At first, I found that the Jesse James story was rather interesting, and the first episodes of Monster Garage reflected that. Now, everything is monsterized and it has gone too far. I can only hope the concept will die. I don't watch the Discovery channel anymore, just too much garbage. There are some things I don't necessarily like about him ie the way he conducts himself. He is one heck of a worker though...

 

Jesse fabs gas tanks from scratch; OCC welds decorations onto an existing tank. No contest.

I heard that Arlen Ness got tired of bikes and was doing custom cars.

I'd like these shows even more if they took the time to discuss design strategies and show more of the fabrication techniques, the kind of tricks you learn by watching someone work.

 

Arlen Ness needed to do something different. At one time he had a look of his own and you could spot one of his bikes a mile away. Then everybody started to copy his style and he never developed a new one.
I like American chopper but I really don't like the style of the bikes and they are all the same configuration.
Even Cody's bike was just a trip down the aisles at a store and drilling a few holes was about it for any fabrication.
I have built a couple Harleys and it was an all winter process to scrounge the right parts and make the ones you couln't find. That was the fun and reward of it all. Plus the late nights over a few brews with your buddies added a social aspect to it.

 

Two sides to every story.
Monster Garage shows one side of Jesse James, while the other 2 documentaries of him and his lifestyle shows another. One of the docs. had a little blurb about one of his pit bulls killing another of his dogs, and I think the other show had him and Indian Larry and a few other dudes crusing to ? Sturgis I think. Or Daytona. Can't remember. But the 2 documentaries definitely show his humanity. Or softer side, if you will.

As for Arlen Ness, I think he's working with Polaris on their Victory Motorcycle line. Arlen and his son, Cory have a column in Hot Bike Magazine.

 

I liked the Sturgis show but it would have been a lot cooler if they had all their gear strapped to the bike and no support truck. And then had to deal with the problems along the way like true scooter tramps.
I would have sure been peeved about those high tech billet heads pulling a thread.
I will say this, if Jesse rode in that riding position for over 1000 miles he is one tough dude. Any one that has ever did serious time on a bike would tell you that was not a comfortable ride.

 

The guy's married to a **** star. He's the man.

 

And thats supposed to be cool?

 

yeah if your getting some

 

Are you talking about the mother of his children whom he seems to be divorcing or is it a new wife? Either way I like only my eyes and naked body on my wife. Maybe I am possessive, definately old fashioned.

 

thats the problem guys don't want their wife to be with other guys and vice vers

 

i could never go with a **** star. me and my girl are together and it's only us. that may be old fashioned but definatly my values.

 

I agree. I wouldnt want to date/marry/etc a **** star
I like my g/f the way she is... Only I have set eyes on hert naked and I plan to keep it that way...
And she's just as good or bettter than what a **** star could be...

 

right on, thats what ive been sayin to my friend who says occ is better because the guy tac welds a bunch of little metal rods to a bike and calls it custom. They cant even build a tank, and when they tried they screwed it up.

West Coast Choppers rules!

 

The reality is - being a **** star isn't all that great. The people in the biz hate it. How would you feel if you had to be checked for STD's every week? It completely ruins the "experience" of pleasure shall we say...

 

Say what you want about OCC but that Black widow bike was awsome even though everything you guys say about them being kit bikes is true. And the fireman bike wasn't half bad either. I really get tired of the basic style of their bikes though and it would be nice to see a departure or deviation of it. I would like to see a road hog that you could pack all your gear on and make 1000 miles in a day.