Knievel’s last jump
When I was a kid, Evel Knievel was beyond legendary. I can remember the whole neighborhood crowding around whatever TV set was available to watch every jump he made. Controversial? Yep, every time, even before the Snake River Canyon fiasco. Bold? You betcher. In fact, the phrase “balls the size of church bells” leaps immediately to mind.
Notice what it says on the tank there: Harley Davidson. For some reason, the paintshop crew left the “Fuckin’” off. That’s an XR750, H-D’s factory racer for years and years. 90-odd HP at 8000 revs, twin Mikunis, alloy heads, mechanical drum brakes that hardly work dry and don’t at all when wet. Always wanted one myself, but they’re scarce these days.
And if anybody wonders why Evel’s son Robbie never has been able to capture the same attention, it’s probably because he lacks the same daredevil panache. After all, Robbie performs his stunts on a Honda dirt bike, specially built for jumping, with modern suspension that yields a foot and a half of travel front and rear. Not to take anything away from your obvious gutsy derring-do or anything, Rob, but try doing one of those insane jumps on an old Sportster that weighs half again as much as one of your high-tech high-fliers, with about two and a half inches or so of travel on the front and about half that on the rear, and then get back to us.
Meanwhile, your dad will remain the undisputed King.
American steel, baby. In every sense of those words.
Update! Comprehensive vid post from Bryan at Hot Air. Verily, t’is the end of an era. My era, dang it.
Updated update! Read it. Good show, Marc.
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