There was a time when bikers, bike builders, and even charity rides wouldn't get the time of day from the networks. Hell, we could all catch fire and they'd ignore us. We were considered rapists on motorcycles, drug dealers and crazed violent maniacs. Yeah, so what? Maybe they discovered all those negative attributes in celebrities and politicians and decided to give us a shot. At any rate, it's been good for the industry, so when this production group, V Entertainment Group LLC, finally cut a deal with CMT, it felt like a blessing from the Cable Television Gods, especially in this down market.
“I like it,” said Scott Long of Central Coast Cycles. “I'm hoping more people will watch it, because it's on CMT and it's more lifestyle, not just tech.”
A notion was conceived by Don Birchfield, the Million Dollar Biker Build-off, proposed to V Entertainment, Eric L. Harryman Producer/Partner and ultimately transformed through various Country Music Television sifting sessions and budget constraints into the Chopper Challenge. “My 11-time Emmy Winning director,” said Eric, “is Randy Bond. This show is entirely my baby including all the created materials, the name, the logo and ALL of the brand integration concepts.”
“It's an awesome crew,” said Scott, “They have a blast at every shoot.”
With Biker Build-offs gone and Hugh “Da Chopper” King hiding in the hills above Ojai, California, we've been left with only American Thunder on the Speed Channel. And although I've been madly in love with Michelle Smith for over a decade, I don't see it much.
The Chopper Challenge, in its fourth week, (airing 6/4/08), is currently number one for the 18-45 male audience on CMT. The latest episode will feature John Shope.
Here's what his site says about SSINISTER CHOPPERS. It was a helluvan episode:
John Shope, founder of SSINISTER CHOPPERS, is a premier custom motorcycle builder based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He specializes in custom ground-up bike builds, one-off motorcycle parts specifically designed for your application and has recently turned his hobby of customizing hotrods into a part of SSINISTER's services.
Each bike is assigned and becomes the property of one sponsor including Kirk Taylor's build for Geico, Scott's build for the latest Incredible Hulk movie (Universal/Marvel), and Ralph Randolf's custom creation for Jim Beam, which will be auctioned off to support a veterans charity. Other sponsors include Patron Tequila (I'd build a bike from a couple of bottles any day), Seether, Road Runner, Marvel Comics and Mohegan Sun.
Scott was concerned he'd be forced to carve the forks into the Hulk sculpted arms. “They gave us free reign during the build,” Scott said. “I need to represent my shop and the style of bikes I build, and they were cool with that.”
Here's how the CMT gang portrays the Chopper Challenge:
Chopper Challenge is a celebration of the master craftsman who creates the most sought after, very best in two-wheeled, rolling mechanical art. The series challenges nine celebrity master bike builders to create a sponsor-inspired, fully handcrafted, custom logo-branded motorcycle in 30 days with cameras following every move. The series combines the allure of the custom motorcycle craftmanship, the intensity of competition and the unpredictability and impulsiveness of reality.
We stumbled into Scott's build at his Central Coast Cycles Shop in Santa Cruz on our way to the Legends Antique Bike Meet. Scott was completely dazzled with the new polished S&S Panhead engine that sounded as nasty as a case of fire crackers ablaze. The engine's note was kicked off with the new Paughco megaphones and exhaust system.
Just the other day I discovered a shop near Hollywood. Hell,l I don't know, I was in an alley. It was called Power Plant and low and behold Evan Yaniv was building another Chopper Challenge bike. I was beginning to think all the bikes were going to look similar until Evan showed me this puppy with the alternator mounted beside the oil bag he hand made, the wild tank mounted from above and his treatment to fender rails. I recognized his Grand National Roadster Show award winning talents. This sled will be cool.
I just have one question about this series. There's this guy who pops up in every episode unannounced, Bert Baker, from Baker Driveline. Yeah, I know there's Baker Transmissions in all these bikes, but how the hell does Bert sneak all over the country to these shoots. Who's tipping him off? Doesn't he need to go back to work once in a while?
