A Vietnam vet, a promise, and a biker gang showdown on the American highway.
THE HARD RIDE
Some machines are more than most men can handle!
A U.S. Marine Vietnam veteran brings his dead buddy home to his former girlfriend and motorcycle gang. He promises to take care of a dead friend's motorcycle, and is threatened by a rival biker gang in the process.
From the era when loyalty was measured in horsepower and leather vests.
Burt Topper puts the pedal to the melodrama with a Vietnam vet caught between a biker gang's hostility and a promise made on the battlefield. This slice of bikersploitation doesn't just ride the open road—it revs up the stakes with loyalty, rivalry, and the ever-looming presence of 'Baby', the most contested motorcycle this side of the Pacific.
— SassyFlix Programmer
The Hard Ride is a 1971 American action drama film directed by Burt Topper about a Vietnam veteran who returns home to honor his dying buddy's wish by caring for his motorcycle, only to clash with a threatening biker gang.
Synopsis
Why Cult
The film dives deep into the bikersploitation genre, pitting rival biker gangs against a Vietnam vet with a code of honor.
A rare look at post-war promises and the collision between battlefield loyalty and civilian life, all through the lens of a 1970s biker flick.
The late buddy's motorcycle, 'Baby', is more than chrome and wheels—it's the film's emotional and narrative centerpiece.
Trailer
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
What is The Hard Ride about? +
The Hard Ride follows a Vietnam veteran who tries to fulfill his promise to take care of his fallen friend's motorcycle, only to find himself at odds with a rival biker gang and his buddy's girlfriend.
When was The Hard Ride released? +
The Hard Ride was released in 1971.
Who directed The Hard Ride? +
The Hard Ride was directed by Burt Topper.
How long is The Hard Ride? +
The Hard Ride has a runtime of 93 minutes.
What genre is The Hard Ride? +
The Hard Ride is an action drama film.
Themes & Keywords
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