Stunt maestro Travis Pastrana has successfully recreated three of Evel Knievel’s most famous jumps in one night in Las Vegas on an Indian FTR750 Scout.
In the first 143’ jump over 52 cars and the third 149’ jump over the Caesars Palace fountain, Travis even completes the stunts with endos in the braking area.
Harder jumps
The second 192’ jump over 16 Greyhound buses was actually harder than Evel’s jump as the modern buses are wider and taller.
He also had half the start and finish room that Evel did for the fountain jump.
“This was the coolest thing I’ve ever been able to do,” said Travis wearing a red-white and blue Evel leather suit to honour his hero.
Spectator Robin Robinson told us the place was packed with fans of the 35-year-old professional motocross racer, 17-time X Games winner and multi-world-record-holder.
“He did wheelies as he was warming up! He made it look easy,” she says.
“Everybody in the stands was super excited. I myself was feeling like a little girl as this was my first live jump ever! I’ve watched the kids in the back yard but nothing like this.”
Indian FTR750
Travis completed the jumps on a specially prepared Indian FTR750.
No doubt his stunts will provide a lot of promotion for the Indian FTR 1200, coming next year.
Evel completed his 1967 jump over the 43m-wide Caesars Palace fountain on a 650cc Triumph T120 Bonneville with non-adjustable cartridge forks and twin shocks with just 119mm of travel at both ends.
Evel’s car and bus jumps were on a Harley-Davidson XR750 that became Evel’s trademark stunt bike.