Actor Jason Momoa is well-known for his tough guy roles in shows like Game of Thrones and movies like Aquaman. But in real life, he’s also a hardcore motorcycle enthusiast with a particular passion for vintage Harley-Davidson bikes. Specifically, Momoa is a self-professed lover of old Knucklehead models which he calls “straight up, old school, old man’s style.”
In 2019, the handsome movie star revealed his latest two-wheeled project: a totally custom 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead he built from scratch with help from his kids and his buddy Jeremiah of Love Cycles shop. After nearly 30 years of keeping the broken Knucklehead motor in storage, Momoa finally brought his vintage dream machine to life.Momoa took on the ambitious project in order to create something unique he could one day pass down to his children. The devoted family man has two kids with ex-wife Lisa Bonet – 14-year-old Lola and 13-year-old Nakoa-Wolf.
While assembling the motorcycle, Momoa got his kids involved so they could learn about mechanics. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to build with my kids,” he told Men’s Journal. Momoa fully customized the bike to reflect his kids’ personalities. The massive rear tire has “Wolf” etched into the tread in honor of his son Nakoa-Wolf. It also has a sidecar attached specifically so he can safely take his kids for rides when it’s finished. Momoa admitted his wife at the time insisted he add the sidecar. “If I didn’t put a side hack on it, I’d be in the doghouse,” he joked. The core of Momoa’s Harley build revolves around the antique Knucklehead V-twin engine he salvaged back in the 1990s. The Knucklehead motor was used on Harley models from 1936 to 1947 and remains popular with collectors today.
Momoa sent the engine off to Jeremiah River of Love Cycles to be rebuilt and tuned up. The guys at Love Cycles are experts in restoring old Harley bikes back to their full vintage glory.After investing serious hours getting the Knucklehead powerplant running right, it was time for Momoa and Jeremiah to build a complete custom motorcycle around it.
Momoa and Jeremiah assembled all the components to create the ultimate vintage chopper vibe. They gathered an old Harley frame and modified it to work with the engine. Then they outfitted it with custom retro parts to build Momoa’s dream Knucklehead.The bike has an ultra-beefy rear tire and chopped rear fender. Momoa also equipped it with ape hanger handlebars, hand shifter, and low profile leather seat. High mount exhaust pipes and retro air filter cover add to the old school style. The pièce de résistance is the fur lining on the seat and inside the sidecar. Momoa used thick sheepskin to make the bike even more unique and comfortable for his kids. In 2019 Momoa showed off the finished motorcycle masterpiece when he rode it on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Both host and audience were blown away by the bike’s rad style.
Now that his amazing custom Knucklehead is complete, Momoa is thrilled to finally take it out on the road. The bike represents decades of dreaming and months of hard work to build. Momoa took the chopper out recently for a Sunday ride through California with his buddy Jeremiah. With Momoa piloting the vintage Harley and Jeremiah relaxing in the plush sidecar, they caught the eyes of every motorcycle enthusiast they passed. The Aquaman actor couldn’t have looked cooler cruising the highway on his unmistakable flat black custom Knucklehead. Seeing the bike in action shows all the time, skill, and passion invested to create this head-turning ride.
Of all the bikes in his collection, Momoa’s Knucklehead build holds a special place. But he owns an impressive range of motorcycles he loves to ride. In addition to the Knucklehead, Momoa has gushed about his love for Harley-Davidsons. He also owns some fast high-end BMW café racers built for racing. Vintage bikes are especially appealing to Momoa for their history and old school style. The star claims he bought his first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, back when he was just 19 years old. Since then, his passion for bikes has only grown over the years. Momoa is constantly having his motorcycle collection serviced and restored by Love Cycles to keep them all running strong. And he hopes to build more custom bikes in the future.
When he’s not on set, one of Jason Momoa’s favorite places to be is cruising the open highway on two wheels. The down-to-earth star has remained humble and true to himself despite his blockbuster Hollywood success. At his core, Momoa is still a motorcycle-obsessed biker with grease under his fingernails and a need for speed. His timeless custom Harley Knucklehead motorcycle represents the culmination of his dreams as a builder and rider. Momoa is sure to keep pursuing his passion for bikes, passing on his enthusiasm to his children, and bringing his unique rugged style to the road. The custom Knucklehead he built from the ground up proves this famous actor is a true biker at heart.
