West Coast Choppers is RIP

[Diezel]

do any of you guys do metal shaping/welding/bending/fabricating?

just sayin... the guy has talents that arent too ordinary. give him a little bit of credit.

oh and he has banged sandra bullock....... im pretty sure your wife wasnt sandra bullock

His skill was there. Mindset, well sometimes. I've actually ridden one of his motos, and aside from it being like every other damn custom I've ridden... Seems well enough. Not that I would own one due to the price of it.....

Too bad, his designs were a bit different then some of the other stuff out there. But to be real honest, after OCC hit the scene.. ALL the custom choppers look the same to me now.

 

[Yo!Joe!!!]

Great thread. We got trash bikes, trash babes, gear Nazis, Hollywood Nazis, and Bullock bumpers.

James is married to a tattooed porno star, who he cheats on. Ends up with Miss ordinary-looking Bullock, and then finds another tattooed pornie. I see a pattern. I never found Miss Bullock attractive, but once she slept with James, she was on my do-not-touch/wear-body-prophylactic/throw-up list.


To the sink, in 10, 9 ........

Hey. At least I don't ride a BMW...

Besides. Don't tell me you wouldn't do her...

 

[jiffy]

I like all the references to him not being talented. The guy is talented like his personal life or not. He proved his talent time and time again. I don't like choppers after they were pushed on us by OCC. The fad wore out but that doesn't deny James his talent for building cool machines.

His alleged drug use on here is also amusing. I haven't seen any reliable sources quoted for his drug problems. I wouldn't be surprised if he has but people act like the guy is a meth head....sources please.

 

[VicTim]

I like all the references to him not being talented. The guy is talented like his personal life or not. He proved his talent time and time again. I don't like choppers after they were pushed on us by OCC. The fad wore out but that doesn't deny James his talent for building cool machines.

His alleged drug use on here is also amusing. I haven't seen any reliable sources quoted for his drug problems. I wouldn't be surprised if he has but people act like the guy is a meth head....sources please.

+1

 

[Yo!Joe!!!]

I like all the references to him not being talented. The guy is talented like his personal life or not. He proved his talent time and time again. I don't like choppers after they were pushed on us by OCC. The fad wore out but that doesn't deny James his talent for building cool machines.

His alleged drug use on here is also amusing. I haven't seen any reliable sources quoted for his drug problems. I wouldn't be surprised if he has but people act like the guy is a meth head....sources please.

Not me pal...

I agree. Jesse James had a good following before. I actually liked his early shows and even liked his bad-ass personality. I have no doubt the man is a talented metal worker and a good rider... But when he started crapping on Sandra Bullock it all went south. If he had done that to someone else he might have survived the scorn. But no, not "America's Sweetheart" you just don't do that to her... Specially after the Tiger Woods scandal? There's another story. Big celebrity, on top of his game and a HOT wife at home. And then go out and crapp on her with some skank/s..? Only bad things will happen to you and nobody is going to feel sorry. Except, maybe your mom...

Anyway. Their lives are non of our business. But it could be a lesson learned. If you've got it going on for you..? Don't fuck it up..!

 

[originalsturge]

OK, so, how do you improve on a Custom Chopper?
I know of three ways...

1. C5 transport at 5,000 feet...
2. Pickup truck, a chain, a bumper, and 5 miles of dirt road...
3. About 50 feet of det cord...

J/K...

OK, not really...

I think im in love.


as for the rest of this thread

 

[Karbon]

dang. A bit of a bummer to hear, actually. But I think a dude as on point as Jesse James knew this trend wouldn't last too long. Folks neglect the fact that J.J. is a true gear head and is a lot smarter than folks give him credit (bagin' skanky hos aside).

I hail him as a bit of a working class hero. Even in his shows he would refer to himself as a "glorified welder" and gave props to blue collar types of the old era.

 

[clutchslip]

Hey. At least I don't ride a BMW...

Besides. Don't tell me you wouldn't do her...

Me - BMW? Don't think so. Not much interest until the new 1000RRRRRR. Closest thing I ever got to a BMW was a GS1000. And that ain't too close.
(I would "do" ANYTHING that didn't have herpes or a peg leg. The leg might even be okay.)


There has been plenty of support for his artistic abilities in this thread, I thought. It's all the "bizarre" jewelry that goes along with that bit of pretty artistry that is hard for me to take. I thought his Shaquille O'neal bike was pretty well done, for instance. I couldn't find a damn picture.

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

There's no doubting that the guy was creative and had some talent. However, I would never own/ride one of those things.

Dave

Exactly. I caught a few episodes of his show in the early days, and really enjoyed his creativity. I also enjoyed the "Jesse James is a Dead Man" show he had for awhile... watching that ice road ride was pretty amazing... I love to ride, but wouldn't even consider doing that. Dood has creativity, good business sense, balls, and apparently a white trash upbringing that he can't overcome. Too bad.

On topic, even though JJ's made some questionable decisions lately, I wouldn't even begin to lump him in with the OCC retards. JJ was/is a true builder and did some really cool stuff. And he's a hell of a lot more interesting to listen to than the OCC dopes.

