custom eye for the discovery guy
I love Discovery Channel’s “American Chopper” as much as the next guy. Nothing gets me fired up on a Sunday night like the Tuttle’s warring it out in the assembly shop over whether or not Paul Jr. is spending too much time tightening the guided missile air filter cover. Until very recently, I thought the Tuttle’s of Orange County Choppers (OCC) in upstate New York were the only gods-of-custom-cycles, second only to the great Jesse James (West Coat Choppers & Monster Garage) his’self.
Well, it appears that I have become middle America. That I, much like the rest of the Monday morning armchair chopper quarterbacks, have fallen for what “the man” wants me to think is good. I can’t ride a motorcycle. I can’t rewire an electrical system. I can’t rebuild a carburator. I just can’t. Who the fuck am I to think the Tuttle’s are god’s?! I have nothing to judge them against.
Until now. Chris Mitchell put me squarely in my place. He is a lawyer, so I’ll admit some of the convincin’ must have come from his courtroom “fancy-talk,” but he also knows motorcycles. He taught himself everything about them during his recent builds and re-builds of his own Triumph and Moto Guzzi bikes. He rides, he builds, he even does some minor fabrication. (Very minor..)
In any case, he explained to me about how the Tuttle’s really don’t do much more than cobble together some off-the-shelf parts and add some minor fabrication touches to make them look like something. All the wheels are CNC’ed, and this genious painter from Staten Island does all the paint work. I didn’t buy it all until he sent me a link to Chica Custom Cycles, a pure custom cycle shop in Los Angeles. These guys build everything from scratch, all one-of-a-kind, retro, choppers and sport bikes, beautiful. I mean beautiful. These guys are insane. Take a look below at some of the work. It is incredible.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I still disagree with Chris “LawMonkey” Mitchell. The Tuttle’s are still custom bike gods in my eyes. Take a look at some of their bikes if you don’t know the show. The Comanche, the FireBike, the Jet Bike. C’mon Chirs, these bikes are custom, and beautiful. Yeah, they are a little over the top sometimes. Yeah, they are theme bikes and sometimes it feels a little “Planet Hollywood” even for me. But overall, these guys are talented and these bikes are nice. Chica’s bikes, on the other hand, are unbelievably beautiful works of art. I am going to get my motorcycle license this spring. Then I am going to save up all my change, and I am going to buy a custom Chica. I am in love with the bikes you see above.
Unfortunately for all of us, the guys at Chica don’t have a reality TV show, and we can’t watch them catfight their way into the hearts of America. They might build better bikes than anyone else, but I doubt hightly that they could be as enjoyable to watch as Paul Sr. and Paul Jr., the Tuttle’s, scrap it out over who does more work in the shop.
Thanks Mitchell. Thanks Paul. Thanks Paul.
Chris makes a great point with the over the counter parts an CnC’d wheels and outsourced paint. But would that too make Carol Shelby or Enzo Ferrari or even Henry Ford for that matter any less of automotive gods because they never cut there own wheels and had someone else do their painting?
That too is a great point. I watch the show for a good laugh and to see the creativity of Paulie Jr. and his custom bikes. The TV show mostly shows the custom bikes that are made for Companies such as Snap-On and Trim-spa. They dont show much of the old school stuff they do that im sure isnt all made from parts off the shelf. Paul Sr. owned some sort of a steel shop in the past. Im sure they have done bikes from scratch also. They’re not as “eye catching” as a Fire Bike or Commanche Bike.
license this spring?
Lets see this
I AM getting the license in the spring. I HAVE to.
So, I see some opinions about the Tuttles, but what do all think of Chica? I think these bikes are awesome.
Don’t get your license, man. Those bikes look like death on a stick. Who’s gonna update your site when you’re a smear on the parkway?
Call me a killjoy but…
Art? Yes. Safe? No fucking way.
Need I remind you about your scooter experience in San Fran?
Glad you liked it Chris.
