Oh, the Dangerous Feats You’ll Pull with Evel Knievel’s Motorcycle

You on GoPro later: Don't try this at home

January 25, 2017 9:00 am

A bike like this requires warning:

“No one is going to stop you from trying this at home.”

Because there is no way in hell the future owner isn’t going to be tempted to take at least one, two … or two hundred jumps. They better. It’s this bike’s destiny.

Coming across the block at Mecum’s Vegas Moto Auction: the only Evil Knievel ride used on film to ever come to market.

Built by Bud Ekins for the the 1977 Viva Knievel film, the legendary Stratocycle is a 1976 Harley XLCH Sportster 1000 with winged fiberglass fairing complete with that iconic eagle ready to soar.

Evel Moto (4 images)

Mecum notes: “The provenance of this motorcycle is beyond exceptional: it comes with original California registration card issued for (VIN# 4A20750H6) from ‘AMF Harley Davidson MTR Co.’ to ‘Warner Bros. Inc.’ and the original invoice from Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc., dated 8-14-78, selling the motorcycle following the production to ‘Rich Budelier Company’ (the Los Angeles Harley dealership which provided the motorcycles for the film) with the following notation: ‘Used in Evil [sic] Knievel Movie. To be sold for $500. No freight per Tom Bolfert…4A20750H6 Note 1976 bike.’ (Tom Bolfert was the ex-head of archives for the Harley-Davidson Motor Co.) The motorcycle has undergone cosmetic restoration; the Plexiglas windscreen and alloy wheels have been replaced to bring it back to screen used appearance.”

The Stratocycle will goes under the hammer on Friday, January 27th.

Reckless abandon and cape not included.

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