Think of the phrase "Evel Knievel's motorcycle", and what bike comes to mind? For me, it's the "All-American" Harley-Davidson. Knievel was often photographed astride his trusty Harley, and it kind of "went without saying" that Harley was the only bike that this American icon would ride, direct from Harley's home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But the truth is that Knievel played no favorites; he put the Harley name on his bikes as long as Harley was supplying the machines and kicking-in a goodly sum of dollars ... American dollars, to be exact. But there were other machines in Knievel's large stable, and one of them in particular still carries with it the hopes and aspirations of anyone who has ever ridden a "Made-in-the-UK" Triumph motorcycle. Now, a well-known motorcycle parts and service hard site and Website presence in the UK is turning out what they call "Knievel Commemorative Editions" of modern Triumphs. Triumph motorcycles are designed, developed, and built at the factory in Hinckley, England.
Originally intended as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel's unforgettable Caesar's Palace jump, UK bike dealer Jack Lilley has created a special edition of Triumph's on-and-off-road Scrambler. The choice of motorcycle makes sense because that original jump some 40 years ago was done aboard a Triumph T120 Bonneville. Although the project was started before Knievel's recent death, it has taken on new meaning now that the legendary stunt-man has passed and is a tribute to more than just that one jump. 
According to the Jack Lilley company, the bike "is based on a Scrambler and has a superb paint job along with short front mudguard, Thruxton seat and hump, chrome engine cases, red cam cover and other small details." The one-off tribute bike will be sold with a signed picture of the man himself in mid-jump and will command a few thousand extra over the base price of the Scrambler.
The bike sells for UK8,250-pounds, which translates into USD$12,068.26. But who's counting, right?
Comments