Sirius Black's Motorbike

• Type: Magical Vehicle, Transportation
• Owners: Sirius Black, Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter, Arthur Weasley (for repairs)
• Maker: A Muggle manufacturer; enchanted by Sirius Black

Sirius Black's motorbike is a large, black Muggle motorcycle capable of flight. It is described as “huge” and is large enough to comfortably carry Rubeus Hagrid, a half-giant. It is equipped with a sidecar, which can be detached. After being modified by Arthur Weasley for the Second Wizarding War, it featured a prominent purple button on the handlebars that activated its magical defenses.

The motorbike's primary magical property is its ability to fly at great speeds, though it is considerably louder than a Broomstick. It was originally enchanted by Sirius Black. Prior to the Battle of the Seven Potters, Arthur Weasley further enhanced the motorbike with several offensive and defensive capabilities, activated by buttons on the console:

• Dragon Fire: A purple button causes the exhaust pipe to emit a jet of what Harry Potter describes as “dragon fire,” a powerful blast capable of incinerating obstacles and deterring pursuers like Death Eaters.
• Brick Wall: Another button conjures a solid brick wall that erupts from the exhaust pipe, creating an instant barrier.
• Net: The motorbike can deploy a net to ensnare pursuers.
• Self-Propelled Sidecar: In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the sidecar can detach and propel itself independently for a short time. (film)

The motorbike first belonged to Sirius Black, who used it during the First Wizarding War. On the night of James and Lily Potter's murders on 31 October 1981, Sirius lent the motorbike to Rubeus Hagrid so he could transport the infant Harry Potter from Godric's Hollow to Number Four, Privet Drive. Hagrid told Albus Dumbledore he would be returning the vehicle to Sirius afterward. The motorbike remained in Hagrid's possession. Following Sirius Black's death in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Harry Potter inherited all of his godfather's belongings. When Hagrid informed him of this, Harry insisted that Hagrid should keep the motorbike. In July 1997, the motorbike was instrumental in the Order of the Phoenix's plan to move Harry from the Dursleys' home to safety. Arthur Weasley spent time modifying it with magical defenses. Hagrid and Harry used the motorbike during the ensuing Battle of the Seven Potters, employing its dragon fire and other features to fight off an ambush by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. During the battle, the sidecar was magically blasted off by a curse from Voldemort. The motorbike itself was badly damaged when it crashed into the garden pond at the home of Ted and Andromeda Tonks. Arthur Weasley later told Harry that he had retrieved the wrecked motorbike and was keeping it hidden in his chicken coop at The Burrow, with the intention of repairing it for him.

The motorbike serves as a significant narrative and symbolic link in Harry's life. It is the vehicle that delivers him to his harsh childhood at Privet Drive, marking the beginning of his story. Sixteen years later, it is the same vehicle that carries him away from that life toward his final confrontation with Voldemort. It represents a tangible connection between Harry, his godfather Sirius Black, and his first friend and protector, Rubeus Hagrid. The ownership passing from Sirius to Harry, with Hagrid as its long-term keeper, reinforces the theme of legacy and guardianship. The combination of its Muggle origin and its wizarding enchantments also highlights the recurring theme of the two worlds coexisting and blending.

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, the chase sequence involving the motorbike is significantly extended. It includes a scene where Harry and Hagrid fly through a Muggle traffic tunnel, and the sidecar is shown to have its own propulsion system after being detached, a feature not mentioned in the novel. (film)