The Magic of David Copperfield - The Vanishing Motorcycle Illusion

This was David Copperfield's opening illusion from his television special entitled: The Magic of David Copperfield XII: The Niagara Falls Challenge, broadcast in 1990.
Song: Dreams
Artist: Van Halen

[@GoggleSheet]

David Copperfield made my childhood magical , thank you.

[@thewab1974]

Mine, too. Always loved that time of year when they'd broadcast David Copperfield's newest television special.

[@Krazy80s]

We may know how this trick was done, but the presentation is what sells it. I also love the song used here from Van Halen. 😊

[@Maricam]

Thanks to this opening I became a Van Halen fan, love the song, love the performance!

[@andreah.681]

I loved David Copperfield during my youth and I still do. Thank you for your magic. Hallo from Germany 😉

[@EdVCast]

Even with the black curtain over the bike, I gotta say the trick was well executed :D very cool

[@nicolasdierickx7484]

He is still the greatest, even most of all his trick are revealed.

[@thewab1974]

If anybody knows how the HELL he does "Voyeur," by all means please tell me because that one blows my mind EVERY TIME I SEE IT. lol

[@billgreen3138]

@@thewab1974 mirror tunnel by walter jeans and improvement by pt selbiet silver hat illusion copperfield uses it for his test conditions illusion to song magic carpet ride by stepin wolf singer and cbs vanishing video camera with tim white illusion builder video to life illusion the big black box ilusion to movie theme song bill and teds exccalance adventure by music group big pig and finale and 13 or more people vanish illusion doug henning uses it for things that go bump in the night and large version to make elephant vanish and reappear and animal camel appear lance burton white corvet vanish melinda the first lady of magic pegus horse vanish with slidding mirrors hop this help you and everyone one God Bless

[@DavidDellman]

every effect David touches turns to gold in his hands. The effect never looked so good.

[@billgreen3138]

David Dellman pal he sure does with Jesus help they allways pray to Jesus before they go onstage and perform illusions lighting music sound crew computer crew special effects prop crew trap door stage hand crew dance crew extc

[@SyntheticStuntMan]

@@billgreen3138 sorry friend but this is not something Jesus blesses. Besides, I have heard copperfield refer to Jesus as a magician and that is a blasphemous insult to the Son of God.

[@dustinf49]

See this live as a youngster, I remember the sound of that motorcycle permeating every ounce of my being, like a lion at the zoo.

[@cnvi08]

Can u imagine how many times they rehearsed this? The song is part of the illusion, lots of cues based on specific points in the arrangement. It’s classic. Copperfield invented using twins for so many of his illusions. Classic.

[@billgreen3138]

thanks for sharing history of copperfield tv specials

[@welcomestranger]

It's such a campy performance. As soon as he puts on the helmet and completely covers his face for no reason, the game is up as he switches out behind the curtain. I'm more interested in how he manages to get into position on the prop bike in the audience on the balcony and how the apparatus is hidden.

[@billgreen3138]

Sharpy i know how that part is done two spring trap door with each side half cut hole so when its closed it looks like one circale hole on the floor ps more deateal in my videos on illusions explained and illusion secrets plus my facebook williamnp hope this helps everyone out

[@maragetwhite8001]

I love this video David Copperfield is a great illusionist and still looks great I hope he continues to perform for a long time

[@mikestock969]

David Copperfield is in the works of a brand new illusion. "Making the Moon Vanish!!" It is also to my knowledge he's got several other illusions in the works. The moon illusion has taken Mr. Copperfield 30 years to perfect, It should be officially out some time in 2024!!!

[@billgreen4003]

Happy Easter Jesus has Risen and for ever more and forever ♾️

[@RuggsvilleCounty]

His comment about Fresno is funny because I saw him perform this trick there when I was a kid. And even then, I told my mom, "Someone else came from behind that curtain!" Haha

[@lefrisur198]

1:22 exactly the time when you see the hand of the double at the curtain!

[@stevenholt5692]

Marcus Erben 2 bikes & a double 2nd person involved. The bike is still hidden in that cage thing.

[@mikestock969]

@WERDEX How do you figure that?

