Evel Knievel Harley-Davidson XL 1000 to Bonhams Auction
1976 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1000Evel Knievel toys have been all the rage in the past decade, but how about an official Evel Knievel motorcycle?Better yet, how about one Knievel rode in the iconic movie Viva Knievel? The bike – a 1976 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL 1000 – will be on the block during Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction on January 7, sharing the stage with a few machines by famed actor Steve McQueen.
Evel Knievel’s Harley was customized by Bud Ekins, the legendary stunt motorcycle rider who worked with McQueen. During Viva Knievel, Evel played himself as his character fended off Mexican drug dealers. Bonhams says the Harley XL1000 was first owned by Warner Brothers, but motorcycle was purchased from the studio after filming by Los Angeles-area Harley dealer Dick Hutchins. The bike has been displayed ever since.Speaking of the Viva Knievel, America’s most-known daredevil Knievel said: “I came along at the right time in the right place,” said Knievel. “America was down on its ass when I came along and needed somebody who was truthful and honest, someone who would spill blood and break bones, somebody who wasn’t a phony.”The Knievel will go on the block Thursday, January 7 at Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction held at Bally’s Hotel & Casino on The Strip. For more information, visit bonhams.com/vegas.
Evel Kneivel Harley-Davidson Sportster XL 1000 Photo Gallery
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
My name is Arthur Coldwells.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week’s episode features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the beautiful new Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST that is loosely based around the original FXRT Sport Glide from the 1980s. Hailing from The Golden State, these cult-status performance machines became known as West Coast style, with sportier suspension, increased horsepower, and niceties including creature comforts such as a tidy fairing and sporty luggage.
In past episodes you might have heard us mention my best friend, Daniel Schoenewald, and in the second segment I chat with him about some of the really special machines in his 170 or so—and growing—motorcycle collection. He’s always said to me that he doesn’t consider himself the owner, merely the curator of the motorcycles for the next generation.
Yet Daniel is not just a collector, but I can attest a really skilled rider. His bikes are not trailer queens, they’re ridden, and they’re ridden pretty hard. Actually, we have had many, many memorable rides on pretty much all of the machines in the collection at one time or another.
From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!
