Captain America's Motorcycle was Steve Rogers' personal motorcycle. The original was a World War II era motorcycle modified for Rogers' personal use in combat on the battlefields of Europe. After being frozen and revived in the modern age, Captain Rogers continued using modern model Harley-Davidsons for both personal use and during active missions as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and as an Avenger.
History[]
World War II Era[]
Captain America's motorcycle was a 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA "Liberator" with custom additions made for the personal use of Captain Steve Rogers during his service in World War II. It began as a standard Harley-Davidson model motorcycle that was modified by Howard Stark and the Strategic Scientific Reserve, who added several weapons and gadgets for use in combat situations.
Captain America riding into Red Skull's base
Near the end of the war, in a plan to infiltrate HYDRA Headquarters, Captain America used this motorcycle to attack the base head-on, as well as serving as a distraction for the Howling Commandos and other SSR forces to break in. The bike's gadgets proved useful in taking out a squadron of HYDRA soldiers on motorbikes patrolling the outside of the base. As Rogers approached the base, he used the motorcycle to jump the main wall. He abandoned the bike after setting it to self destruct, aiming the bike for the base's main blast doors, which were taken out by the resulting explosion.[1]
Decades later, a replica of Captain America's World War II era motorcycle was put on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., alongside other displays documenting the activities of Captain America, the Howling Commandos, and the Strategic Scientific Reserve during World War II.[2] In 2024, the replica had been placed on display in a new section of the updated Captain America exhibit.[3]
Modern Age[]
In 2012, during the Chitauri Invasion, Rogers relied on a 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim as his personal form of transportation. However, due to changes in modern forms of transportation and the variety of his new assignments under S.H.I.E.L.D., he rarely, if ever, used his motorcycle while running missions and regulated it to personal use only. When regathering with the Avengers at Central Park to see off Thor, Loki, and the Tesseract, Rogers arrived and departed on his motorcycle.[4]
Captain America about to face an attacking Quinjet
In 2014, during the HYDRA Uprising, between running missions for S.H.I.E.L.D., Rogers drove a Harley Davidson Street 750. as his personal motorcycle. After Captain America was branded an enemy and fugitive by Alexander Pierce, he attempted to escape from the Triskelion on his Street 750. Rogers was able to expertly maneuver past roadblocks and other security measures, even engaging a Quinjet head-on as it opened fire upon him.[2]
In 2015, Rogers once again drove a Harley-Davidson Street 750 during the attack on the HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia. During the attack, he performed a somersault and threw it at a Humvee filled with HYDRA soldiers.[5]
Alternate Universe Versions[]
Attack on HYDRA Headquarters[]
In an alternate universe, Steve Rogers drove his motorcycle towards HYDRA Headquarters, focused on his mission to finally take HYDRA down. Distracted by his goal, Rogers drove the motorcycle over a tripwire, attracting HYDRA's attention. A HYDRA soldier got close tothe motorcycle and hit it, but Rogers managed to steady it. Rogers then crashed his motorcycle into a HYDRA motorcycle, causing them to crunch together. Rogers used the bike to avoid gunfire and crash a sentry into a tree. He used the bike to jump over the wall to the compound, popping a tire on the bike. Rogers was then captured.[6]
Capabilities[]
1942 Harley-Davidson WLA "Liberator"[]
Captain America's motorcycle had the same capabilities as a Harley-Davidson model motorcycle of that era, along with the added capabilities granted by the gadgets and upgrades added by SSR engineers. Enhancements included a deployable trip wire and a rear-facing flamethrower to eliminate pursuers, twin mini rocket launcher barrels mounted to the front of the bike, and a delayed self destruct function, all controlled from a control box on the right handlebar. Additionally, Rogers could fix his shield to the front of the bike to block and deflect on-coming fire from HYDRA weapons.[7]
Alternate Versions[]
Appearances[]
| Appearances for Captain America's Motorcycle |
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In chronological order:
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