--- title: 10 Historical Icons Who Secretly Loved Motorcycles (One Even Changed History Because of It) description: "History’s hidden riders: 10 icons who loved motorcycles, secret stories revealed—including the one passion that helped change history" image: https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/t-e-lawrence.jpg --- [![rideadv-logo no bottom text](https://www.rideadv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rideadv-logo%20no%20bottom%20text.png?width=288&name=rideadv-logo%20no%20bottom%20text.png "rideadv-logo no bottom text")](https://www.rideadv.com?hsLang=en-us) - [+1-458-836-5426](tel:+1458-8365426) - [** WhatsApp ](https://wa.me/14588365426) - [Contact Us](https://www.rideadv.com/contact-ride-adventures?hsLang=en-us) - [Blog](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog?hsLang=en-us) - [**](https://www.rideadv.com/search-results?hsLang=en-us) - [Request Information](https://www.rideadv.com/contact-ride-adventures?hsLang=en-us) [**](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/historical-icons-who-loved-motorcycles#mobile-nav) ### RIDE Adventures Blog # 10 Historical Icons Who Secretly Loved Motorcycles (One Even Changed History Because of It) Posted by [RIDE Adventures](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/author/ride-adventures) on November 18, 2025 ![RIDE Adventures](https://www.rideadv.com/hubfs/rideadv-logo%20(1).png) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![ride-adventures-in-bolivia-with-a-few-motorcycle-bags](https://www.rideadv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ride-adventures-in-bolivia-with-a-few-motorcycle-bags.jpg?width=1200&height=900&name=ride-adventures-in-bolivia-with-a-few-motorcycle-bags.jpg) Motorcycles have drawn adventurers, rebels, and thrill-seekers for over a century — but they’ve also quietly captured the hearts of some of history’s most influential leaders, inventors, and pioneers. From kings escaping palace walls to innovators whose designs shaped the machines we ride today, these 10 historical icons prove that motorcycling’s appeal reaches far beyond the stereotype. The last one really speaks to us at [RIDE Adventures!](https://www.rideadv.com/who-we-are?hsLang=en-us) ## **T.E. Lawrence** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/t-e-lawrence.jpg)“[On the Aerodrome at Amman: T.E. Lawrence, Sir Herbert Samuel, Amir Abdullah, April, 1921](https://www.flickr.com/photos/76204898@N00/3371794658)” by [trialsanderrors](https://www.flickr.com/photos/76204898@N00) is licensed under [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)** Lawrence of Arabia’s fascination with Brough Superior motorcycles was as intense as his wartime exploits. He owned seven of them, often riding at breakneck speeds through the countryside. His 1935 crash not only ended his life but also prompted safety research that influenced the modern motorcycle helmet. [![RIDE-the-himalayas-v10](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/interactive-199390195009.png) ](https://www.rideadv.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI2Nt2Q5J87GhCgRdJ1el1B4AsadL0bTnmyromZg3ZPjYu1PCV65Q4sOPJxq%2B2MJVqosBzQZFwSG20OJgXjhB35cEJyc7kMJpEpI2U8qen5vsDIWuyuYmAF2pO%2FESf0gewpwg9qdgwxxdxbojWZKGIdSqz3IbFTjqHRbyuaFrUcO6JLewc%2Ba7pa0BrhXo7gu5SpHPawzGT6DjBafHjQnaW64p%2Bh1%2Fxm02n%2Btw%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=199390195009&portalId=43106&hsLang=en-us) ## **Che Guevara** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/che-guevara.jpg)“[Che Guevara ‘The Image That Started It All’](https://www.flickr.com/photos/91198056@N00/2630574865)” by [Podknox](https://www.flickr.com/photos/91198056@N00) is licensed under [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)** Before he became the revolutionary figure on posters worldwide, Che Guevara was a 23-year-old medical student who took a transformative road trip across South America on a Norton 500. Chronicled in *The Motorcycle Diaries*, the ride opened his eyes to the social inequalities that would fuel his political cause. [![coach and camp training expedition program](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/e8083b9c-38de-41e1-adb8-ce6d01b57537.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/e8083b9c-38de-41e1-adb8-ce6d01b57537) ## **Orville Wright** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/orville-wright.jpg)“[Orville Wright, IWM](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=102154376)” by Unknown author is licensed under [CC CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en/)** One half of the famous Wright brothers, Orville Wright’s love for motorcycles paralleled his fascination with flight. He admired their mechanics and often used them to get around Dayton, Ohio, incorporating similar engineering concepts into early aircraft designs. [![Free Motorcycle Trip Kit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/a5ef1a66-168b-44f4-91a3-f4f24afd3062.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/a5ef1a66-168b-44f4-91a3-f4f24afd3062) ## **Ferdinand Porsche** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ferdinand-porsche.jpg)“[Bundesarchiv Bild 183-B21019, Ferdinand Porsche](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5388805)” by Unknown author is licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en/) ** The automotive legend behind the Porsche brand began his career working on motorcycle engines and prototypes. His early designs reflected a belief in efficiency and performance that would later define his cars. [![motorcycle trip packing banner](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/9daa0cef-8002-4308-ab12-3cf1614ccdc0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/9daa0cef-8002-4308-ab12-3cf1614ccdc0) ## **Max Friz** **![BMW_R32_vl_TCE (1)](https://www.rideadv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BMW_R32_vl_TCE%20(1).jpg?width=1200&height=899&name=BMW_R32_vl_TCE%20(1).jpg)"Stahlkocher" BMW R32 lic, CC BY-SA 3.0 “[Stahlkocher BMW R32](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_R32)” is licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en/)** As BMW’s first chief designer, Max Friz developed the R32 motorcycle in 1923, introducing the flat-twin boxer engine and shaft drive — innovations still central to BMW bikes today. ## **King Hussein of Jordan** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/king-hussein-of-jordan-1024x693.jpg)“[Flickr – Government Press Office (GPO) – King Hussein of Jordan lights P.M.Yitzhak Rabin’s cigarette at royal residence in Akaba](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22811911)” by [Yaakov Saar](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28751896) is licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)** Jordan’s monarch was an adventurer at heart. Riding Harley-Davidsons and BMWs offered him rare moments of freedom, often without the formality of a royal escort. [![Motorcycle Trip Kit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/2f171276-b274-493d-8d9a-88b9b1366869.