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Ride with Norman Reedus is a TV show with actor and motorcycle enthusiast Norman Reedus, known for his role as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead. Reedus and the guest of the week take a trip on motorcycles and explore the destination city's biker ways and culture. The show’s host, Norman Reedus, is regarded as one of the most likable guys in Hollywood, and it's easy to see why when watching this show.
The TV show first aired on AMC on June 12, 2016. On the show, Reedus picks the ride companion for each aired episode, with due consideration of the companion’s background and location prior to the ride for the tour.
The show recently concluded its 5th season and has received positive reviews, amassing a huge fan base and followership. Here are engaging reasons bike lovers should never miss this show:
10 It Gets Better Every New Season
Think of it like fine wine... It gets better with age. The recently concluded 5th season has shown a marked increase in the quality of delivery, thrill, and storytelling in the course of the 5 seasons.
The intensity of the laid-back enthusiasm, increasing curiosity, and breathtaking courtesy Reedus approaches the road with, as well as the people he encounters on it, reveals a far departure from conventional Reality-TV which is usually provocative, even borderline aggressive in comparison. It’s a soothing reminder that the really cool people are the ones interested in the world around them.
9 New Territories Worth Exploring
The show has taken Norman Reedus across the Continental United States and even around the world. Here they meet people, check out their businesses, visit natural sceneries, and enjoy riding the bikes chosen for that episode.
For example in episode 5 of season 1, Guitarist Brent Hinds was invited as a ride companion through Louisiana. Starting from Lafayette and ending in New Orleans, they passed through amazing scenery, ate Tacos, went on an airboat ride, got tribute tattoos, performed a voodoo ceremony and met the all-girl motorcycle club Caramel Curves. This could easily pass for an adventure of a lifetime.
8 The Show Inspires Biker Newbies
With a lot of years of experience under his belt as a bike enthusiast and rider, Norman Reedus has always had a thing or two to say to newbies who would love to have a stint in the game. One important tip he gives is the need to always know your surroundings.
He also cautions riders to always be aware of what other vehicles are doing and recommends taking it slow and ride away from traffic, think things through, and if possible pass through empty scenic routes. Starting with smaller bikes that are easier to understand and always ask questions are his was to assure a commonsense approach to bike riding. Really thoughtful and awesome.
7 Each Episode Tells A Story
The TV show has been so popular due to its ability to actively engage the audience from its beginning to end. From his opening line, you will realize that a second missed will be a painful one.
The show is always fun, with great information of the places, the peoples encountered, the food stops and cultures to learn from. Viewers get to see the stories with their own eyes while it is being narrated and adding fun in the mix.
6 Every Show Features New Ideas
The TV show first started with the US in mind, then expanded to other countries as well, such as New Zealand and Spain, as a way of being more engaging with a new landscape, people, customs, and cultures, and of course, the guest stars.
For season five, to add more spice to the show, fans were also given a chance to weigh in and select one of Norman Reedus’ locations using an online poll, where votes could be entered on their social media accounts for the cities listed.
5 Norman Was Once A Bike Mechanic
That may not be too surprising to fans, given his deep knowledge and experience with motorbikes. Early on in his life, before he even dreamt of being an actor, he actually worked as a bike mechanic at Dr. Carl’s Hog Hospital in Venice, Los Angeles.
He was doing this job to make ends meet, until he got into an altercation with his boss, which ultimately led him to be fired. But this actually caused him to be hired as an actor after he headed to a party and started yelling at party goers.
4 It Features Celebrities With Similar Passion
Due to the peculiarities of the show, it has featured a ton of Guest celebrities like Imogen Lehtonen, Balthazar Getty, Jason Paul Michaels, Dave Chappelle, Josh Brolin, Brent hinds, Peter Fonda, and many others.
Each episode of the TV series captures Reedus’ adventures on the open road with the celebrities who accompany him, where they explore everything that a place has to offer while also celebrating the biker culture. This reveals the candid sides of both himself and the guest star, sometimes even bordering on the path of self-discovery.
3 Every Show Features Different Bikes
Another unique feature of the show is that you would always expect something new, even to the motorbikes ridden by Norman and his celebrity guest.
As already known, Norman Reedus is a huge motorcycle enthusiast, owning 4 bikes: a 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster; a 1992 Honda CB750, modified to look like his current bike on The Walking Dead, a customized Hammerhead Jack Pine Triumph Scrambler, and a brand-new Triumph Tiger 800 adventure bike that he was given for Ride. Although he loves all brands, he seems to have a particular affection for the Triumph brand.
2 He Has A Great Sense Of Humor
Expect to smile while watching this engaging show. Sometimes, it is not even unusual to burst out in laughter. Norman’s great sense of humor adds a lot of spice and reveals the fun, playful side of him, in sharp contrast to his role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead.
The epic prank war between Reedus and Andrew Lincoln in Season 3 is one we can’t forget in a hurry. From booby-trapped air conditioning to wrapping a car in toilet paper, it always kept us glued to our seats to see hwat they'd do next.
1 The Hosting Towns Love Him (And The Show)
The travel series shows how Norman starts his journey to a new destination, where he takes numerous stops at local places that include tattoo parlors, custom bike shops, roadside smokehouses, collector’s warehouses, etc. He spends a lot of time interacting with the people he meets during this journey with his guest rider.
He tries the famous local foods, explores picturesque sceneries, and participates in local activities held across the country. The locals love both him and the show for doing this, as he puts them and their town in the best light possible.