
Arch rivals, the Mayan MC, all rode Heritage Softails although the club’s patriarch, Alvarez, is also seen on a customised 2008 Road King. The Softails sport various modifications including whitewall tyres, ape hangers and fishtail exhaust tips.
One breakaway character, African-American Taddarious ‘TO’ Orwell, however, rides a very distinctive Screamin’ Eagle Road King. The dominance of Harley-Davidson in the show begs the question: ‘Did The Motor Company collaborate with the show’s producers?” The answer is ‘yes’. A special team at Harley-Davidson collaborated with the "SOA" production team to customise more than 100 motorcycles for the show. From "club style" cruisers to touring bikes, each motorcycle began as a stock showroom model and canvas for customization.
When the series ended in 2015, H-D even donated a special ‘SOA’ themed bike as a prize for one lucky viewer. Pic below.
