How Orange County Choppers Ruined The Custom Motorcycle Industry
Before I get started on how OCC ruined the custom motorcycles industry let me contradict myself by saying what good they did. Because of Orange County Choppers and the brilliance of the Discovery channel for putting “American Chopper” on the air many individuals who never would have had the opportunity before suddenly were able to open their own custom bike shops and quit working for the man. In addition to that a few start up custom bike parts companies were also able to get foothold in the market place and have survived since the industry all but folded during the country’s economic crisis. So they have done some good.
But I feel their main contribution has been harmful to the custom motorcycle culture more than positive. Let me say right off the bat that I think that Paul Teutul Jr. is a great custom bike designer and having seen many of his creations first hand, they are works of art. Well at least they were in the beginning. Then the money got in the way. When these guy first started building bikes it was all about the motorcycle. Trying to build the coolest custom motorcycles on the planet. And way before the TV series was launched they were getting noticed in the custom bike community for the great work they were doing. Oh, how that changed.
Building a custom motorcycle used to be done by guys in the garage or small bike shop building $50,000 custom creation for actually very little profit. It was mainly about getting the bike just right, making that motorcycle a work of art, not a profit motive. Many a job request was turned down, if it meant compromising the builder’s idea of what a custom bike should be or if it was just a silly design. They simply would not build crap. OCC changed all that. By putting money before integrity they’ve all but forced other builders to take on jobs they don’t want to do.
The original theme bikes done by OCC meant something. The Firebike, the Jetbike, even the Snap-On bike meant something to those people who make a living turning wrenches. Now we have the My Name is Earl bike, the Icee bike, and even the PEZ chopper, possibly the most embarrasing bike ever built. It became pretty obvious that these guys will now build anything as long as they get paid. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, as anyone has a right to make as much money as they like, but it has put a serious mar on the custom motorcycle industry.
As a businessman and a philanthropist Paul Teutul Sr. is one of the best in the business, even if he still seems to not realize that much of his success has come from the Discovery channel and the show, but he has turned into the Gene Simmons of motorcycles. He’ll slap the OCC logo on anything and apparently will take any custom motorcycle request that comes along no matter how silly.
I think a lot of true blue custom motorcycle builders tried to give OCC the benefit of the doubt but when they built the new building with it’s emphasis being on selling merchandise and the TV show fans and not so much on building custom bikes, they finally turned their backs on OCC for good. Some local builders where I live have actually closed their shop doors to the public because they are sick of entertaining non-riding doctors and lawyers who want to enter the motorcycle world on a $30,000 custom chopper. These guys are in business for bikers not anyone who can write a check. I imagine this same scene has played out all across the country. I love to see new riders realize the joy that riding a motorcycle brings, but let’s get real people, learn to ride a bike before you commission some custom bike that you’re just going to sit in your 6 bay garage and stare at.
So while we watch Orange County Choppers and American Chopper fade off the pop culture scene we can only hope that the custom motorcycle world goes back to being what it once was: people who love motorcycles trying to do their own thing and creating artful bikes for people who love bikes. Custom motorcycles will never fade completely back into a sub culture just like the millions of people who bought bikes because of shows like American Chopper aren’t just going to stop riding when it no longer becomes fashionable, but at least I can hope that it goes back to belonging to those who really appreciate the motorcycle for what it is, even if there is few more million of us now.
Reader Comments
american chopper did do some good in a way it got the young kids into custom bikes,whitch is a good thing bringing new blood into the custom bike world.american chopper is there first look at the custom bike world i suppose a stepping stone to better things so for that i think orange county choppers has done a good job i think its all a matter of taste,there bikes are not realy for me to over the top.but each to there own and in a way i think most of us would like to be that sussesfull esp finnacialy right now.it would be great to see a tv show were guys had to biuld bikes on a budget useing second hand parts only ,now i think that would be a realy great show,following people who have never built a custom bike before and have a budget,following there dreams ,there effort,there hard work,there pride in there bikes not a competition just a documentary following there dreams,now that would be inspireing,…dxxx
Well i’m one of those that got my first motorcycle after watching the first show of American Chopper, I’ve been riding since then. I now work as a mechanic at a Honda/ Kawasaki dealership in south Fl, so it really open a new way of life for me.
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Sounds like the author is a whining sniveling little beatch….what is a true biker to yoU? Do you have to wear a patch to be a REAL biker or if you just go out and can afford a cool bike do you consider him a poser? sounds like to me you are a little jealous and need your honda tuned up.
Definition of a true biker: someone who rides for the ride, not to look cool and not to “belong”. Doesn’t matter what they wear or what they ride.
I think it’s just the evolution of custom motorcycle on the top of it.
Dont know about this “These guys are in business for bikers not anyone who can write a check” I think if the price is write then they would do it. However i also like the thought that people could be that passionate about building custom motorcycles only for hardcore motorbikers. Im sure these guys would have read a lot of Motorcycle Manuals to get to there awesome quality of work, in building Custom Motorcycles
It is sad (especially the PEZ bike) but this is what happens when people start making money. All good intentions go out the window and greed starts to float in instead. You have to wonder when people like Paul Teutul stop doing what they’re doing for the love of the art and when they start thinking about $$$ all the time.
It is always about the money. Anytime anything good comes along the profit motive kicks in. It was bound to happen regardless of whether there was TV show or not.
He’s no sellout but just one more media darling hogging up his image in front of the cameras. so what! He’s earn that right, didn’t he? Stop pointing your finger at them and start building your bikes for us to see or making your very own show if you truly feel that way???? Live and let live and ride for another day bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello,
I am trying to find a website that I can build my own motorcycle I am into Choppers but cannot find the kits..
Really great post, enjoyed reading it. Thanks