British motorcycle publications have been fascinated with Evel Knievel for years. His death a few days ago has touched off enormous coverage by MCN, for instance, which has even posted a story about his tombstone on its web site (and is preparing a 16-page special report in its upcoming print edition).
The U.S. motorcycle industry, on the other hand, really hasn’t paid much attention to Evel Knievel for years. I am not sure why, but I have the distinct impression much of the U.S. motorcycle media simply wants to forget the Even Knievel era. In Britain, on the other hand, the man was revered and celebrated during his life by much of the motorcycle press, and his death will undoubtedly draw extensive coverage there.
One theory is that while the U.S. has tried to escape the bad boy/rebel image of motorcyclists, the British press embraces that image to some extent.
Any way you look at it, Evel Knievel might be the single most important motorcyclist in U.S. history (whether you like it or not). His death warrants some reflection and analysis of his huge impact on the motorcycling culture in the U.S. and around the world.