I am not disputting that OCC has talent. Paulie Jr obviously picked up some skills in his metal working days. Paulie Sr. obviously does more than appears on screen and the whole shop grew out of his iron business. I think the star of the show is Vinnie who is the get it done guy and would be an asset to any shop. I just think that the “theme” of a motorcycle should be well…the motorcycle. Every episode I have seen (and yes, I stopped watching, the “hey, a bike shop on TV” factor has worn off”) the OCC guys take a ready made frame, make no modificiations, bolt in a crate motor with a prefab exhaust, maybe tinker a bit with the premade fenders and tank, weld on some extraneous crap, cnc a set of wheeles and then have it painted and powdercoated. Motorcycles are multi-faceted - there are so many things you can do to them in terms of performance and style that I think a lot of what OCC does is bullshit. I have never heard them talk about changing the performance or handling of the bike. If you watched the build-off show on discovery, you saw people like Indian Larry and Billy Lane modify their frames, choose different motor/tranny combos for power (even if they didn’t build them, they selected a number of componets that went into the motor), build custom exhausts for sound, looks and power and put interesing touches on like Lane’s underseat exhaust. Many parts are built from scratch. The OCC guys also rely on bolt on crap to affect the “look” of the bike - Lane, et al do this by using diferent frame modifications (or a scratch built frame) and custom tanks, fenders, bars, wheels etc. My point is that you can create a visually stunning and great riding bike by altering only the things that make up a motorcycle - wheels, motor, etc, not adding missles or cockpits. A builder’s style comes in the way he manuvers those things - like Exile’s use of big wheels, brushed metal and overbuilt frames, chica’s retro modern style, or Billy Lane’s crazy stuff. It seems like OCC stars with the same bike and breaks out the hot glue fun. I would not want to ride an OCC bike 1000 miles.
As for the point about Carol Shelby (the shelby cobra is one of my alltime favorites) and Enzo ferrarri - they were designers - they built and modified cars for a purpose - speed and beauty. Carol Shelby didn’t take a mustang glue on some fiberglass and call it a day. He worked to improve the performance of the car. Enzo Ferrari didn’t take a bunch of pre-parts, slap it together and call it a ferrari. He started from frame up and crafted a works of art.
And folks you are in luck - Chica’s will be on a future episode of the biker buildoff (a much much better show than american chopper).
Mike, as to your point about building bikes for corporations - that doens’t mean it has to be any different from traditional bike building - check out the bikes that got built for Camel - like this one done by Jim Nasi. you see any cigarettes stuck one?
I stumbled across this link doing a search for the guys that paint Chica’s bikes. I have been a big fan of theirs for a long time and I am glad to see people are discovering the awesome bikes they build. It shines the light on the assembly line/bolt on customizing that OCC does. (Mind you, I do love the squabbling.) The hours Chica’s puts in on their bikes wouldn’t make exciting TV. But we will see on Discovery’s biker build off 5.
Check out http://www.suckerpunchsally.com for some more old school, no nonsense bikes. I agree with Mitchell: would you drive a Ferrari with a bunch of ladders and a fire hydrant bolted onto it? Probably not.
Hey my name is johnny chop.I am Mr.Chicas spokesman Thge dicovery show shouldair somtime in june,watch for it.If any of you are in or around Louiville Ky.on feb.7th come to the easyriders show at the convention center and vote for us.Also check out our web site.www.chicacustom.com
Never met: Never met a biger bunch a Opra watchin girly boy MOTORCYCLE industy bashin types like this before. Tolisten to ya one would get the impression the whole batch of you spend more on your wife’s tampons when she tells ya to…Than on motorcycles! Now thats bashin huh? Now listen up brands are oppinion…styles are opional…performance is a plus… but MOTORCYCLES…ARE…A…MUST! Get it together fellas yes it takes balls to ride a chopper with bad trail…but bad trail aint a bad thing…just ballsy! Yes it’s better to ride than to work onna damn thing but that don’t make working onna bike bad just makes ya toughfer the more you can do on your own. Hey it may be humbling having to get help but that’s part of the journy isin’t it? Good customs can be very reliable…Good factory bikes can break too…but you boys need to prioritise your life and just go get a bike trade it and the next few in for what you think is better at the time…rides wrecks partys and prides…later and you’ll probably purchase one similar to the first bike that started you off…and ride till ya die. Fair winds to ya fellas!!
The Tuttles are idiots.How many parts have you seen them actually make.Anyone with half a brain can pull parts off shelves and make minor changes and bolt them on a bike.If you still think their gods look around a little harder and youll see the customers who are suing them for shitty work.Dont believe everything you see on tv.
I agree with the one post. While I enjoy the OCC show for entertainment purposes, I am not overly impressed by the work at OCC from a mechanical inovation perspective. Since I am a man who has skills at welding and fabrication work I appreciate the artistic aspect of Paul Jr. but they really do use a lot of of the shelf parts. Their real success comes down to the guys who do the Cnc wheels and that incredible painter they use. More amazing to me is Billy Lane’s totally by eye and feel method of fabrication or Jesse James and some of his guest such as that Wink dude. I am happy that people whom don’t do mechanical work can finally see the craftsmanship and skills of people that do. I think blue collar America has been put down for too many years. All these shows are finally breaking that cycle. God bless them all!
