Video: Inside Richard Hammond’s dream motorcycle collection

I own a Ford Ranger, but if you catch me driving any automobile, it’s probably my wife’s Prius. I’m as interested in cars as I am in house plants, which is to say I’m not. In other words, I’ve never watched an episode of Top Gear. In other words, I know of Richard Hammond, but I’m not familiar with his work. 

Yet, I have to admit that after seeing Hammond's motorcycle collection in the latest DRIVETRIBE YouTube video, I’m becoming a big fan. 

We moto-addicts almost always keep a running list of our dream garage. For many, that collection isn’t complete without a Norton or a Ducati 916. Others favor the simplicity of an old Triumph Bonneville. The funny thing is, Richard Hammond’s collection includes all of the above. That’s to say, there’s something for everyone.

Whether it’s highly coveted collectibles like the BMW R90S, 1946 Indian Chief, and Yamaha FZR750, or modern workhorses like the Royal Enfield INT 650, Indian FTR R Carbon, and BMW R 1200 RT, the extensive collection illustrates the importance of diversifying one’s portfolio. Still, it’s Hammond’s anecdotes that truly connect with the rider in all of us.

There’s the “bedroom-wall poster territory” bikes, such as the Suzuki GSX1100S Katana and Honda CBX, which surface Hammond’s charming tales of nostalgia. There are old runners like the 1929 BMW R62, Seeley-Honda 750, Ducati SPS Carl Fogarty, and Suzuki GSX-R1100, which provide beautiful backing tracks for Hammond’s commentary. Of course, we can’t leave the unobtainium that is the Brough Superior, which leaves the audience collectively slack-jawed. 

Richard Hammond may be known for his broadcasting career (both television and radio). His stardom may be ever-linked to Top Gear. Hammond may be a car guy. But if his sizable and downright impressive motorcycle collection is any indication, he’s also a bike guy.