As I always lead with an automotive childhood memory in my articles, so why break the habit. I shall take you all back to a 1980’s Advert that sticks in my memory. This probably boiled down to the fact that I loved anything that was a bit daredevil / stunt led when I was younger.

The Triumph TR7V Tiger – Texaco (Motorcycle Display Team)

The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team (RSMDT), also known as the White Helmets, was a group of serving soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army, who gave public displays of motorcycling skills, acrobatics and stunt riding. The Triumph TR7V Tiger was the chosen weapon of choice by the RSMDT.

In the 1980s, the team participated prominently in a British television advertisement for petrol stations of Texaco.

Motorcycle TV advertising

Sadly, we don’t really see many motorcycle sales led adverts on TV anymore – I am putting that down to the digital world providing a more targeted reach for a much lower cost. On the flip side, the digital world allows us to watch these motorcycle commercials from literally anywhere!

Let’s have a look back at a few ads that feature some beautiful bikes, even though in some the bikes were not the supposed to be the main attraction.

Ducati 750 Super Sport – Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume

Yes I know! It wasn’t about selling the bike but perfume! It was one advert that was worth a mention.

The original television advert, Coco Mademoiselle: The Film, aired in 2011 and was directed by Joe Wright – with whom Knightley worked on Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Atonement (2007). It memorably saw the actress jumping on a motorbike and riding through Paris and had more than 14 million views.

Knightley wears a beige coloured suede Chanel catsuit and boots and custom jet helmet from Les Ateliers Ruby. The Ruby Belvedere helmet, also in beige, perfectly matches the vintage Ducati 750 Super Sport machine’s paint scheme, which Knightley doesn’t really ride in the true meaning of the word.

As for the Ducati 750 Super Sport used in the ad, the 1974 bike is considered to be the most significant production bike in Ducati’s history, mostly because it offered the highest standards of handling and performance available at that time and essentially saved Ducati from extinction.

Impossible Dream (the original) – Honda

Above you can watch behind the scenes footage of the making of the advert. I can imagine it was a slight logistical nightmare!

This 2005 advert takes us on a journey of Honda’s vehicles and its Power of Dreams mantra. The star is actor Simon Paisley Day, resplendent with excellent facial hair and funky vintage overalls. Starting with a Z50M Monkey bike, he seamlessly morphs between classic and modern Honda vehicles, including:

Honda Z50M Monkey Bike, Honda Super Cub scooter, Honda TRX450R ATV, Honda S500 convertible, Honda Goldwing motorcycle, 1960 Honda 2RC143 racing motorcycle originally ridden by Jim Redman, Honda S2000 Roadster Honda NSX-R sports car, Honda Fireblade sport bike, Honda RA272 F1 race car, BAR 007 F1 race car, Honda Offshore powerboat using Honda BF225 outboard engine and a Honda branded Hot air balloon

Not a bad collection for a man who lives in a caravan.

The ad cost almost £5m to make and was shot around the world, in Argentina, Japan and New Zealand. 

BMW S1000 RR – Dinner for RR.

To showcase the fearsome acceleration of the new S1000RR superbike, BMW thought it would take on the old trick of pulling a tablecloth out from under a fully set table. The results were pretty impressive and sent this video viral. A true marketing win for the Bavarian company.

From zero to 100km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds sounds very nice… would that help in their XXXL-experiment?

BMW says: “Don’t try this at home with your dishes. Or your mum’s ones.”

Walk the dog – Suzuki

Probably wouldn’t be aired in this day and age!

Suzuki wanted you to imagine that you’re just about to go for a ride on your GSX-R 1000, but your wife wants you to walk the dog. What do you do? There’s no choice but to walk the dog or… you can ride along with the dog (ahem, don’t try this at home folks). Flexing the fact that the machine could do 0 – 200km/h in less than 10 secs.

The poor dog!

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