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New patches for Evel Knievel's bike
A motorcycle owned by legendary stuntman Evel Knievel was found and restored in Montana. Avon Tires contributed the vintage tires.
New patches for Evel Knievel's bike
38 accidents and 433 broken bones. This is also part of Evel Knievel's balance sheet. The legendary motorcycle stuntman is remembered for numerous successful, spectacular motorcycle jumps and stunt shows, such as a jump over no fewer than 50 cars.
Now the 1968 “American Eagle” Laverda, a motorcycle on which Knievel made a number of jumps in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has been faithfully restored. Louis “Rocket” Re, a friend of the late Evel Knievel and a stunt driver himself, tracked down the original Laverda a few years ago in the state of Montana. After befriending the Laverda's owner, Re received permission to perform restoration work and exhibit the finished artwork at the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas.
During the restoration, Re contacted Avon Tires to inspect the Avon Safety Mileage MKII tires installed on the motorcycle. Avon's motorcycle department verified photos and reference numbers and properly confirmed original equipment. As part of the bike's restoration, Re then fitted a new set of Safety Mileage MKII tires. “Avon Tires is proud to be involved in the faithful restoration of a motorcycle previously ridden by famed stunt artist Evel Knievel,” the company said in a release.
Safety Mileage MKI
Dominic Clifford, Global Avon Motorcycle Manager, said: "We are delighted to be involved in a restoration project involving such an iconic motorcycle. Our classic tire range gives the bikes an authentic look with modern technology, and the Safety Mileage MKII is no exception."While researching the bike's history, Re uncovered a magazine advert which featured Knievel, an American Eagle Laverda and Avon Tires and the headline read: "The man on the bike is Evel Knievel. The tires are from Avon!”
On November 6th, the restored Laverda was ceremoniously rolled into the Evel Knievel Museum and placed alongside other iconic items such as Knievel's original Mack truck. It will remain on display for a period of two years before being returned to the owner. By the way, the name Evel Knievel came about after Robert Craig Knievel was caught stealing hubcaps in 1953 and was arrested. A security guard joked at the time that he had arrested “Evil Knievel.” Evil eventually became Evel.