2000 mots | Temps de lecture : 10 minute(s)
Evel Knievel: the stuntman who turned motorcycle riding into a global spectacle
Summary
- Who was Evel Knievel really?
- Caesars Palace 1967: The fall that started it all
- Snake River Canyon 1974: The steam-powered rocket
- The Harley-Davidson XR-750, his faithful steed
- The record for fractures: Myth and reality
- The starred suit and pop icon
- A legacy for all generations of stuntmen
- Summary table
- FAQ
Who was Evel Knievel really?
Born Robert Craig Knievel on October 17, 1938, in Butte, Montana, and passing away on November 30, 2007, Evel Knievel is the most famous stuntman of the 20th century. In the 1970s, this American with a carnivorous smile turned a fairground act — jumping over rows of cars or buses — into a televised spectacle followed by millions of people. Before him, motorcycles were about racing or mechanics; with him, they became a theater of bravery, calculated risk, and staging.
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Knievel performed over 75 ramp-to-ramp jumps during his career. Yet, he was never a circuit racer: his genius lay as much in his audacity as in his sense of showmanship and communication. He sold thrills, and the public clamored for more. This figure paved the way for an entire segment of motorcycle pop culture, much like Ghost Rider or cinema motorcycles later on.
Caesars Palace 1967: The fall that started it all
On December 31, 1967, in Las Vegas, Evel Knievel attempted to clear the fountains of Caesars Palace, a jump of approximately 43 meters (141 feet), the longest he had ever attempted at that date. The landing turned into a disaster: his motorcycle lost power on takeoff, he landed short on the safety ramp and was ejected over the handlebars before tumbling across the asphalt to the nearby parking lot.
The toll was heavy: a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist, and both ankles, plus a concussion. He remained hospitalized for about a month. However, beware of the legend: it is often said that he remained in a coma for 29 days. This is false. This rumor was moreover debunked by his wife and close friends: Knievel was never actually in a prolonged coma. The "coma" narrative is an exaggeration that emerged later. What is true, however, is that the footage, filmed for ABC's Wide World of Sports, went global and transformed this regional daredevil into a national celebrity overnight.
Snake River Canyon 1974: The steam-powered rocket
On September 8, 1974, Evel Knievel took on his wildest challenge: crossing the Snake River Canyon in Idaho, near Twin Falls (about 1.5 km west of Shoshone Falls). Impossible by motorcycle — the chasm was far too wide. The vehicle used was therefore not strictly speaking a motorcycle, but a machine named Skycycle X-2: a true steam-powered rocket, designed by Robert Truax, a former US Navy rocket and missile engineer. The steam powering the engine was superheated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 260 degrees Celsius).
Approximately 15,000 spectators paid to witness the attempt on site. But a design flaw in the parachute restraint system caused it to open prematurely, just as the craft was leaving the ramp. The Skycycle nevertheless reached the other side: aerial photos show that it did indeed fly over the canyon. It was the prevailing wind, rushing into the prematurely deployed parachute, that forced it backward and brought it down to the bottom of the gorge, on the same side of the takeoff, just a few meters from the river. Miraculously, Knievel escaped with minor injuries — he was lucky not to have landed in the water, as his jammed harness would undoubtedly have drowned him. The failure was resounding, but in the collective imagination, the attempt is almost as mythical as a success.
The Harley-Davidson XR-750, his faithful steed
For the vast majority of his motorcycle jumps, Evel Knievel relied on a Harley-Davidson XR-750, which he used from December 1970 until his last jump in January 1977. This model, originally a dirt track machine, was powered by an air-cooled V-twin engine with a displacement of 748 cm3. The motorcycle weighed approximately 134 kilograms (295 pounds) dry and combined steel, aluminum, and fiberglass.
It wasn't the heaviest or most powerful machine, but its robustness and balance made it an ideal mount for withstanding brutal landings. It was on an XR-750 that he achieved his longest successful motorcycle jump: on October 25, 1975, he cleared 14 Greyhound buses over approximately 41 meters (133 feet) at Kings Island, Ohio — a record that would stand for nearly 25 years. One of his XR-750s is now displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington. The XR-750 belongs to the great history of the Milwaukee firm, a saga we continue in our article on the Harley-Davidson epic.
