The motorcycle chase scene with Steve McQueen

Rating: 8/10 (10 February 2006)

The German Army motorcycles used during WWII were BMWs. In the now classic chase scene where Steve McQueen is pursued by many German soldiers, the motorbike ridden by the actor was in actuality a 1950's Triumph! It was really a British twin motorcycle disguised to look like a vintage 1940's German Army BMW motorbike! The vehicles used by the Germans were real vintage 1940's cars, trucks & motorcycles which were repaired to working order to add realism to the script. You can find this information among the many extras in the latest DVD version of The Great Escape re-released in 2004 as a special collector's edition of the movie. You can find it at Best Buy. That's were I bought my copy and also that's were I happen to work! Enjoy it! By the way, I also own and ride a 1997 Triumph Thunderbird and so I've done much research about the Triumph Motorcycle company.