Elvis's Bikes

James Dean's uncle Marcus bought him his first motorcycle, a 1947 Czech Whizzer. Jimmy also owned an English cycle, a Harley Davidson, a 500cc Norton, an Indian 500, an Italian Lancia scooter and a British Triumph T-110, which had "Dean�s Dilemma" painted on the side. In the 1953 movie THE WILD ONE Marlon Brando and most of the Black Rebels ride Triumphs and other British motorcycles, while Lee Marvin and his boys ride Harley-Davidsons. Brando's motorcycle was a 650cc Triumph Thunderbird. Lee Marvin owned a Triumph, a 200cc Tiger Cub where which he frequently competed in desert races. Even Clark Gable enjoyed a ride on his Ariel motorcycle until the studio decided his pastimes was far too dangerous.

Elvis could stroll to the garage and decide which motorbike to fire up for a ride. He had a choice. A vintage Harley Panhead or a Honda Dream, or perhaps a Triumph bike. Most likely it would be his favourite Harley-Davidson Dresser. "Most loved bike Elvis owned was the Harley Dessert. They were police-type bikes. Bigger and close to the ground just what Elvis loved," says Ron Elliot, the proprietor of SuperCycle, a Memphis motorbike shop that took care of all Elvis motorcycle business.

	Viva Las Vegas 1964 Sporting comic-book names Lucky Jackson (Elvis) and Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret) the two forge a romance against the backdrop of the Vegas Grand Prix, which Elvis, naturally intends on winning. Typically as in most Elvis movies he needs to achieve his goal through hard work slaving as a hotel employee in order to raise enough cash to fix his racing car.
	Roustabout 1964 Elvis plays Charlie Roger a motorcycle rider trying to earn a buck singing in small clubs. He gets a temporary job at Maggie Morgan's Carnival while his bike is being repaired.
	Clambake 1967 The heir to an oil fortune Scott Hayward (Elvis) trades places with a water-ski instructor at a Florida hotel to see if girls will like him for himself, rather than his father's money.
	Stay Away Joe 1968 Joe Lightcloud (Elvis) returns home after a successful run on the rodeo circuit. He intends to raise cattle with his father (Burgess Meredith). Elvis is slim, tanned; happy and charming. Try to forget the scene in which he sings to the bull!