Recently, the Washington State Highway Patrol had to chase some crazy idiot all through town after catching him popping wheelies at over 100 miles per hour. While most of us know that acting that way on the open road is a funeral just waiting to happen, there are a few among us that act like they were dropped on their heads too many times.

Of course, we’re the only ones who can change the perception of motorcyclists. Most motor cycle riders today are not out causing trouble, starting fights in bars, or displaying random acts of bravado and stupidity on the highway. The few bikers who are out to cause trouble even admit that they are a minority by calling themselves the 1%ers.

The best thing we can do for the motorcycling community is police ourselves. When you catch somebody acting stupid, don’t be afraid to call him on it. Of course, there’s no guarantee everyone will listen to you, but who knows? If one person listens, you might have just saved a life. And make sure your motorcycle insurance is current. We need to follow the same rules everyone else does.

All of this is not to say there isn’t a time and place for stunt riding. Taking chances and being a bit of a daredevil are time honored pieces of the motorcycle tradition. From Evel Kneival to X games-style motocross stunt riders, there’s plenty of room for those who like to take their chances to do so. But public roads and highways, the ones we share with other motorists, just aren’t the place.

Ultimately, the only one any of us can control is ourselves. So, when you’re out on the road, make sure that you’re not one of the ones that give bikers a bad name. Respect others on the road, and most of them will respect you. And while you’re out there, make sure to keep a sharp eye out, especially at intersections. No matter how much it’s drilled into people’s heads, some people just don’t look twice, so it’s up to us to keep our eyes on everything going on around us.

Photo via Mihai Bojin

1. Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel (October 17, 1938 – November 30, 2007)

2. Bob Duffey
Another motorcycle jumper, Bob is better known as being “The Fastest Man on Two Wheels Backwards”. His record speed of 122 mph on a motorcycle BACKWARDS is more than impressive…it’s badass. Nobody is even close…well, not too many have really tried. His record was done on a 1979 stock Kawasaki Z1R-TC, his favorite bike, at an IDBA (International Drag Bike Association) sanctioned event.  Here’s some video footage of Mr Duffey doing his thing:

3. William S. Harley, William A. Davidson, Walter Davidson, Sr., & Arthur Davidson
If you have to ask who these guys are, you shouldn’t really be reading this post…unless it’s to learn. The founders of Harley-Davidson deserve a LOT of respect. They certainly aren’t the most intimidating people to ride motorcycles, but let’s face it…without them, we’d all be crouching over our handlebars and constantly feel the need to prove how badass we are by doing a wheelie at 100mph on the highway. Thank Harley that’s not the case.

4. Debbie Evans
The “Queen of Trials” is the first woman to successfully ride in the US Trials during the late 1970s and is generally considered the best female rider in the history of the sport. I bet you didn’t think I’d put a woman on this list did you?  Well Debbie currently teaches (yes teaches) stunt riding including how to crash your bike without hurting yourself.  Truth is, she’s more badass than a most of the others on this list…so BACK OFF!

5. Robbie Maddison
The current world record holder for longest motorcycle jump. On January 1, 2008 at an exhibition event at a Las Vegas hotel, he leapt 322 feet, 7 inches (98.34 meters) destroying the previous record of 277 feet, 6 inches (84.58 meters) set in 2005 by Trigger Gumm. Records are made to be broken, but for now, Robbie seems to have a riders grip on this one. For your viewing pleasure, here’s the jump:

6. Ricky Carmichael
Nicknamed the “GOAT” (greatest of all time), Ricky is a Motocross and Supercross icon. While many may argue with his “GOAT” status for dirt bike racing, it’s hard to argue with his impressive 27 titles in his short 12 year career.   In 2007, he was seriously injured and even made a comeback to the sport to continue his winning ways. Ricky is currently retired from racing anything with only 2 wheels…instead, he’s moved on to stock cars eyeing NASCAR as his next conquest. That’s pretty badass.

