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.