Legends come to life

Evel Knievel

From biplane walkers to the thick-headed stuntmen of Jackass, the daredevils of history have traded great risk for fame and fortune. In the 1970s, one such daredevil rose to stardom and inspired people young and old around the world: Evel Knievel.

To mark the 35th anniversary of his Wembley Stadium jump, the Harley-Davidson Museum temporary exhibit True Evel: The Amazing Story of Evel Knievel told the story of the man behind the performer through fascinating artifacts drawn from both the Harley-Davidson Museum Archives and the Knievel family collection.

From Knievel’s early start as a side-show character in Butte, Montana, to his transformation into a larger-than-life master showman, marketer, and folk hero with international appeal, the 10,000-square-foot exhibit engaged visitors with the story of the man behind the seemingly fearless performer. Visitors saw legendary pieces including his signature leathers and cane, personal photographs and letters, collectors’ toys and memorabilia, and the half-motorcycle, half-rocket “Skycycle” used to jump the Snake River Canyon.

Setting numerous records over his career, Knievel’s bike of choice was the Harley-Davidson XR-750. He was sponsored by the Motor Company through most of the 1970s.

Knievel boasted many record-setting jumps during his career, including leaps over 19 cars in February of 1971 and 14 Greyhound buses in October of 1975.

Evel Knievel poses on an ironhead XR-750 in 1970. Knievel first signed a sponsorship deal with Harley-Davidson in December of that year.

After pulling off a successful stunt jumping mountain lions and snakes, Knievel put together a troupe of motorcycle daredevils. Evel Knievel and his Motorcycle Daredevils hit the road in 1966.

In 1961, Robert "Evel" Knievel pulled off his first big publicity stunt. He hitchhiked to the nation's capital with a huge set of antlers and a petition protesting the slaughter of elk by Yellowstone Park rangers.

Over the course of his career, Evel broke dozens of different bones, many of them multiple times.

Evel's crew readies the Skycycle X-2 for the Snake River Canyon jump, September 8, 1974. While the jump was hyped as the greatest, craziest stunt ever, the Skycycle's parachute opened early, and the rocket floated down into the canyon below.

Evel's friend and trusted mechanic, racing legend Roger Reiman, tuned all of his jump bikes.

Evel poses with his sons Kelly (right) and Robbie at the rim of the Grand Canyon, c. 1968. Knievel promoted the canyon jump in the late-1960s, but was eventually denied permission to jump the national monument.

Evel Knievel poses behind his modified Harley-Davidson XR-750. Designed for the dirt track, the bike was agile and powerful, but needed some tweaking for jumping. A custom red-white-and-blue paint job completed the transformation.

Evel began wearing red-white-and-blue leathers in late 1967. He first donned this iconic version with a cape around 1970.

The Ideal Toy Corporation launched the Evel Knievel Stuntcycle in 1973. Sales skyrocketed, and more vehicles, figures, and various playsets followed. During the 1970s, there was no shortage of Evel paraphernalia, from toys and toothbrushes to bicycles and bedroom sets.

An airborne Evel Knievel, 1971.

Robert Craig Knievel was born in the mining town of Butte, Montana in 1938, and was raised by his paternal grandparents.

More Exhibits

• Worn To Be Wild
• Experience Gallery
• Engine Room
• Clubs & Competition
• Custom Culture
• Design Lab
• The Harley-Davidson Journey, Part 1
• The Harley-Davidson Journey, Part 2
• The Journey of the Iron Elite
• The Motorcycle Gallery, Part 1: 1903 – 1940s
• The Motorcycle Gallery, Part 2: 1940s – Present
• Tank Wall
• Imagination Station
• Build A Bike
• Tsunami Bike
• Designing a Celebration