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/2f171276-b274-493d-8d9a-88b9b1366869) ## **King Albert II of Belgium** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/king-albert-ii-of-belgium.jpg)“[Belgique – 21 juillet 2010 – Personnalités](https://www.flickr.com/photos/34719387@N03/4837309971)” by [saigneurdeguerre](https://www.flickr.com/photos/34719387@N03) is licensed under [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/)** Albert II enjoyed motorcycle touring across Europe, finding anonymity and camaraderie among fellow riders at roadside stops. [![Riders on an off road training expedition by RIDE Adventures.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/ba72aa6d-6a4f-4e03-82aa-06863469ab46.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/ba72aa6d-6a4f-4e03-82aa-06863469ab46) ## **Charles Lindbergh** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/charles-lindbergh.jpg)“[Charles Lindbergh, Nicaragua, circa 1928](https://www.flickr.com/photos/60868061@N04/24786795656)” by [Archives Branch, USMC History Division](https://www.flickr.com/photos/60868061@N04) is licensed under [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)** The aviator who made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight also had a lifelong love for motorcycles, using them for solo explorations across America. [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/e3a5672b-53fb-48d0-bed0-a1fbddc2c66f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/e3a5672b-53fb-48d0-bed0-a1fbddc2c66f) ## **Carl Stearns Clancy** **![](https://rideadvblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Clancy_on_Henderson_1913.jpg)Photo credit: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Stearns_Clancy)** In 1912, Clancy set out to become the first person to ride a motorcycle around the world, covering over 18,000 miles on a Henderson Four — an achievement that cemented him as a pioneer of adventure travel. [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/cb024c22-e245-4e93-8715-e710631781b2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/cb024c22-e245-4e93-8715-e710631781b2) ## **Conclusion:** **![top-case-with-motorcycle-camping-gear-in-patagonia](https://www.rideadv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/top-case-with-motorcycle-camping-gear-in-patagonia.jpg?width=1200&height=800&name=top-case-with-motorcycle-camping-gear-in-patagonia.jpg)** From royalty to revolutionaries, these figures show that motorcycling’s allure transcends time, class, and profession. Whether for exploration, engineering, or escape, the pull of the open road is as timeless as the machines themselves. **READ MORE→ [9 Best Adventure Motorcycle Tires](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/adventure-motorcycle-tires?hsLang=en-us) [7 Best Dual Sport Helmets in 2025](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/best-dual-sport-helmets?hsLang=en-us) [9 Best Dual Sport Motorcycles of All Time](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/best-dual-sport-motorcycles?hsLang=en-us)** **[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/00500a52-1910-4d0c-9105-0252028d7527.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/00500a52-1910-4d0c-9105-0252028d7527)** ### Subscribe to the RIDE Adventures blog by Email  [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/43106/952ef3c8-c8e3-4b4d-833a-e2ce5b612f3c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/43106/952ef3c8-c8e3-4b4d-833a-e2ce5b612f3c) ### Browse by Category - [4x4 Adventures (2)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/4x4-adventures) - [Adventure Packing & Planning (37)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/adventure-packing-planning) - [Fixes & Maintenance (16)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/fixes-maintenance) - [Motorcycle 101 (3)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-101) - [Motorcycle Gear (93)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-gear) - [Motorcycle Product Reviews (59)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-product-reviews) - [Motorcycle Rentals (10)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-rentals) - [Motorcycle Reviews (49)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-reviews) - [Motorcycle Safety (39)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-safety) - [Motorcycle Tours (39)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-tours) - [Motorcycle Training (27)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-training) - [Motorcycle Travel Info (102)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/motorcycle-travel-info) - [News & Events (138)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/news-events) - [thailand (1)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/thailand) - [travel advice & suggestions (1)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/travel-advice-suggestions) - [Trip Reports (40)](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/topic/trip-reports) [see all](https://www.rideadv.com/ride-adventures-tour-and-rentals-blog/historical-icons-who-loved-motorcycles#) ### Latest Posts ## Start Your Reservation Process Now. 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