Mission: Impossible 2 came out in 2000, starring Tom Cruise as Impossible Missions Forces (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt, who must track down a biological weapon known as “Chimera.” The film, directed by John Woo, was the highest-grossing film of the year 2000.
Though the plot and dialogue were subjected to criticism, the action sequences were widely lauded. The most memorable is the motorcycle chase / duel late in the film, rife with stoppies, wheelies, jumps, and dirt action.
There are two motorcycles involved, both Triumph models:
- Triumph Speed Triple
- Triumph Daytona 955i
While the two-wheeled physics of the action leave much to be desired, the scene certainly introduced a broader audience to the “bug-eyed” beauty of the Speed Triple. Knobby tires were installed in order to handle the dirt scenes — tires which can be seen in stills from the film, as well as photos of the actual Speed Triple stunt bike on display.
M:I-2 Triumph Speed Triple
This is the black naked bike ridden by Tom Cruise’s character in the film. Some sources have reported the bike as a Speed Triple 955i — however, the black wheels and cursive quarter panel script indicate the bike is an earlier version, either a T509 or the 1999 T595. The T509 Speed Triples had an 885cc, 108-hp, fuel-injected triple cylinder motor, while the T595 received a re-tuned version of the larger 955cc triple from the Daytona.
The dual “bug-eye” headlamps and polished frame gave the bike’s a factory streetfighter look, which would become a trademark of the series. The high-powered triples were tuned for broader torque curves, making these bikes potent hooligan machines.
M:I-2 Triumph Daytona 955i
The Daytona was Triumph’s entry into the sport bike market. The Daytona 955i had a 130-hp triple that helped to establish the company’s reputation for high-performance, distinctive triples.
While the bikes could not quite match the laptimes of the Japanese-built competition, the brawny Daytona 955i was big on class and personality — and it worked better on real roads than the liter-class replica racers from Japan.
Mission Impossible II Motorcycle Chase Scene
Here’s the full video of the chase scene in HD.
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