The Grand Finale is just up the road in Hollywood in a couple of weeks. All the builders will ride in for the final Chopper Challenge, but you can watch it come together every Wednesday night on CMT about 9:00 PST. I can't, I'm writing articles for Bikernet on a daily basis. If I don't, I'll get shot, the girls will leave and my Jack Daniels bottle will run dry. Let me know what you think of each episode. Just drop a line to Bandit@bikernet.com. And watch for a full feature on Scott's bike to set fire to the pages of Easyriders in the near future.
–Bandit
Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart
Regular Stuff
Owner: Universal Pictures International
Bike Name: “The HULK”
City/State:Hollywood ,Cali.
Builder: Central Coast Cycles Inc.
City/state:Santa Cruz,Cali.
Company Info:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Address: 1700 unit # D Commercial Way,Santa Cruz Cali. 95065
Phone: (831)476-3901
Web site:www.centralcoastcycles.comwww.myspace.com/centralcoastcycles
E-mail: cccinc@gotnet.com
Fabrication:Scott,Roddy,Harry,Ken
Manufacturing:
Welding:Scott,Roddy,Dave,Ken
Machining:Scott,Harry
Engine
Year:2008
Make:50th Anniversary S&S Pan Head
Model:Pan Head
Displacement:103”
Builder or Rebuilder:S&S
Cases:S&S
Case finish: Polished
Barrels:S&S
Pistons:Forged 11to1
Barrel finish:Natural
Heads:S&S
Head finish:Natural
Valves and springs:S&S
Pushrods:S&S
Cams: S&S 640”
Lifters:S&S
Carburetion:S&S
Air cleaner:S&S
Exhaust:Paughco modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Mufflers:Paughco modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Other:
Transmission
Year:2008
Make:Baker
Gear configuration:Frankinstein 6spd.
Final drive:
Primary:Baker
Clutch:Baker
Frame
Year:2008
Make:Tony Brown
Style or Model: Central Coast Cycles Inc.”HULK”
Stretch:0
Rake:30
Modifications:Central Coast Cycles Inc. Black Chrome Plating by Meclec,Fresno Cal.
Front End
Make:Kiwi
Model:Leaf Spring
Year: 2008
Length:Short
Mods: Chrome & Gold plating by Meclec&Tech Finn
Sheet metal
Tanks:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Fenders:Milwakee Iron blank modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Oil tank:Tony Brown modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Paint
Sheet metal:Rock & Roll Custom Painting
Molding:Rock & Roll
Base coat:Rock&Roll
Graphics:Marvel original art work applied by Rock & Roll
Frame:Black Chrome By Meclec
Molding:none
Wheels
Front
Make:Scott Long / Renegade
Size:2.125x 21
Brake calipers:0
Brake rotor(s):0
Tire:Avon
Rear
Make:Scott Long/Renegade
Size:5.5×18”
Brake calipers:Performance Machine 4 piston
Brake rotor:Performance Machine Sproter
Tire:Avon 200
Controls
Foot controls: Performance Machine
Finish:Chrome
Master cylindr: P.M.
Brake lines:8mm
Handlebar controls: Exile internal Throttle,Exile internal clutch
Clutch Cable:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Brake Lines 8mm
Shifting:Foot
Kickstand: Matt Hotch Designs
Electrical
Ignition:Dyna
Ignition switch:Button
Coils:Dyna
Wiring:Roddy/Central Coast Cycles
Harness:Roddy/Central Coast Cycles
Headlight:Headwinds
Taillight:Fab Kevin
Battery:Interstate
What’s Left
Seat:Seat pan,Scott. Leather work Bill Wall Leather Malibu,Cali.
Gas caps: Greg Westbury
Handlebars:Scott,Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Grips:Cheap!
Pegs:P.M.
Oil filter:CCI.
Oil lines:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Fuel filter:Pingel
Fuel Lines:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Throttle:Exile
Throttle cables:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Fasteners:Chrome Hardware Supply
Credits: Thanks to: Dave, Ken, Derol, and Skip.