Anyone have a working e-mail for chica custom cycles?
Foret the PAulies, mike is more down to earth- besides that, i’d be afraid to actually own an OCC pile– hammering on the clutch and primary drives? Hog snot, it should slip on. 45degree twins aren’t that great but if i have to own an HD configured custom, Chica is a different story- a Real Artist.
Personally I don’t get the whole I’m a biker because I can kick the dog shit out of you mentality . I’m a biker because I love to ride . And I don’t care what you ride be it a harley ,an indian , a sport bike, a custom, a honda or any other bike for that matter . In the wind is in the wind and everyone of us have to dodge the suv and beamer clad crowd with the damn cell phones to there ears on the road . I am just glad that there is more awareness that bikes are on the road and are getting much more respect than they used to.
I don’t care if many of the parts the OCC guys use are off the shelf stuff. I can’t put them down ,They must be doing something right and must have some talent or they wouldn’t be where they are today . I prefer the style of bike that Indian Larry of Gasoline Alley creates but these other guys like Dave Perewitz , Billy Lane and OCC Do make some gorgeous machines . As for calling any of them Gods,no way. I believe this is only one God. They are all talented and gifted but lets keep it in perspective.
all occ does is assemble, they dont customize they dont biuld “choppers” all they do is bolt stuff together. there is no talent you need to do somthing like that my 16 yr old brother can do that
OCC guys are fun to watch, and they can fab. Remember there are different levels of fabricaters and fabrication. Not all of us can take an idea from our heads and build it. As a intermediate fabricater, I think anyone who tries (good or bad) should be proud of making something out of nothing.Take a look around you. everything you see has been fabricated by someone or something fabricated and designed by someone.
the real builders arent getting all famous and in magazines.i know this guy mark that does all nyc customs fabrication,building,welding and anything else needed to fabricate a 150.000.00 yuppie machine or a 20,000.00 basic chopper built to specs and custom one off’s.this guy is a magician yet he isn’t as well known as lets say,arlen ness.though i would have to say marks nyc customs are the shit to have.but do cable subscribers talk about him at work or at the bar,no i think not but i’ll tell the kids are allright.
If you are going to shoot your mouth off, be sure your brains are loaded. The last name is Teutul. At least get that much right. Besides, I don’t see anyone here building anything that any star or celeb has wanted to buy.
No one here has a Discovery show. Enjoy it instead of tearing it apart. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. But, don’t criticize something you can’t even do yourself.
I just returned from Iraq. Believe me, that show, and a lot of other bike shows kept a lot of us going until we were able to get back home. How many service members ride? How many shows have built a bike for them? OCC. How many of these builders have done things for the community around them? Jessie James & OCC. That’s the important thing.
I being riding Harley’s since the early seventies. OCC aka John Junior is an idiot. To ride or own one of his creation is insult to the hardworking guys who save every penny to own a Harley. OCC’s creation is just another form a visual and air polution. If you you really want to see a real “cool” Harleys, go to http://www.suckerpunchsally.com and have a look at their bikes. Their bike a KISS bikes. (Keep it simple stupid) Classic to the core. Who needs f…..g stupid overprices theme bike.
Cheers
Harald
Macau / China
I being riding Harley’s since the early seventies. OCC aka John Junior is an idiot. To ride or own one of his creation is insult to the hardworking guys who save every penny to own a Harley. OCC’s creation is just another form a visual and air polution. If you you really want to see a real “cool” Harleys, go to http://www.suckerpunchsally.com and have a look at their bikes. Their bike a KISS bikes. (Keep it simple stupid) Classic to the core. Who needs f…..g stupid overprices theme bike.
Cheers
Harald
Macau / China
I being riding Harley’s since the early seventies. OCC aka John Junior is an idiot. To ride or own one of his creation is insult to the hardworking guys who save every penny to own a Harley. OCC’s creation is just another form a visual and air polution. If you you really want to see a real “cool” Harleys, go to http://www.suckerpunchsally.com and have a look at their bikes. Their bike a KISS bikes. (Keep it simple stupid) Classic to the core. Who needs f…..g stupid overprices theme bike.
Cheers
Harald
Macau / China