Agreed. Again, I can't begin to articulate the depth of loathing I have for the father on OCC... :|

once again what i choose to wear is not any of your concern...if i were into drag'n knee or track days and could afford that then yeah there would be more of an effort to buy gear to be used. you as well as several members on here have no problem degrating or bashing or squid calling and to me that is just another form of being prejudice. that's why i say put up or shut up, there are more of you barfers that have the skills and oppurtunity to help a rider than prejudge one, however its just not as entertaining. (just guessing) my choices in gear have to be practicle how much am i going to use vs the cost. im a single father, doesnt mean i need condoms unless someone is wanting to have sex with me? saying that there's no excuse for not having gear... well motorcycles have been around for a long time and gear has improved but not needed at every and all times, sure be safe but in the end choice is just that and if you dont agree so be it. i dont care who rides what or wears what i just know as they ride there's something in common for the both of us. truly when someone has an avatar of vanilla instead of a his duck at bucks or not able to find a pic cause its probably in a garage i take that all in good fun.

You know, you have every right to make whatever decision you want. That's the beauty of living in these here United States... you can decide whatever you want to about gear... no matter how incredibly daft your decision may be.
Gear is an ESSENTIAL... particularly if you're the sole provider and caretaker of your children.
Leathers and boots aren't a LUXURY. They can mean the difference between getting up from a crash and dusting yourself off.... or having an ambulance roll out.
You cannot control what goes on around you... Prius Assassin Squad... drunk drivers... guys like DivineZ out doing a touge run... gravel you don't see in a corner...
I don't know about you, but I can't afford to be off work for weeks.
So I gear up for the worst, ride like I'm a target, stay focused, and hope for the best. And I've picked up enough riders on the side of the road wearing gear like you to know your approach is epic fail in the making.
Good luck with that.

 

[JPK]

I haven't seen much of Jesse's work lately, but I don't understand how you can even call that crap that OCC turns out "custom". They just go over to the shelf and pull down some parts, maybe fab up a fender and some seat stays and tweak a tank a little, and *surprise* it's another OCC custom! The only real artwork on those bikes is Nubbie's paintwork. I haven't seen anything on that show in a loooooong time that's made me say wow.

 

[maxandgrinch]

I haven't seen much of Jesse's work lately, but I don't understand how you can even call that crap that OCC turns out "custom". They just go over to the shelf and pull down some parts, maybe fab up a fender and some seat stays and tweak a tank a little, and *surprise* it's another OCC custom! The only real artwork on those bikes is Nubbie's paintwork. I haven't seen anything on that show in a loooooong time that's made me say wow.

The new sheet metal guy from FatKatz on JR's show: he's demanding the right tools, he may not get it free like the producers want, but he does want good tools.

 

[Jakemate]

I haven't seen much of Jesse's work lately, but I don't understand how you can even call that crap that OCC turns out "custom". They just go over to the shelf and pull down some parts, maybe fab up a fender and some seat stays and tweak a tank a little, and *surprise* it's another OCC custom! The only real artwork on those bikes is Nubbie's paintwork. I haven't seen anything on that show in a loooooong time that's made me say wow.

There is iron in your words.

Dude MADE shit that OCC bought from somebody else. He is very talented in his tradecraft. And, really, as far as customs go, his shit had style. At least style that wasnt just out of a box, with a few additions/subtractions.

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

I think im in love.


as for the rest of this thread

O hai!

 

[72SBC]

Just saw that "outlaw" Jessie James closed down West Coast Choppers........looks like America's love affair with overpriced poseur bikes is fading (along with pulling "equity" out of yer house to pay for em!)

Semper Fi!

Cuz another American shop closing down is always a good thing huh.

 

[72SBC]

There is iron in your words.

Dude MADE shit that OCC bought from somebody else. He is very talented in his tradecraft. And, really, as far as customs go, his shit had style. At least style that wasnt just out of a box, with a few additions/subtractions.

Don't forget when him and Kid Rock rode down to Mexico and back on the bikes he built.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Wait how are custom bikes poseur?

Given that most of them are nearly unrideable except in a straight line, I'd say that they were never really meant to be anything but ornaments that you stand next to and say "Yeah, thanks, it IS a sweet bike, isn't it?"

I may be being harsh, though, as you could explain their quirks in a different way; they're just designing for the customer base, because most people who'd buy a chopper can't ride except in a straight line, anyway.

 

[RockyMt]

Don't forget when him and Kid Rock rode down to Mexico and back on the bikes he built.

Yeah, you mean the one where 35 people with 8 support trucks (loaded with spares) followed 1/4 mile behind? Yeah, that was BAD ASS......
(the saying "water seeks it's own level" was never more true than seeing Kid Rock and Jessie together.....)

Semper Fi!

 

[Sane_Man]

There has been plenty of support for his artistic abilities in this thread, I thought. It's all the "bizarre" jewelry that goes along with that bit of pretty artistry that is hard for me to take. I thought his Shaquille O'neal bike was pretty well done, for instance. I couldn't find a damn picture.

Isn't this it? I found articles that said his bike was put on eBay, and it only had 425 miles on it.

Shaq's WCC bike.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guano/59546203/

 

[Johndicezx9]

How many 7 footers are out there shopping for used choppers?

(... besides, Shaq's in Boston now, the riding season is practically over.)

 

[monkeythumpa]

Don't forget when him and Kid Rock rode down to Mexico and back on the bikes he built.

We didn't.
http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6175960#post6175960