Robert Irwin Shares Touching Story of Late Father Steve Irwin's Motorbike He Still Uses Today
Robert Irwin
Those who venture to Australia Zoo will likely hear Robert Irwin before they see him, thanks to a motorbike that belonged to his late father, Steve Irwin.
In 2006, the Crocodile Hunter star died after a stingray barb pierced him in the chest while filming in the Great Barrier Reef. Robert took to Instagram on Feb. 22—what would have been Steve's 62nd birthday—with a touching story about his dad's motorbike. And his Instagram followers could hardly contain their emotions.
"Dad had a long history with motorbikes, and when he got this Honda 100, it was his main mode of transportation around Australia Zoo," Robert explained as clips and photos of Steve displayed in the videos. "And for me and my sister, every morning we'd get on, hold onto the handlebars, dad would take us around on the morning park checks, and we'd get ice cream."
Robert continued: "Some of my fondest and earliest memories were on that bike. And after dad passed away, the bike sat sitting for quite some time. But I got it back up and running recently. And now it's my job to get the motorbike started every morning and do the same park checks around Australia Zoo."
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The 20-year-old shared that each time he starts up the motorbike, "it brings back so many memories." He added, "It means so much that this piece of machinery that he loved and used every day keeps on running."
In the video, Robert also said he feels "very, very lucky" to have "so many connections to dad" that still exist today—and that he has the opportunity to "continue his legacy in so many different ways."
"It was well known back in the days that you could hear him before you could see him thanks to that motorbike," he said of Steve. "And these days, the sound of the Honda engine still rings around Australia Zoo pretty much every day."
Robert concluded: "So there you go, a brief history of dad's old motorbike. And now, when you come into the zoo, chances are, you'll hear me before you see me. Not much has changed."
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In the comments section, Robert's mother Terri Irwin wrote, "Beautiful memories on such a special day. Your dad is definitely proud of you. And we both will love you always and forever. ?"
Meanwhile, Robert's sister, Bindi Irwin, commented, "??????."
Others chimed in with their reactions in the comments, with one person writing, "I swear Robert makes Steve proud everyday. ??"
Another Instagram user declared, "I’m not crying you are… I’m definitely crying..??"
Someone else commented, "The world was a sadder place when your Dad passed. But seeing his legacy live on, is amazing!"
Yet another Instagram user summed it up perfectly, writing, "Didn’t think I’d be crying over a motorbike this morning but there we go."
