american chopper

[superdave]

Paint!!

that dipping thing sounds totaly hip ! ti-dye thing. I remember that chopper your refering about, no kick stand just lower the suspention till the frame rests on the ground. The paint i say in person was on a buell x-1 dark black/blue with real looking lighting bolts in it. fenders and tank. I likes how sharp the bolts were. Had this buddy of mine out of Waursaw(dont know how to spell it) wisconsin that I raced with, he took a set of plain alpinstar boots and took 5 or 6 different color paints and dripped pain dropplets all over! He had more complements on how original it looked.

[fbcaf]

Well, I did it!

The original query on this thread asked if anyone was going to send a video to American Chopper. After (not so) careful consideration, and encouragement (goading/nagging) from my wife, I made a video this morning, filled out the forms, and sent it all to them. I guess I have a snowball's chance . . .

We shot the video sitting on the XS 11, which is my only two wheeled transportation at the moment. In the forms, I suggested that it might be a challenge for them to turn my XS into a chopper that would be unique, and reflective of a bygone era. My assumption is that they will want to build around a V-twin, but if I get the chance, I will go for the Japanese "Bushido" bike. All that martial arts stuff - which I am not into - should arouse interest from somewhere.

Anybody else take the plunge???????

[xswilly]

hey fbcaf
i sent mine in thursday
i was standing beside my 11E
never know they may want a challange
i even told them to check out xs11.com

[TopCatGr58]

I caught an interesting episode the other night. It was when they actually put a LAWNMOVER engine into one of their special chopper frames! Of course, the Lawnmover engine was a V-twin, the American Choppers line IIRC?! I didn't finish watching it, but I think this shows that they aren't above using just their S+S engines.

As Pggg has shown, the XS11 can be converted to a chain drive, and so they should be able to that easily! However, there aren't many bolt on items available for the XS11, but with their frames, aside from the engine, there's lots I think they could do!?

I never saw the original request from their show so I don't know the criteria, or where to send any video!?
T.C.

[Targetman]

The information is all here on their website......


http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/am...tasybikes.html

[Targetman]

It says that July 31 is the last day that your materials can be post marked to be eligible for the contest.

[Czekus21]

I read the "fine print", I'm glad that I have no ambition to ever be on their show. I work for the local cable service provider. It also says that if you know anyone that works for a cable service provider that carries their show, your disqualified.,,..
O'My,,, I guess this means that if you read this, your now dis-qualified,,.
I think I would have a hard time on the show. I've met Paul sr. briefly a couple of years ago and he's a nice guy. I want to keep my opinion the same. I could only take being yelled at up to a point and would be afraid of ruining a nice shop and a bunch of nice bikes. Not worth it in my eyes. Good luck to everyone who's trying out.
Has anyone considered Built or Bust. That I think would be cool. I inquired at my work if they would allow me the" over a month off". and they sayed that I would have to take it up the chain to our corporate office. I don't see it happening. Guess I'll have to settle down and buy a welder and do what I want at my own Xspense.

[strom]

An interesting challenge.
OK... HD is their thing. How about doing something noone tried before... or at least succeeded.
Making a nice cafe racer, that would handle well, not shake itself apart from vibration and stop as a bike should.
By handle I mean the bike is leaning more than 45 degrees before scraping stuff on the road. And the only condition... has to have an old harley engine.

LP

PS: Buell doesn't count.

[fbcaf]

A Challenge?

Way to go, xswilly!! That increses the odds of an xs11 showing up on TV. Good luck on your quest. I hope your video turned out better than mine! By the way, why do you think you deserve to be on the show and receive a fantasy bike?

I really don't hold out any hope of being on the show. I told them that maybe I could help with their issues. I figured if it ever got far enough, I could bring up a lot of fantasy bike stuff. My intuition says that they will want to go merican v-twin, but who knows how hard you might challenge them? I think an inline four would be a great bike to build, and something they have probably never done.

