A method of generating effusive molecular beams of C-60 with vibrational temperatures up to 2000 K is presented. Direct measurement of the thermal stability and fragmentation kinetics of C-60 in the range of 1100-1970 K, on the milliseconds time scale, provides thermal rate constants k(T)=10-300 s(-1) (for T=1720-1970 K,-respectively) and activation energy of E(0)=4.0+/-0.3 eV.