[@peteralexander7015]

@@mikestock969 the masked magician revealed exactly this one. Just search for HOW TO MAKE A MOTORCYCLE VANISH IN THIN AIR

[@mikestock969]

@@peteralexander7015 Exactly my point. Thank-you for confirming my very thought

[@zona8224]

I see people in comments tryes to be a smart. It is easy to know how the trick was done when you know it (since masked magician revealed it). But back then without internet and YT, no way you could figure it out bc this was done so perfectly.

[@billgreen3138]

Vanguard Zero no offense but i figured it out live at chrystler hall in norfolk virginia david copperfield magic for the 90s 1990s 2000 extc

[@JoseSanchez-yo2co]

@@billgreen3138 don't cheat. You re magician. You already know secrets and you did research

[@billgreen4003]

@@JoseSanchez-yo2co you have a cool point pal

[@ChadDeLauter-hc1ee]

That’s why I gave up magic. People stopped enjoying it and only cared about how it was done. Simply enjoy it and it makes it so much more.

[@zlinedavid]

Copperfield is a master; great use of props, music, pyro and showmanship. This one isn't hard to figure out though. The helmet is the key. Notice that once he puts it on, he never removes it or lifts the visor. Right before the lift apparatus is revealed, there is a brief moment where he disappears behind the curtain. A switch takes place. Someone with the same helmet, jacket and build as Copperfield is the one elevated, while David is running through the bowels of the arena to the reveal point. When the pyro goes off, something obscures cycle 1 and Not David from view, while David and bike 2 are revealed elsewhere.

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

Yep guessed in exzacly :)

[@stevebragg4256]

He must have dubbed in his voice too

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

+Steve Bragg I been there live at Chrysler hall in Norfolk Virginia and he always made it his cool finally illusion :) and I pieaces it like a puzzle and by the time he Aired CBS nigra falls challenge I allready know how it's done and he's good with two sided Spring hinged doors each with half cut circle on them so when close it makes perfect whole country circle I even waved at cool Christian illusionist David Seth kotkin Copperfield and he waved back looking like you are not sposed to know I'm here at this point in time :) so while I watch his double vanish in box that collapses ps before this part happens I see a cool chubby man with green John deer hat on open the two sided trap door then I see Copperfield slowly come up on douplicate motorclye and he waited for his double to vanish on first motorclye on stage in the air then once guy on stage vanish then Copperfield more higher up on platform with douplicate motorclye with second helmet now on DC head and heavey chubby guy

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

+Steve Bragg and heavey chubby guy with green John deer had on that the deer part is yellow he closes the two sided spring doors that each have half circle cut on them that once there closed make a complete round circle and he now sits back down in the audience again and spot lights aimed in the audience and now everyone M looks in back of them or in that direction in the audience now and everyone sees cool Christian illusionist David Seth kotkin Copperfield real high on platform on they think same motorclye also and I figured that Copperfield had a special mic inside that look alike helmet so DC can speak through a nother Microphone to give illusion he's still there on stage still its called time misdirection islation of intrest perspective views as Christian illusionist Franz Harary would say look up in google search engines DC secrets in a nutshell look up walking through a plate glass mirror look up Mitchell Leary

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

+Steve Bragg look up in google search engines Mitchell Leary says Bill page is the keeper of David Copperfield illusion secrets if you can find him he will rock your world look up in youtube videos channels SankeyMagic affafnadjib howtoDisturbReality billpage pythonify rjlacmagic TheDavidCopperfield1 alhastings ropeline lookatthis9990 Herbert l Becker valtino the masked magician CBS/fox mystery magician WilliamMarcelpage MaskedGreenmagician Franz Harary Bart Kelly curtlow magictvfan the war illusionist hosted by Steve Cohen and Franz Harary the science of magic hosted by Harry Anderson and part 2 the science of magic hosted by Lance Burton Christian illusionist movies terror train and now you see me and now you see me 2 is co producer Christian illusionist David Seth kotkin Copperfield Andre Kole Christian illusionist how they do that Franz Harary makes a yellow mini submarine appear on stage see how he does it

[@kemarchdodd8648]

the greatest.

