In the 2004 sci-fi thriller I, Robot, starring Will Smith as the futuristic cop Del Spooner, there’s no shortage of high-tech eye candy. The sleek, autonomous cars, the gleaming cities, and, of course, the ever-present robots all work together to create a vision of the future that feels just within arm’s reach. But for those of us more attuned to two wheels than four, there’s one machine that stands out amidst all the chrome and circuitry: the motorcycle. The bike that Spooner zips through the city on, weaving in and out of traffic, has an undeniable allure. But what exactly is it?
Well, movie magic might make it seem like some far-flung futuristic concept bike, but the motorcycle that Will Smith rides in I, Robot is, in fact, a modified 2004 MV Agusta F4 SPR 750. That’s right, underneath all the visual effects and futuristic touches, there’s a real-world machine with a heritage as rich as any Italian racing pedigree could muster.
A Beast in Its Own Right
MV Agusta, for those not immersed in motorcycle lore, is a brand that embodies speed, style, and, above all, performance. The F4 SPR, which stands for Special Production Racing, is one of the most revered bikes in MV Agusta’s lineup. It wasn’t just built to look fast; it was engineered to dominate on the track.
Packing a 750cc inline-four engine that revved to the heavens, the F4 SPR was capable of producing a whopping 146 horsepower. That’s impressive enough today, but in 2004, it was a true beast. This bike was no slouch, offering performance figures that made it a serious contender on any track. From the exhaust howl to the razor-sharp handling, it was a bike for the purist—someone who wanted raw speed wrapped in Italian artistry.
Now, take that machine and slap some Hollywood trickery on it, and you’ve got the motorcycle you see in I, Robot. Sure, it might look futuristic on the screen with its sleek digital overlays, but at its core, the F4 SPR is a no-nonsense racing machine.
The Look of Tomorrow for I, Robot
In the world of I, Robot, everything is sleek, polished, and forward-thinking—cars drive themselves, robots serve your every need, and it seems like every surface has a smooth, glowing finish. So, naturally, the production team wasn’t about to let Will Smith hop onto a stock motorcycle, even if that motorcycle was as exotic as an MV Agusta.
The version you see in the movie is heavily modified, its lines smoothed out and its fairings given a more angular, tech-forward appearance. It almost looks like it belongs more in an art gallery than on a race track. They stretched the truth a bit, giving it a more futuristic posture to fit the film’s aesthetic. It’s not unlike what you’d see in concept cars—the kind of design that makes you think, “this is what bikes will look like in the future.”
But peel back the Hollywood layers, and you’re left with the unmistakable form of the F4 SPR. Even with all its digital augmentation, you can still catch the unmistakable lines of one of the most aggressive sportbikes of its day. MV Agusta’s signature quad exhaust and single-sided swingarm are visible if you know where to look.
A Ride Fit for the Future
In a world dominated by autonomous everything, Del Spooner’s choice to ride a motorcycle at all says something about the man. He’s an analog cop in a digital world, suspicious of robots and the future they represent. What better way to highlight that contrast than by putting him on a machine that requires skill, attention, and a dash of recklessness?
It’s not just that the MV Agusta F4 SPR is fast—it’s the kind of fast that demands respect. It’s a bike that requires a deft hand, the ability to know exactly when to squeeze the throttle and when to roll off. Spooner’s ride through the city streets, dodging cars and obstacles, isn’t just a visual thrill—it’s a reminder that even in a future full of robots and automation, there’s still room for the kind of visceral experience that only a motorcycle can deliver.
So, while I, Robot may be set in the year 2035, the motorcycle Will Smith rides is very much a product of 2004—a glorious example of Italian engineering in its most aggressive form, lightly touched by the magic of Hollywood. In a future where machines seem to control everything, there’s something wonderfully rebellious about a man, a machine, and the open road. And really, what’s more timeless than that?
