LEE MORRISON | ON SET
For months, the Triumph design workshop team collaborated, behind closed doors, with the stunt team from the film to configure several feature motorcycles for the movie, including special preparations of Tiger 900 and Scrambler 1200 models to handle the extreme and dynamic action sequences – and the film’s world-class stunt riders – demanded.
“First and foremost, as a stunt co-ordinator I have to be sure that we can achieve the action on that motorcycle. Is it agile and powerful enough for the stunt riders to achieve what I want them to? And also, crucially, does it fit the story of the film in a way that’s credible onscreen.
We loved the look of the Scrambler 1200, and we already knew we would use those in No Time To Die, but then Triumph offered us several prototypes of a bike that hadn’t yet been launched at that time, and that was the Tiger 900. The whole stunt team realised very quickly that these were amazing bikes. We rode those bikes so much in Off-Road Pro mode and the things are amazing... absolutely incredible.”
What did you love about the Tiger 900?
“We spent a long time on the Tiger and it is so balanced. You can just have great fun with it. I joined a Triumph Tiger 900 press ride in Morocco recently and you stick cruise control on and settle in to what’s a really nice touring ride. Then, the other end of the spectrum, turn everything off, stick it in Off-Road Pro mode, and you discover the body positioning, the footpegs, handlebars, down to the rake of the bike, even – everything is perfect. The Tiger 900 is the most confidence-inspiring bike, it allows you to really push the ride as far as you want, you can take as many liberties as you want; stand up sideways drifting in third gear, slow wheelie it, slide it Supermoto-style. I honestly think it’s one of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden, it’s fantastic.”
And what did you love about the Scrambler 1200?
“Ah it’s just so much fun, isn’t it! Get on it, and it’s an absolute blast straight off. I’d switch everything off [Off-Road Pro mode] and ride that thing like it was a motocross bike, couldn’t stop grinning! I remember being worried before filming about potential electrical issues... I didn’t realise that every single electrical connection during Triumph’s testing process is completely waterproofed – not many manufacturers do that. I had zero breakdowns with those electricals for the whole shoot, and that’s with riding day in day out, through rivers and across river beds through four inches, six inches, up to a foot and a half of water.
For the film we rode the Scrambler 1200 absolutely flat out, I mean as aggressive as you can ride a motorcycle, lighting it up off-road on tough terrain in Scotland, drifting it through really slippery streets in Matera [Italy], hitting steps flat out in third gear, quick direction changes, jumps, everything you could imagine, and that bike performed brilliantly.”
What was the most challenging motorcycle stunt scene?
“Well for the Tiger, and remember these are stunt professionals, it was probably when we were riding them at high speeds and bouncing off the sides of cars during the Norway chase scene! It was amazing being able to ride behind and direct my lead stunt rider, constantly telling him to get in there, I want you alongside ‘Bond’, hitting the side of his door, cutting behind. There was a point where we jumped the Tiger over a car and under a helicopter. To have the confidence in a motorcycle to do all those things, on the move, while directing through an earpiece shows you how good that bike is.”