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

Cool U2 song too called where the streets have no names plus van halen dreams song combo

[@dustinf49]

Witnessed this as a finale in Nashville, TN as a young man. That was before the internet. Talk about making a lasting impression!

[@thewab1974]

He performed this illusion to close his show at the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, MA on June 7, 1991 (...I still have the ticket stub) and wow, what a phenomenal way to cap off an astounding show.

[@gmiusa123]

WOW, i can't believe that i didn't see the "SWITCH" when i saw him live. Its sooooooooo obvious when he goes behind the black curtain that someone else puts his hand outside the curtain to grab it. WOW, what a let down.

[@billgreen3138]

i figured out way before cool valtino leanered montana revealed on tv shows i know more information that he didnt say ps i dont know why he didnt go indeatail like i did in google search engines alt.magic.secrets check it out and mitchell leary jonathen pendragon tillman hauser will tinlge john black herbert l becker masked magician eric h david l good rjlacmagic kevin mrmagic7 the magic of reza al amazing alhastings adam allred extc hope this helps

[@jeanpng5376]

I saw the switch. this is easy

[@colipoo]

This was my feeling too. I saw this live as a child, and was totally baffled. I spotted the switch easy this time. Oh, to be a dumb child again...

[@Knightguyver]

But where did the motorcycle go?!

[@brad3378]

@@Knightguyver SPOILER ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/labOd4iMd5iBsNU

[@anthonyschlegel3943]

David Copperfield is the great magician one of the kind love all his matches tricks

[@1114maniacmike]

The masked magician revealed this one

[@adiazdleonr]

1114maniacmike seriously dude, do something with your life. 😂

[@bjscorpio4041]

It's the hand that grabs the curtain that makes it look like it's Copperfield all along.

[@gregarioal2456]

It was necessary to change faster with a double! Then no one would have guessed the secret!

[@buddinganarchist]

Note he covers his face and goes behind the curtain. Every theatre has an underground passage for gear.

[@arielsalort6740]

thank you to the video, i really liked it!

[@thewab1974]

Thank you for watching. :)

[@collinaruldass134]

he was a good entertainer

[@quothetheraven79]

You mean IS a good entertainer

[@billgreen3138]

very cool be safe God Bless

[@GeeBoyHowdy]

When he goes behind the curtain it's the doubles hand that grabs the curtain and that's where they switch

[@ColdCutz]

David opens with The Prestige.

[@michaels4340]

SPOILERS for how the trick was probably done (at least part of the trick) 1:20 David Copperfield disappears! (or perhaps I should say a stage assistant suddenly appears!) DC somehow escapes. The timing confuses me here. I think there may be some sort of cylindrical chamber he steps into that moves him and drags the curtain along. 2:04 DC brazenly walks behind the box and heads into a trap door (if he didn't do so while assistant pulled the curtain... this all depends on how long it would take DC to get from mid-stage to backstage... it could be him by the stage light in 1:29) 2:40 Motorcycle (with fake Copperfield) lifted up into smoke [David Copperfield talks through the loudspeakers, not his microphone, and the helmet muffles his voice]

[@thegoodguy44]

At 1:20… he just runs to the right. There’s a good 2 seconds for him. That’s a long time in magician’s business.

[@michaels4340]

@@thegoodguy44 Yeah, he goes behind the curtain at 1:24 and then I guess just runs offstage at a faster rate than the curtain pulls back. It all happens very fast, I'm sure it must take a lot of practice between him and the double to get the timing down, with the double reaching his hand and coming around the curtain just as David runs off, without bumping into each other. I suppose there might be a bit of time to walk around as the double prepares to draw the curtain, but he's definitely got to break into a sprint pretty quickly. Magicians have insane choreography...

[@thegoodguy44]

@@michaels4340 The way the body double grabbed the curtain was too aggressive. He should have done it less aggressively. It caught my attention, which it shouldn’t have.

[@Forensource]

Some of the audience have to be in on it. The second bike is not just hanging around in plain sight during the trick.

[@Forensource]

You are crazy.

