The Harley-Davidson Stratocycle that (literally) launched Evel Knievel’s movie career has been put up for auction for anyone with an particular interest in the legendary stunt performer, Harley-Davidsons or luridly patriotic paint schemes.
Few people captured the essence of television’s coming of age in the 1960’s better than Evil Knievel, a true character hyped for stage and screen performing stunts to audiences that for now stretched the world over.
Famed for his death-defying stunts (and accidents) Evel Knievel achieved numerous records over his career, not to mention more than 400 bone fractures.
After the inevitable merchandising and children’s toys came the offer of performing in his own film - Viva Knievel - where this discreet number plays a role in which he performs an escape and saves the day. Naturally.
With a fairing that finally answers the question of what would happen if you crossed an Eagle with a jet fighter, the Stratocycle is more Team America than anything in the film Team America.
Of course the very icon of the US nationalism - Harley-Davidson - lurks underneath the Stars and Stripes in the form of a 1000 Ironhead Sportster, purchased for $500 back in 1978 and converted for use in the film.
This isn’t the first time the one-of-a-kind motorcycle has popped up for sale with a sale in 2018 rumoured to have landed somewhere between $200-$300k, according to Motorrad. Today it is being reserved for $100,000, which makes us wonder what happened the last three years.
Either way, this is quite a unique museum piece even if it didn’t quite go through as many punishing stunts as Evel’s other more disposable steeds...
