Evil Knievel

[raaizin]

Every motorcycle jumper I have seen uses a dirt bike with PLENTY of suspension travel. I have never seen anyone other than Evil use anything that resembles a street bike like he did. How much harder is it to do what Evil did, as opposed to using a dirt bike???

 

[mechanicx]

I'm not sure but I think it was crazy or dumb or both to do those jumps with street bikes, basically stock Harley or Triumphs as far as I know.

 

[Loobed]

Some of his jumps were made with a cast iron engined Harley. He also drank a lot of alcohol before he tried to kill himself.

Do a search on you-tube for a backwards flip on a Harley.

 

[vssjim]

some guy named bubba blackwood?? also used XR750 Harley's, which was what EK used at the end of his carrer

 

[Letter_K]

Probably being cheap. Saw an interview with Evil and he basically said he did another stunt when he ran out of money.

 

[Gene K]

XR750 is a race bike not a street bike.

 

[rpn453]

Much more difficult and painful!

A similar thread from last year:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2114230/

 

[ProfPS]

Do forget the EK was using 1970's motorcycles with little mods that were available during that era that is vastly different when compared to today's motorcycle designs, mods, and knowledge gained from his jumps, crashes and emergency room visits.

 

[oilboy123]

Good point. That's kind of what I was thinking......
Originally Posted By: ProfPS
Do forget the EK was using 1970's motorcycles with little mods that were available during that era that is vastly different when compared to today's motorcycle designs, mods, and knowledge gained from his jumps, crashes and emergency room visits.

 

[eljefino]

Evel with an E.

He was interviewed somewhere saying evil was bad and he was just having fun.

 

[oilboy123]

I remember watching some of his jumps over the years. In those days they were more of a spectacle without TV having 500 channels.