Evel Knievel toy.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vwbuge · #1 01-19-2008, 08:57 PM

I'm kind of pissed right now.
Any of you in my age group should remember the Evel doll on the friction motorcycle that fit in the hand crank contraption. The one I had when I was a kid worked awesome. It was one of my favorite toys. Over the years it got destroyed and my parental units saw fit to throw it away. It was re-issued in the mid 90's and I bought it again. That one worked great also. I played with it a few times and put it away. (one of those childhood memories that brought tears to my eyes)
Anyway, my son is now 4 and I began to introduce him to Evel. (One of my heroes growing up) I bought him the latest issue of the same toy for Christmas. We finally had the chance to try it out at my place of work. (long hallways) I was utterly disappointed! The thing won't even wheelie. No matter how hard you crank it it just takes off and peters out within 20 feet and falls over. The one I had when I was a kid and the one I have stashed will wheelie off the line and hold it for at least 30 feet and bring her down easy and fly for another 30.

I am going to try to call the company and complain but I know it won't get me anywhere.

catmandoo62 · #2 01-19-2008, 10:04 PM

thats progress!!

Chad300tdt · #3 01-19-2008, 10:38 PM

That sucks! I loved my Evel Knievel stunt cycles. I had the crank one and a few smaller ones with a t-handled zipper cord. Maybe the company thinks there is a potential injury hazard with the old design? Does the newer one seem like it's any safer?

SwampYankee · #4 01-21-2008, 08:28 AM

Thats' a bummer, the latest gen of the old toys never seem to be quite up to snuff. Fisher Price has even started remaking some of those kiddie toys I remember from when I and my brother were real small (2-5 yo range). Each of my siblings and cousins subsequently played with them at my grandmother's over the years so the memories of the originals are relatively fresh. I bought a couple for my 18 moS and while they look the same, they definitely are not up to par with the originals. Even thought the originals were plastic, they just had more heft and a more solid feel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

That sucks! I loved my Evel Knievel stunt cycles. I had the crank one and a few smaller ones with a t-handled zipper cord. Maybe the company thinks there is a potential injury hazard with the old design? Does the newer one seem like it's any safer?

What were those T-handled zipper cord bikes/cars called? I had the demolition derby set (the cars that came with the ramps and when they hit each other or another object the fenders and doors would fly off) when I was a kid and just destroyed it. I'd love to find, and robably overpay for, one on eBay but I can't remember what it was called. I know my boys would get a kick out of it, too. If I ever let them get near it.

LaughingGravy · #5 01-21-2008, 08:44 AM

I think the best bet in this case is to maybe get your money back on the cheapo and go for the extra bucks and get a decent old one on fleabay.

You should see the difference with proper pictures and know that you're getting a good one. Those old ones were indestructable. I knew someone who had the regular bike and the chopper.
Oooohh, Aaaahh.

SST Racers? Was that the name of the zip cord cars?

cjlipps · #6 01-21-2008, 08:45 AM

[
What were those T-handled zipper cord bikes/cars called? I had the demolition derby set (the cars that came with the ramps and when they hit each other or another object the fenders and doors would fly off) when I was a kid and just destroyed it. I'd love to find, and robably overpay for, one on eBay but I can't remember what it was called. I know my boys would get a kick out of it, too. If I ever let them get near it.[/quote]

"Smash-up Derby" I think.

ImBroke · #7 01-21-2008, 08:47 AM

SST for sure. I had the demo set also.

SwampYankee · #8 01-21-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

SST for sure. I had the demo set also.

Thanks Laughing, cj and Im, that rings a bell. Time to try an eBay search!

edit: SSP Smash Up Derby! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'm not sure I want to drop $50+ on a set but I might get stupid. At least I've got a place to start.

Chad300tdt · #9 01-21-2008, 09:00 AM

I can't find the zip cord motorcycles, but these links have some cool stuff.

http://www.plaidstallions.com/evel/index.html

http://www.actiontoys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=123&Category_Code=EVELK

Cool Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIdGDcWBsoc

SwampYankee · #10 01-21-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

I'm kind of pissed right now.
Any of you in my age group should remember the Evel doll on the friction motorcycle that fit in the hand crank contraption. The one I had when I was a kid worked awesome. It was one of my favorite toys. Over the years it got destroyed and my parental units saw fit to throw it away. It was re-issued in the mid 90's and I bought it again. That one worked great also. I played with it a few times and put it away. (one of those childhood memories that brought tears to my eyes)...The one I had when I was a kid and the one I have stashed will wheelie off the line and hold it for at least 30 feet and bring her down easy and fly for another 30.

vw, quite a few 70's vintage ones on eBay.

$500 for this one!

I'm sure the post-death timing as at least temporarily inflated the price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Evel-Knievel-1973-Ideal-Stunt-Cycle-MIB_W0QQitemZ160199790675QQihZ006QQcategoryZ30QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Your best be would probably be to try to get a refund for that one and keep an eye out for a 70's or 80's run. Back from when toy performance trumped safety!

SwampYankee · #11 01-21-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Cool Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIdGDcWBsoc

That video was awesome! Talk about bringing back memories

I never had the Evel Knievel set, my parents were too cheap

(more likely my mother was over-protective and feared my brother and I might get "ideas"). But my friend David who lived a couple houses over did and we used to spend hours playing with them. And got all kinds of crazy "ideas" for things to do with our bikes.

vwbuge · #12 01-21-2008, 09:31 AM

Another good example of the old toys with cheap re-issue. "Rock'em Sock'em Robots"

I used to play with my brothers set when I was a kid. We still have it and still play with it. Very sturdy plastic construction. We bought the "new" one for my son. It is much smaller and thinner plastic. Just waiting for that one to break.

Chad300tdt · #13 01-21-2008, 09:32 AM

If they still sell lawn darts

they shouldn't have a problem with the safety of a classic stunt cycle.

http://www.mastersgames.com/cat/outdoor/lawn-darts.htm

My friends and I used to throw these things straight in the air as high as we could and run away.

Chad300tdt · #14 01-21-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

Another good example of the old toys with cheap re-issue. "Rock'em Sock'em Robots"

I used to play with my brothers set when I was a kid. We still have it and still play with it. Very sturdy plastic construction. We bought the "new" one for my son. It is much smaller and thinner plastic. Just waiting for that one to break.

I loved that toy too. I wonder if you can still get the Super Jock football kicker. I used to slam that toy and it didn't break.

SwampYankee · #15 01-21-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

If they still sell lawn darts

they shouldn't have a problem with the safety of a classic stunt cycle.

http://www.mastersgames.com/cat/outdoor/lawn-darts.htm

My friends and I used to throw these things straight in the air as high as we could and run away.

Oh, I'm just kidding on the safety part. The toys just aren't as fun as they used to be when there was (apparently, unbeknownst to us) some danger involved.

We used to have bottle rocket wars, and looking back I used to think that was pretty stupid and dangerous. But we were probably lucky that we didn't have lawn darts!