Extreme Motus Stories: Meet Mr. Bones, Sam’s Skeleton Stunt Double
Quick answer
Mr. Bones is Sam Durst’s skeleton stunt double — the guy we send in for the most dangerous Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair stunts. He started as a Halloween decoration in Sam’s front yard, retired from scaring trick-or-treaters, and now appears in our viral land-speed-record videos and skatepark drops. He’s been launched off ramps, dropped down stairs, and decapitated more than once. He cannot feel pain, which is a useful trait in his line of work.
If you follow Sam and me on social media, you know Sam is up for pretty much anything with his Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair. But once in a while we get an idea that’s too dangerous for the star of the show, and we bring in Sam’s stunt double Mr. Bones.
Today we’re interviewing Mr. Bones to learn about some of his favorite memories working with the Extreme Motus team.
Q&A with Mr. Bones
What did you do before working for Extreme Motus?
Before I started working as Sam’s stunt double, I was a Halloween decoration in his front yard. I used to watch Sam and Ryan loading up for another adventure and really wanted to join them — but I’m dead and lack the brains, lungs, and voice box required to ask if I could go. During the off-season, I spent my time crammed in the attic waiting for another Halloween to scare trick-or-treaters.
This job seems very dangerous — are you ever afraid?
Every time I join Sam & Ryan on an adventure, I break a bone. I’ve broken my neck — like, all the way. My head fell completely off and Ryan had to use a rope to reattach it so we could continue filming. But I no longer have a functioning nervous system so I can’t feel pain. I’m not worried about getting hurt. I just want the video to be great, and I’d rather it happen to me than to Sam.
What’s your favorite Extreme Motus memory?
Once after a long day of stunts, Ryan buckled me into the back seat of his wife’s car. Early the next morning she got in to leave for work, checked the rearview mirror, and nearly jumped out of her skin. Ryan got in a lot of trouble for that.
Do you miss working as a Halloween decoration?
No. With all the exposure kids have to social media today, skeletons just aren’t as scary as they used to be. It was no longer fulfilling work for me. I wanted something better.
What’s your favorite Extreme Motus adventure?
The first time I worked as Sam’s stunt double was way back in November of 2019. We went out to the Utah desert with the Motus to break a recreational land speed record. To accomplish this we tied the chair to the back of a side-by-side UTV and tricked a lot of people into thinking Sam was really in the chair as it sped down the road.
When the video was posted, Sam’s own brother thought Sam was in the chair. He called their mom and said, “Mom, did you see what Ryan did with Sam?!”
After that, we decided not to use a full-face helmet on the dummy anymore — I’ve become less of a stunt double and more of a star of the show. We want people to watch the video twice but not give them a panic attack.
Now, plain as day, viewers can see that Sam isn’t in the chair during these crazy dangerous stunts. But you wouldn’t believe how easily people are tricked. The first time we posted the video below to TikTok, many commenters lost their minds and reported the video for abuse of a disabled person. It got millions of views.
How durable is the Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair?
We can’t break it. We’ve done so many stunts that would have destroyed any other all-terrain wheelchair, but it just keeps going. I’ve been dropped down steep bowls at skateparks, launched off ramps, and pushed down a flight of stairs. The Extreme Motus is solid. It was engineered to be used hard and last a long time. I’m a lot more worried about my own bones breaking than I am about anything happening to that chair.
What’s next on your list with Extreme Motus?
I don’t want to give too much away, but we’re planning a video that involves some rope and an abandoned train bridge. It’s going to be epic. Stay tuned.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sam actually doing the dangerous stunts in Extreme Motus videos?
No — the most dangerous stunts use Mr. Bones, a skeleton stunt double wearing Sam’s clothes and helmet. The end of most stunt videos shows the swap.
Why use a skeleton instead of a crash-test dummy?
Mr. Bones was already in Sam’s front yard as a Halloween decoration. Repurposing him was free, slightly funny, and avoids the cost of a real crash-test dummy.
Does the Extreme Motus actually survive these stunts?
Yes — the chair has been launched off ramps, dropped at skateparks, pushed down stairs, and tied behind a UTV at 35–40 mph. Battle scars but no structural damage.
Where can I see Mr. Bones in action?
Our YouTube and TikTok @extrememotus channels. Look for the land speed record video for his debut performance.
Has Mr. Bones been hurt?
Fractures, decapitations, full disassemblies. He cannot feel pain. He gets reattached for the next shoot.
Since 2019, Sam and Ryan have been demonstrating that nature is wheelchair accessible with the Extreme Motus All Terrain Wheelchair. From National Parks to Skateparks, their adventures prove that a manual off-road wheelchair can offer laughter and joy while navigating diverse terrains.
Join us as we continue to share these inspiring journeys.
Light, comfortable, and compact, the Extreme Motus glides over sand, rocks, grass, gravel, and even floats in water.
It’s more than a outdoor wheelchair; it’s your ticket to freedom. Embrace the outdoors with confidence, knowing our off-road wheelchair is engineered for durability and ease of use.
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