See Evel Knievel’s 1976 Custom Harley ‘Stratocycle’ in Person
Iconic film bike on display in San Diego through June 30.
Self-proclaimed “professional daredevil” Evel Knievel (born Robert Craig Knievel) was known for his awe-inspiring motorcycle stunts. Back in 1973, he successfully jumped over 50 stacked cars at the Los Angeles Coliseum. And now is your chance to see one of the legend’s bikes up close and in person. Knievel’s vintage “Stratocycle” from the 1977 film Viva Knievel is now on display through June 30 at the San Diego Automotive Museum in California.
Custom built by stuntman Bud Ekins for Warner Brothers studio, the 1976 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLCH 1000 features a custom fiberglass fairing with wings, a rocket-shaped exhaust, an upright tail fin, and sports a red, white, and blue eagle motif. Almost makes us want to salute every time we see a photo of it!
The XLCH was one of the more expensive motorcycles in the Sportster line due to its significantly increased performance over the stock XL model. In Harley-Davidson code, the XL indicates a Sportster and the CH suffix means that it’s been stripped to save weight and fitted with a high compression, higher horsepower engine.
The “Stratocycle” was so distinctive that it was made into a toy by Ideal Toy Company. This model version could be sent flying through the air from its dedicated launcher, and today it’s one of the rarest and most highly sought after toys from the Evel Knievel line.
The action-adventure film Viva Knievel starred Knievel as himself and co-starred Hollywood legend Gene Kelly. The bike was used in a daring rescue sequence when Knievel breaks his mechanic friend (Kelly) out of a psychiatric hospital.
After filming had wrapped, the “Stratocycle” was sold to Tom Bolfert, Harley-Davidson’s head of archives, for just $500. In late 2015, the bike was listed on eBay with a starting bid of $200,000. However, zero bids were placed. It’s the only known film-based, stunt-ridden motorcycle used by Evel Knievel to reach the auction block. Before presenting the bike for sale, the Plexiglas windscreen, alloy wheels, and tires were replaced to ensure that it was indistinguishable from its original onscreen appearance.
During his career, Knievel performed jumps that led to world records, including one in 1975 when he jumped 14 greyhound buses at Kings Island Amusement Park in Ohio.
Get more details on the San Diego Automotive Exhibit here.
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