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The record for fractures: Myth and reality
No story of Evel Knievel would be complete without his broken bones. The Guinness Book of World Records credits him with the title of the survivor who suffered the most fractures in a lifetime, with an often-cited figure of over 433 broken bones. It is this spectacular number that fueled the legend.
But we must separate fact from fiction. This total of 433 is most likely exaggerated. His own son, Robbie Knievel, stated in June 2014 that his father had broken between 40 and 50 bones. Evel Knievel himself spoke of 35 fractures. The truth is therefore well below the mythical figure — which, let's face it, is still more than enough for a single lifetime. The moral hasn't changed since: protection remains a biker's best friend, as our guides remind us for choosing your helmet or your motorcycle gloves.
The starred suit and pop icon
It's impossible to talk about Evel Knievel without mentioning his costume. He wore white leather suits adorned with red, white, and blue V-shaped patterns and stars on the chest — a patriotic nod to the American flag, often accompanied by a cape. This outfit, sometimes compared to Elvis Presley's stage costumes, became as recognizable as the man himself.
This sense of costume and staging made him a full-fledged consumer product. In the 1970s, the articulated Evel Knievel action figure, with its launcher motorcycle, sold millions of copies and remains one of the iconic toys of the decade. The character inspired video games, films, and documentaries, joining the same pantheon of two-wheeled icons as cinema motorcycles.
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A legacy for all generations of stuntmen
Evel Knievel's influence extends far beyond his own jumps. By proving that a motorcycle stunt could fill stadiums and captivate television audiences, he opened up an entire genre. A whole lineage of daredevils owes their calling to him: his own son Robbie Knievel, who became a professional stuntman, but also the freestyle motocross riders who, from the 1990s-2000s, pushed the discipline towards the aerial tricks we know today.
The ultimate symbol of this transmission: on September 16, 2016, stuntman Eddie Braun finally succeeded in crossing the Snake River Canyon aboard a replica of the Skycycle X-2, symbolically completing Evel's unfinished dream. The Knievel legend thus passed the torch, proving that his influence continues to inspire those who, like him, want to turn motorcycling into a spectacle. For other figures who have left their mark on two-wheeled history, explore our article on famous motorcycle enthusiasts.
Summary table
| Element | Verified Fact |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Craig Knievel |
| Dates | October 17, 1938 - November 30, 2007 |
| Caesars Palace | December 31, 1967, jump of approx. 141 ft (43 m), serious fall but no coma |
| Snake River Canyon | September 8, 1974, Skycycle X-2 steam rocket, parachute opened too early, forced back into canyon bottom |
| Main Motorcycle | Harley-Davidson XR-750 (V-twin, 748 cm3, approx. 134 kg dry) |
| Longest Successful Jump | 14 Greyhound buses, 133 ft (approx. 41 m), Kings Island, Oct. 25, 1975 |
| Fractures | Guinness: over 433 (likely exaggerated); he himself spoke of 35 |
| Costume | White leather with red-white-blue stars, often with cape |
| Career Jumps | Over 75 ramp-to-ramp jumps |
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Did Evel Knievel really stay in a coma after Caesars Palace?
No. This is one of the most persistent exaggerations. He was seriously injured (crushed pelvis and femur, several fractures) and hospitalized for about a month, but the rumor of a 29-day coma was debunked by his wife and close friends: he was never actually in a prolonged coma.
Did he succeed in the Snake River Canyon jump in 1974?
No, the attempt failed. The parachute of his Skycycle X-2, a steam rocket designed by Robert Truax, deployed prematurely upon takeoff. The craft did fly over the canyon, but the wind pushed it back into the gorge, on the takeoff side, near the river; Knievel escaped with minor injuries.
What motorcycle did Evel Knievel use?
For most of his jumps, a Harley-Davidson XR-750, from December 1970 to January 1977. It was an air-cooled V-twin of 748 cm3, weighing approximately 134 kilograms dry, derived from a dirt track machine.
Did he really break 433 bones?
This figure from the Guinness Book of Records is very likely exaggerated. His son Robbie mentioned 40 to 50 fractures, and Evel Knievel himself spoke of 35. The actual number is therefore well below the legend, but still considerable.
Why is Evel Knievel so important to motorcycle culture?
Because he transformed motorcycle stunts into a global spectacle televised, filling stadiums and selling millions of toys in his likeness. He inspired generations of stunt performers, from freestyle motocross to his own son Robbie.
