Motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel in 2008. Photo: AFP
American stuntman Robbie Knievel - who set records with daredevil motorcycle jumps following the tyre tracks of his thrill-seeking father - has died aged 60.
Robbie Knievel died early on Friday at a hospice in Reno, Nevada, where he was admitted with pancreatic cancer, his brother Kelly Knievel said.
"Daredevils don't live easy lives," Knievel told The Associated Press.
"He was a great daredevil. People don't really understand how scary it is what my brother did."
As a boy, Robbie Knievel began on his bicycle to emulate his famous father, Evel Knievel, who died in 2007 in Clearwater, Florida.
But where Evel Knievel famously almost died from injuries when he crashed his Harley-Davidson during a jump over the Caesars Palace fountains in Las Vegas in 1967, Robbie completed the jump in 1989 using a specially designed Honda.
Robbie also made headline-grabbing Las Vegas Strip jumps over a row of limousines in 1998 at the Tropicana Hotel; between two buildings at the Jockey Club in 1999; and a New Year's Eve jump amid fireworks in front of a volcano attraction at The Mirage on December 31, 2008.
After a crash-landing to complete a motorcycle leap over a 61-meter chasm outside the Grand Canyon National Park in 1999, Robbie noted that his father always wanted to jump the spectacular natural landmark in Arizona, but never did. Robbie broke his leg in his crash.
Robbie Knievel, who promoted himself as "Kaptain Robbie Knievel", set several stunt records, but also failed in several attempts.
In 1992, aged 29, he was injured when he crashed into the 22nd of 25 pickup trucks lined up across a 55-meter span in Cerritos, California.
"Injuries took quite a toll on him," his brother said.
Kelly said his brother died with three daughters at his side.
- ABC