[@thewab1974]

+Forensource - As a huge David Copperfield fan, I would often get tickets to his shows so that I could see these illusions performed live. Having seen the illusion on TV and being an aspiring magician at the time, I spent most of my time during the live performance of his motorcycle vanish looking over at the area I figured he would emerge from. I saw how they got David into position and without giving away too much…. no, the audience is NOT in on it at all. Had I not seen the trick on TV before, I’d have never known to look for what I saw at the specific spot I saw it.

[@Forensource]

I saw him in 1976, big deal.

[@tuskbedro]

@@Forensource ?????????????

[@tommymclean9866]

1:26 the duplicate switches with david coperfeild.

[@russrusselson2136]

no doubt about that, now how did he get the bike to go away?

[@Zeracool]

It did not. Addendum for clarification: The bike is still hanging in there behind the curtain.

[@Forensource]

the masked magician reveals the trick.

[@bestpeter78]

tommy mclean yes. this is the trick. no more David on the scene...thats why alot of time to go anywhere

[@clterry07]

noo bike is stil on the platform in that elevated cage .. 2 bikes and his stunt double ..

[@TheOriginalSindini]

Looks like maybe a mash up of two methods, the Bengal Net Vanish and the Dizzy Limit Vanish. Who knows, really!?!

[@Rockstarladies24]

rob lake bought this from him and did it on agt

[@hylamgia4270]

what 's name that song? somebody know it?

[@thewab1974]

"Dreams" by Van Halen.

[@MaskedGreenmagician]

Dreams by van halen plus the blue Angels jet airplanes theme song in air shows ps at Chrysler hall in Norfolk Virginia he made the vanishing motorclye in audience illusionist idea concepts the finale illusion in the show

[@user-il6ke6dl3q]

this guy is so entertainning

[@user-kf3pr4if9l]

🌹

[@surveyordave]

who does his hair?

[@FectacularSpail]

Came back to watch this because a guy on AGT basically did this exact same trick.

[@FectacularSpail]

Yep, seeing this again and knowing what to look for makes it pretty obvious.

[@FectacularSpail]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnfTZ4eIo5V2grc

[@billgreen4003]

Its says this video is private ps you need to put in in public mode for all to ser on God planet earth he created all things john3:16 thought you all should know that to double check everything even comments section to see if its in on mode and not off mode

[@nvvam7597]

at 1:24 there is a body double. The man going up on the motorbike is no longer David Copperfield. At this time the Real Copperfield is preparing to show up over the audience.

[@Hung_Nguyen_90]

It clever that he use the hand to connect he and the double. at 1:20 He stand there and that left hand is already the double's. So anyone thought that hand was David's would not suspect there is a change there.

[@willshad]

This is so 80s.

[@mikegruber172]

1990

[@ryanjacobson2508]

​@@mikegruber1721990 was actually the 80's on steroids.... The 80's weren't over until like 1997.

[@alsaadaengineering9320]

See left hand position at 1:23

[@billgreen4003]

Yep Douglas James Henning Mark Wilson saved magic illusion tricks and David seth kotkin Copperfield preserved it

[@bcampbell4987]

What's the song at the first of the trick?

[@thewab1974]

It was the first part of the instrumental track of "Where The Streets Have No Name" by U2.

[@mosipd]

Doesn't even look like he's using the clutch to get the bike moving, and he certainly doesn't shift it into gear. Not saying the bike is gaffed or anything, just odd that's all.

[@billgreen4003]

You all can freely make copies of all my videos I upload to KZbin videos search engine even VBS skits church activities and magic TV shows and Rubik's cube puzzles and TV commercials and magic TV specials

[@mtua5970]

1,22

[@danbrand9664]

David Copperfield is the greatest magician of all times. Is there any way you can show somebody how you do magic in real life on the computer. How long have you been doing magic have you been doing it for 10 20 maybe 30 or 40 years however how long it is keep up the good work and have a rest of a good time do you have any kids are you married have you made your kids disappeared just like you did the ones on this video.

