What type of motorcycle does Steve McQueen use in the film "The Great Escape"?

The motorcycle that Steve McQueen uses in the 1961 film "The Great Escape" is a Triumph. The specific type of motorcycle was a Triumph TR6 Trophy. This vehicle was made by Triumph, in Meriden, from 1956 to 1973, when it was replaced by the five-speed 750-cc Triumph Tiger TR7V. During its time, it was a successful model, particularly used in the United States. The competition variant model, popularly known as the "desert sled", won numerous competitions throughout the late 1950s and 1960s. Steve McQueen's fondness for the model was well known. He used it for his participation in the 1964 International Six Days Enduro, formerly known as the International Six Days Trial (ISDT), the oldest 'off-road' motorcycle event started in 1913.

In the film "The Great Escape", Triumph TR6 Trophy models were disguised as German BMW R75 motorcycles. The star of the movie (McQueen) did much of the riding in the film himself, although Bud Ekins performed the famous jump scene as McQueen's stunt double. Pin-striper and artist Von Dutch converted the motorcycles for the movie while working at Ekins' shop.