American Chopper Observations

Jesse James has his own HAAS CNC mill and machines his own wheels, along with other parts, one off. I don't know if i'd be willing to pay his prices however.

OCC can't even dream about running any machine shop equipment other than a chop saw.

Tony

Jeff, I always heard that there were 6 rules on plumbing.......

1 Hot on the left

2 Cold on the right

3Shit runs downhill

4 You gotta get the poots on the roof

5 Payday is on Friday

6 Bossman's a SOB

RJ

Actually on one of these shows they had an entire episode about making jigs. Not sure which one it was though so I can't say for sure it was NYW.

"V8TR4" > The only thing anyone could learn fron NYW is that hand tools aren't used

If they do now I don't believe they did before, but no matter. It has been a while since I watched, but I thought I remembered the wheels being outsourced in his first special.. Again it is a matter of Volume, and skills. IF WCC is now making enough bikes to justify it, then they can do it. This is especially true if they are just replicating the same wheeel over and over again, as opposed to a unique one on each bike.

Of course OCC can dream about it, all they have to do is produce enough bikes to justify hiring someone full time for the Computer design.

hot on the left, cold on the right

shit don't run uphill

don't chew your fingernails

Greetings and Salutations.

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 11:18:08 -0600, "Thirsty Viking" wrote:

Indeed, it was. Although Norm does not make it absolutely clear in every episode, he does mention making the jigs off and on. In a FWW article some years ago, they profiled Norm and NYW, explaining how they do things. Basically, they make three copies of every project. There is an initial prototype that Norm builds from scratch. This gets the design of the piece, and allows working out some of the bugs. There is a second copy, which cleans up more bugs and allows Norm to produce and test any jigs and special techniques needed. Then, there is the final version that ends up on the air. And, by the by, Norm DOES do all the work, although they do have interns for clean up and such. It is possible to watch the process on the shop-cam at

on a scheduled basis, and, while not gripping drama, can be interesting. I can't say that Norm is the finest cabinet maker in the world, but, as I have commented elsewhere (a search of groups.google.com for "norm abram" will produce many discussions) he does a decent job of introductory woodworking, and, over the years has improved greatly in his techniques. When I first started watching Norm and NYW, I was thinking "Hum...I might be able to do that". Then, I moved on to "yea...I CAN do that". Now, I tend to fall into the catagory of "Man...I can do that a LOT better". However, I still watch the program, although not with rapt interest and attention. Actually, I am watching him build a walnut end table EVEN as I type this. As for American Chopper...I do find the dysfunctional family thing a BIT tedious at times, although the increased role of Mikey has imroved things quite a bit. I can't speak to the performance of the bikes they build, but, I do see them riding about on them, so they must work "well enough". They are more pieces of sculpture than work tools though, so I would NOT expect them to be the fastest rides on the road. I really like some of the designs - the Spider bike, the Christmas Bike, the Chopper bike, as a few examples. I find it interesting to see the sort of creative energy that goes into the designs. One would not think that ironworkers and bikers would have that level of creativity...so it is valuable to be reminded that they, too, can be artists. I agree with another poster that said it would be interesting to see more of their ironwork. We really only have had a hint or two of it, but, it looks like some interesting stuff. Overall, though, in my mind, it is a very successful show, because, like it or not, a lot of us are watching it and care enough about it to have strong opinions about it. That is pure gold for the show producers. Regards Dave Mundt

I particularly enjoyed the thread: "I Want To Kill My Plumber!"

Junior High level conversation... Those were the days... Didn't worry about insurance, 401ks, or whether the economy was improving or not. Ah, if only I could turn back the clock. Oh, nevermind. :-)

__________________ Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'. N38.6 W121.4

If you recall WCC milled the wheels for the "Shaq Attack bike". Also, in an later interview with Funkmaster Flex , JJ showed he machined solid billet into wheels.

Tony

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It would be funny if Norm Abrams had some slacker kids he could verbally abuse in the workshop.

I'd watch that *once*, for the novelty value of seeing Norm cuss someone out. Otherwise, it'd quickly grow as tedious as American Chopper.

Gary

But the question is, when you buy his plans do they include plans for the jig? If making the jig first really simplifies the project then it's the right way to go, and it's great that he designs a jig when it helps.

I think that's my big problem, I actually expect something to work. Grandma always said 'Pretty is as Pretty does'. And I'm hard core form following function.

All the pretty in the world doesn't mean much if it can't be used.

I liked a/c for the first 3 shows, but it is the same B.S. Pauly and Vinne bolts the bikes together and the dad stands around bitching about the trash in the shop or deadlines, but I don't see him doing anything. I would like to see big old loud mouth dad bolt a bike together in a week plus come up with an idea for the bike while his son stands around yelling about some useless trash or deadline. I worked in some bad shops but I wouldn't work for these people. Too much B.S. going around. I put up with my dad while working on his crane but he was my dad and I felt sorry for him because if I had quit he would had to retire two years early. American Chopper is just T.V. land B.S. I wouldn't ride one of their bikes. I also don't understand how a bike for show is worth $150.000. michael

They need to do a better job of editing. Case in point is one of their latest projects: the Snap-On tool bike. They make a big production of the fabrication of a suicide shifter lever from a pneumatic ratchet handle, then the finished bike has the usual hand clutch foot shift arrangement. Additionally, they make a big deal out of mounting the oil tank under the tranny. What I'd like to know, since the feed side oil pump is gravity fed and it's inlet is above the bottom of the transmission, how do they get the oil to run up hill?

Rick Renner

Contrariwise, all the working in the world doesn't feed one's soul.

He could use Bob Vila as a dysfunctional helper, but they would have to keep Bob from talking. Bob would just hang his head when he screwed up or be subject to a beating.

Agree. I own a lot of bikes, but my R75/6 - the same bike but with slightly smaller jugs - is my 'station wagon' machine - ready to go anywhere, anytime, never lets me down. Point ignition, dead reliable. Runs under water, I've proven that before, riding home in rain that makes car drivers pull off by the roadside.

Its few weak points are the brakes (single disk front, requires a *strong* hand, and the under-tank master cylinder which had to be brass sleeved to make it long term leak proof) and the alternator rotor, which used to go open until I purchased a re-wound rotor from a guy who understood the fail mode, and engineered around it.

The only other funk about it is that the bike had a taste for very high octane fuel, but putting thicker base gaskets in to lower the compression fixed that.

Jim

================================================== please reply to: JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com ==================================================

I remember seeing wheels milled, but I was under the impression they had been farmed out in the first one, the shaq bike was in the second special I think after they were doing more buisness. Not saying I'm correct, that was what I remembered, will watch the shows again when they get rerun. Certainly on AC every "show bike" has different wheels. At what 5-10 show bikes a year (maybe 5) It is more efficient to just farm the work out. Especially since I'm sure they get a deal on them for the exposure they provide.

Ok I just went to the WCC site, Jesse James is marketing wheels for Cars, Trucks and SUV's. Three styles 14-26 inches... This is a case of what I was talking about. Increased popularity allowing JJ to sell far more wheels than bikes, thus making the owning of the equipment and hiring of the expertise to maintain it a (more) viable buisness option. I can't definitively comment on what In thought I remembered from the first show till I rewatch it though.

John

Ok, *that* I'd like to see. :-)

Gary