When it comes to stuntmen, there’s one name that stands far above the rest: Evel Knievel. Even more than 16 years after his death, Knievel’s all-American performing persona and incredible motorcycle feats remain the gold standard of stunt performing for many fans, inspiring countless extreme sports events, tribute bikes, and even one of the most iconic children’s toys of the ‘70s. Pieces of Knievel’s actual riding history are vanishingly rare in the modern era, but Danish watchmaker REC has turned components from Knievel’s final stunt bike (the famous “Shark Jump” Harley-Davidson XR750) into a bold, uniquely technical tribute to the stuntman for the wrist. Like the brand’s previous releases, the limited edition REC TTT Knievel goes well beyond simply showcasing reclaimed material from a historic machine, this watch charismatically translates its subject matter into a stylish, solidly built statement piece.

Like previous versions of the TTT (reviewed here), the REC TTT Knievel’s stainless steel case measures in at 43mm wide and 12.3mm thick. Compared to the figures on paper, however, the TTT Knievel’s case is impressively balanced and well-proportioned on the wrist thanks to a handful of clever design choices. The first and most obvious of these is the wire lug design. Not only does the clear separation from the main case body make this visually read as a 43mm lugless case at a glance, the minimal overhang and pronounced downward lug angle wrap the watch around the wrist remarkably well. In addition, the tightly packaged vertical case sides play a role here. With the sloping bezel taking up much of the case’s visual height in profile, the contrasting brushed mid-case gives the impression of a slimmer cross-section on the wrist. Of course, there’s one element of the mid-case that stands out above the rest — the cutout slot between 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock. Like previous TTT models, the TTT Knievel’s party piece is its rotating inner case assembly, designed to allow for a more natural reading angle when riding a motorcycle. REC takes another thematic step forward for this latest iteration of the TTT, with the visible inner case engraved with “SHOW TIME” when the dial is in its normal alignment. When the crown is moved to the rider’s position near 4 o’clock and the dial is canted 30 degrees, the inner case instead displays a stylized engraved star. This newfound improved finishing also makes its way to the TTT Knievel’s bezel. Rather than the simple mix of polished surfaces and matte engraved grooves in previous models, the TTT Knievel adds a polished gold triangle at 12 o’clock to help orient the dial at a glance. It’s a solid visual highlight on the wrist, adding a touch of flash without coming off as overwhelming. Like previous iterations of the TTT, the TTT Knievel is capped off with a sapphire display caseback (featuring a printed rendition of Evel Knievel’s signature) and is rated for a rather underwhelming 50 meters of water resistance.

As with the case, the REC TTT Knievel’s dial takes the basic concept behind previous TTT dials and markedly refines it. The most recognizable visual elements are here, including the rounded skeleton handset, retro automotive gauge-style printed Arabic hours numerals, and partial skeleton dial surface, but the finishing and presentation of nearly every element has been made more complex. Take the hands, for example. Rather than the basic painted surfaces of previous iterations, the handset here uses a heavily textured brushed finish for a more rugged, industrial feel, while the racing stripe-tipped blue seconds hand adds a touch of finer detail. Compared to previous TTT models, the TTT Knievel’s dial is much more judiciously skeletonized, allowing for greater legibility and a more balanced presentation of the movement. The central section of the dial is finished in a grainy, asphalt-like matte black, while the red and blue angled stripes to either side pay tribute to the design of Evel Knievel’s classic jumpsuit. This new striped approach to dial skeletonization also allows for a broader view of the skeleton movement below, with an intricate web of narrow bridges in simple matte black. However, the dial’s strongest conversation piece sits at 12 o’clock. The raw, pitted five-pointed star emblem here is reforged aluminum made from the handlebar levers of Evel Knievel’s 1977 “Shark Jump” Harley-Davidson XR750, bringing a tangible material connection to the legendary stunt performer himself. REC counterbalances this piece of history at 6 o’clock with a polished, applied rendition of Knievel’s personal “1” emblem, decorated with a monochrome American flag motif. Taken as a whole, it’s a solidly balanced, characterful dial presentation that clearly pays homage to Evel Knievel’s all-American aesthetic without feeling overblown or forced.

REC powers the TTT Knievel with a customized version of the ubiquitous Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. With blued screws that stand out starkly against the industrial matte black skeleton bridges, it offers a visually dramatic (if slightly unrefined) look on the wrist, especially when paired with the brushed wire wheel-inspired signed skeleton rotor. Performance-wise, this is a standard SW200-2, with an average 41 hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate. With that in mind, there’s something to be said for the dependability and easy servicing of a major third-party power plant, and this lack of exotic components should keep the TTT Knievel running smoothly for years to come.

To finish the design, REC pairs the TTT Knievel with a handsomely contoured black leather strap. Strap designs have long been a strong suit for the brand, and the TTT Knievel is another step forward over its previous successes with supple, flexible construction and a nuanced semi-matte leather surface. The tuck and roll-style vertical ribbing along much of the strap’s length adds a wealth of visual character here, while the blue contrast stitching ties the strap in handsomely with the dial design. On the wrist, it’s bold, punchy, and eminently comfortable, with a real sense of visual cohesion to the case and dial.

Long after his passing and nearly half a century after his retirement from stunt performing, Evel Knievel still largely defines the public perception of stuntmen. His unmatched style and showmanship still have legions of fans, and any piece of Evel Knievel history is no small find in motorcycling circles. With this in mind, it’s easy to imagine the limited edition REC TTT Knievel easily coasting by on the strength of its historic materials, but REC goes beyond the call of duty with bold, charismatic design, charmingly offbeat functionality, and impressive finishing for the money. Only 736 examples of the REC TTT Knievel will be made. The REC TTT Knievel is available now for preorder through the brand’s website. MSRP for this watch stands at USD 2,295  as of press time. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.