7. Wolverine
OK, I realize he’s a fictional character, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t include a guy who has a skeleton covered by an indestructible metal (yes, I realize that’s fictional too).  Oh and by the way, he can’t be killed. If you really want to argue with me on this choice, make sure you do so after watching the below video where he takes out 2 military Hummers and Helicopter with nothing but a motorcycle and his adamantium claws. At least I didn’t include the Ghostrider…

8. Ralph ‘Sonny’ Barger
Sonny is the founder of the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels, (many credit this as the first and original chapter) the most badass bike “gang” EVER.  OK perhaps not EVER, but certainly the most well known.  Honestly, though, anyone in the Hell’s Angels deserves to be on this list (in my book), but If I had to choose one, it’d be what many consider the “founder” and at 71, still an active member.  Adding to his “badass” credentials, Sonny also survived a bout with throat cancer caused by years of smoking, and was sentenced (in 1988) to 4 years in prison for conspiring to blow up the clubhouse of the Outlaws, a rival motorcycle club.  How badass is that?

9. Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr.
The co-founders of Orange County Choppers, these guys design and manufacture some of the most sought after custom bikes in the industry. The father/son duo started their company in 1999 and later got picked up by TLC as the reality show American Chopper in September of 2002. Among their lengthy resume, they’ve made bikes for the likes of: Will Smith, Jay Leno, and who can forget the 9-11 Fire Truck Bike?

10. Jesse James
Founder and CEO of west coast Choppers, Jesse is one of the most well known celebrity Icons of the motorcycle world. Before he built bikes for a living, he was the bodyguard of heavy metal bands Danzig, Slayer, and Soundgarden. Much like his east coast competition at Orange County Choppers, Jesse has been on a number of reality TV shows, most notibly the Discovery Channel show Monster Garage.  Jesse’s resume includes bikes for: Shaq, Keanu Reeves, James Hetfield (of Metallica) and, the Undertaker.

Honorable Mention: “Indian” Larry Desmedt (April 28, 1949 – August 30, 2004)
Indian Larry was an innovator in the world of custom built bikes and a motorcycle stuntman. While he was convicted of bank robbery and struggled with drugs early in his life, Larry later devoted himself to the craft of motorcycles. He lived by the (badass) creed tattooed on his neck “In God We Trust – Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord – No Fear.” Larry was killed in August of 2004 while performing a motorcycle stunt where he was standing on the bike when it lost control.

If you think I missed anyone, please feel free to list them in the comments!

There are a lot of things that you identify with motorcycles. Leather jackets, throaty engines, bad-assery, and coolness. One thing combines all of these factors together into a singular ball of awesomeness. Motorcycle stunts.

Motorcycle stunts have been around as long as the motorcycle itself. But it is only in the last half century or so that they’ve really taken off. Thanks in part to the Godfather of Motorcycle stunts, Evel Knievel, there have been a great many stunts in the past few decades that are truly noteworthy. Here is a short list of some of the most bad ass ones ever caught on tape.

5. AMATEUR COLLECTION

You ever hear the phrase “These stunts are preformed by professionals on a closed track. Don’t try this at home.” These guys don’t like to hear that crap.

4. TRAVIS PASTRANA DOUBLE BACKFLIP

During the 2006 X-Games, Travis Pastrana accomplished a stunt that most people thought was imposible on a bike. He did a double backflip astonishing an entire arena of rabid fans. While this jump has been duplicated many times since, it is the original that makes its mark. Sadly, motocross athlete Jeremy Lusk recently lost his life trying to accomplish this same feat. It just goes to show how truly dangerous these stunts truly are.

3. EVEL KNIEVEL JUMPS THE FOUNTAINS AT CAESARS PALACE

Would have been number 1 if he made it. But he didn’t. He hit about 1 foot short and broke nearly every bone in his body as a result. A for effort, D- for execution. Interesting note: if you look up the term “Brass Ones” in the dictionary, you see this image.

2. ROBBIE MADDISON DOES 332 FEET

I remember watching this and feeling less than enthused about the jump. I thought he’d be hitting a huge gap, but it turns out it was a huge mound well ahead of where he might land in case he was short. It was where he hit on the mound that made it a record. That being said, when I re-watch it now I’m astonished at the height and the distance of the jump and I find myself wildly impressed.
1. ROBBIE MADDISION JUMPS THE ARCH DE TRIUMPH IN VEGAS

I get sick to my stomach rewatching this video over and over again, and I already know he makes it. Just looking over that ledge makes me nervous. The beauty of this stunt is that while most of the major motorcycle stunts are just and instantaneous decision, this one was a 2 part wonder. He accomplished the first part and then had a couple of minutes to think about the harder part… namely dropping off a 10 story building onto a ramp. WOW! That’s all I got is WOW.