[@billgreen3138]

Dan Brand david and his wife cloe habe a daughter name sky and with a nother girl he did not know she had two children a girl and a boy so in total copperfield and cloe and his girl friend he did not know about they have three children and animals even a dog name Rosey God Bless

[@billgreen3138]

joina spina david seth kotkin copperfield and there ilusion crew helpers use this song to do the death saw illusion and my friend raymond smith had 45 record of cutting crew song and it cool it had a round circle sawwith jaged points like you see on a round saw on it i brought that to his attention and everyone and they said bill i did notice it till you pointed that out your mind thinks copperfield 24/7 and i said yep

[@mayangsari7504]

Duplicate 1:24

[@jeanpng5376]

This is easy.....i see the trick

[@klausweasley]

I just noticed that David is out of breath when he re-appears. That's probably because he only has about a minute and a half to run from the stage and into position after the switcheroo.

[@russrusselson2136]

I think maybe a black sheet went over the bike or something.

[@SyntheticStuntMan]

you would be right...its a spring loaded shade just like a window shade that opens instantly when the bike drops to make it and man appear to "vanish".

[@bezpop]

Easy trick.

[@bestpeter78]

easy. the guy who tske a h d mlet and the cutrsin is not David...thats it.

[@1114maniacmike]

Easily done

[@Gaslightclub-xd5cc]

Mariana, you are so pretty

[@Mr..Universum]

Das ist ein leichte zaubereì er arbeitet mit ein körperliche Zwilling Zusammen.

[@cityboy4028]

Here 2 persons make it. I know this trick.

[@billgreen3138]

ok here what everyone racking the brain on the finale part im here to help before copperfield appears in the audience on douplicate harlry davidson moto cycle on a loong pole on top of square or retangle platform high up revving harly dvidson motocyle up all you see is empy space floor then a cool heavey guy wearing a green john deer hat on open up a two sided stage trap door with each trap door with half of a cicrle cut in them so when its closed on both sides flushed it looks like a sold circle hole so as the guy wearing johnn deer green hat on that has yellow symbol of a deer on it he the assistant heavey guy that gets out of the audience seat not to far from the empty floor space to open the two sided spring trap door so copperfield illusionist on douplicate motorcycle can rise up a on a hauldrawlick lift in metal pole with motor cycle and copperfield looks at me like high:) you are not suposed to know im here at this momment in time as hes then looks at the stage to watch look alike about to vanish on harly davidson motorcycle in mid air so i looked same way then waited for spot lights to aim in the audience then everyones looking now in that direction to see copperfield on a very high pole plateform on harly davidson motorcycle plus music and siren sounds hide sound of hauldrawrlic lift sound going on and lights spinning like policeman lights flashing aroundand around and david drew duncan ropelin suv said did you yeah i saw same info dave and tommy story said what you and dave talking about? we said we will explaine in your car tommy story

[@Pdrj3906]

NO one seen shit. That's why YOU'RE NOT anywhere else claiming these lies. Bigbucks for anyone that can ACTUALLY figure out these magical tricks.

[@dchenkin02]

Masked magician already revealed this trick.

[@SyntheticStuntMan]

@@dchenkin02 this trick method was known long before the masked guy revealed it.

[@SyntheticStuntMan]

give me the bucks and I'll tell you how they are done lol :)

[@suarezmrguitodetudoumpouco7677]

J

[@jimmyshaker1720]

David drops down from a secret door in the floor and that's when he switches with a body double. If you look closely the double on the motorcycle is shorter than the real David Copperfield. The slight difference in height gives it away but the quick bait & switch and crafty showmanship of Copperfield is what sells the trick & makes it work in a silly kind of way. Lol 😃

[@dchenkin02]

no secret door in the floor; here is the masked magician showing when the body double switch occurs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoGsZZ6Gr5mnbKM&lc=z131uhxypxmjdtwdi22ucj3zizupxpmfi.1640496447726767

[@williammcnulty4031]

Do this with no helmet and I'll be impressed

[@SyntheticStuntMan]

exactly....anytime you see a magician cover anything, something tricky is going on.

[@EloyYT]

1:21 As other commentators said before, the hand that appears holding the curtain is not from Copperfield, it is from his duplicate. In the small time interval in which you only see the hand is when they swap. It's sad to see a world-renowned magician basing his act on this foolishness.

[@bertgardner6570]

Yeah, he should be doing real magic instead.

[@nachalnik1968]

Самый дешёвый фокус который я видел!

[@thewab1974]

Мне жаль, что вам не понравилось видео.