It would be hard for me to know if I or anyone in my family knows someone or their family who works for, does business with, or otherwise has some kind of association with the producers, directors, best boys, gaffers, caterers or others distantly related to the show. If it ever got that far, I would disavow any knowledge of said mission, and leave 'em all hangin'.

Anything that might help produce an appreciation for an XS11 would be fun.
I said earlier that I volunteered to let thewm chop MY XS11. I retract that statement - they would have to get one off of ebay. My guardian angel is fine just the way he/she is!!!!!!

[xswilly]

I was going to go with the V-twin
but use xs styling
I have a standard so i would go with the square look
and i would go with signals, and gages, speedo and tach
i know the whole idea of a chopper is to do away with signals and other none essential stuff
but i think i would like it with all the doodads
also it would have to have exhaust on both sides, like a standard
and the tank would have to look like the xs from the side, but would be narrower and longer
also, we would have to use some side covers, that would be different from what they are used to
also i would prefer a seat with room for a passenger
another first for those guys
hey if one of us did win
there ratings could go up, with all the guys from this site watching the show
good luck to the both of us

[Pat Kelly]

They did that drag bike that was pretty nice. It's 1st run was in the 9's. The professional rider said he felt it could be tuned to the 7 second bracket.

[fredintoon]

Cartoon channel

Backalong* I used to saw the stock hardtails off prewar britbikes & weld on cheap waterpipe copies of McCandless swingarm conversions to make them comfortable to ride so the thought of professional bike builders making hardtails in the 21st Century does seem stupid.
The Teutel's show is so effin' ridiculous that I have to laugh.
"Theme bikes" fer chrissake.
"Let's build the same old V-twin hardtail chopper from bought out parts that we always have and tart it up with twisty barstock because we can't bend tube without it going flat and paint a logo on it but that only takes five minutes to show so let's yell at each other a lot to fill the timeslot."
Fred Hill, S'toon.
*when they were just cheap old bikes, not today's priceless antiques.
F.

[fbcaf]

". . .I have to laugh."

Hey, Fred, isn't that the point of the whole show??? Laughs?? It certainly isn't about the bikes, although I do watch some, just because of the two-wheeled iron that comes out of the show. I always thought the Three Stooges were ridiculous - but everybody was laughin', and that's supposed to be good for ya', so . . .
As soon as we get a wad of money, we can produce our own show about how to really go about building a quality machine from scratch. We can do it the right way, and cut out all the extraneous stuff that doesn't contribute to the point, which is building and/or maintaining a piece of motorcycling history. The only problem is that we would probably get preempted by the breaking news story of hell freezing over.

[Jerry]

Well, I sometimes watch parts of the show. Also watch some of the Biker Build-Off comptitions, at least they have to ride what they built for a couple hundred miles. I have to laugh when they talk about the rigors of a 300 mile in a day ride, considered a success if nothing fall off or breaks.

The premise is, remember, about building "theme" bikes. These will rarely, if ever, see road time. Think about it, what are your chances of seeing the Spiderman bike running through Monument Valley? Take the show for what its worth; I give them credit for their highly successful marketing and mechandising programs. Like Pet Rocks and Smiley faces, they have succeded in grabbing the public's attention, at least for a little while. The bikes they build are not for riding, and what most XSives do is ride; there is bound to be a disconnect!

Didn't see the video info, but hope there is a chance to rebuild an 11, with or without a shaft drive. There have been past threads and photos of XS customs, including choppers, and while not really to my taste, it is interesting to see what a comfortable budget and large imagination can produce. Good luck!

[e.z.nightrider]

What they do is ok for a corporate tax right-off. But just this week I've been stopped at lights and asked what I'm riding.
Not bad for a 25 year old bike that's in pretty good but not great condition. O and if I decide I can just jump on and go 500 miles without to much thougt. These bikes ride well AND still turn heads What more do you want?