Classic Triumph stars in Bob Dylan biopic

A new film from director James Mangold (Walk the Line, Ford v Ferrari, Logan) looking at a few pivotal years in the life of Bob Dylan features Timothée Chalamet as the young Dylan and a vintage 1964 T100.

Faithfully recreating the biking scene that defined the music legend’s early career, ‘A Complete Unknown’ opens in Australian cinemas this month.

A Complete Unknown takes the audience into the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village during the early 1960s; a time when folk music, activism and cultural change converged to shape a generation. The film follows Dylan’s journey from ambitious newcomer to revolutionary artist whose music would forever change the cultural landscape.

With an ensemble cast that includes Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown explores the relationships, inspirations and cultural forces that defined Dylan’s early career - including his pivotal switch from acoustic folk to electric rock - all set against the backdrop of one of the most transformative eras in recent American history.

Dylan, who wore a Triumph t-shirt on the cover of his 1965 album, Highway 61 Revisited, had a real connection to Triumph at this point. He famously owned a 1964 T100 and just as famously crashed it in July, 1966, unleashing a tidal wave of conspiracy theories as to the severity of the accident and its impact on his career. What is known is Dylan didn’t tour for years after the crash, but how – or indeed if – the two are connected remains open to speculation. A Complete Unknown doesn’t address this, as the time period covered ends before the ’66 crash.

Launched in 1959 (the same year as the Bonneville T120), the T100 was a 500cc twin, derived from the unit construction 5TA Speed Twin. A genuine 100mph machine in street form, the T100 would go much faster in race tune, as proven by wins in the Daytona 200 in 1966 and ’67.

Triumph says the classic T100 embodied the spirit of freedom and individuality that also defined Dylan’s early years.

For A Complete Unknown, a period-correct T100 was sourced as a faithful representation of the bike that Dylan rode almost 60 years ago.

“In A Complete Unknown, the T100 is more than just a piece of period detail — it is a reflection of the era’s bold energy and creative exploration,” says Triumph’s Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Stroud. “Its sleek design and cultural significance make it a seamless addition to the film’s recreation of 1960s Greenwich Village, amplifying the authenticity of Dylan’s world.”

A Complete Unknown opens in Australian cinemas from 23 January, 2025.