4 comments about American Chopper At Full Throttle.

1. For anyone that loves the show, this book is a great way to delve into the history and details that make the Teutels who they are...vulgar yet charismatic, tough yet endearing. It always seems as though you never get to see enough of the bikes they build, but with this book, you see every minute detail complete with a "how they did it" approach. I love the Teutels and enjoyed learning more about their personal histories and pet peeves. It makes watching their show even more interesting.



2. Speaking on the authority of a REAL Biker who has LIVED the Lifestyle for over 35 of my almost 53 years, during which I have ridden the same '63 Harley Panhead, (which I built and rebuilt from the ground up with my own two hands), longer than the Turtle Kids have EVEN been alive, My Brothers and I all find Orange County Chumps to be some of the Funniest Comedy ANYWHERE! Their Ol' Man is one of the greatest comedians to try and call himself a "SELF-PROCLAIMED biker"; seemingly, the only thing that HE works at is running his MOUTH! What little I have been able to watch of this show without developing acute nausea, I have NEVER seen Turtle, Sr. EVER pick up a tool or lend a hand to help anyone at ANYTHING.
   The bikes built by OCC may have some eye appeal, but are otherwise a waste of parts & labor, as they are totally unridable; you would need an entire parking lot to turn one of them around, and the spider bike in particular, with its ridiculous rear fender, would give you a radical shower if one attempted to ride it on wet pavement, much less in the rain!(And I would LOVE to know what company sells them INSURANCE!)
   My Brothers and I have long debated which is more hilarious, the Turtles, with their hour long screaming matches, or the sidewalk commandos who give the mighty OCC free advertising, running around with WANNABE T-shirts & other gear, none of whom OWN, or probably even KNOW HOW to ride a MOTORCYCLE! Only Hang-arounds and Wannabees worship these comedians; REAL Bikers only LAUGH at them!
   As far as other reviewers who are so critical of my well earned opinion are concerned, just read their other reviews (if they have any)!
   At least Jesse James RIDES his creations to shows! The Turtles TRAILER Theirs everwhere (and then have to FLY IN their mechanics when one of their monstrosities breaks down!) JESSE JAMES may be terminally commercial, but at least he's HONEST!



3. For starters, you wouldn't be considering buying this book unless you were a fan of the show and liked to watch the antics of the OCC boys as much as see the bikes they build. I don't own a motorbike or have my motorbike license (yet) but American Chopper is one of my favourite shows on TV.
   
   The book is fairly similar to the program itself, great eye candy and very entertaining, as a lot of the show's memorable moments are carried through into the book. Perhaps the most interesting parts of the book are the brief history and bio of all the major characters of the show and number of detail photographs of the bikes they build.
   
   The bio's add another level of enjoyment when you're watching the show because you feel like you know the guys a little better, understand a bit more of what drives them and in Sr's case, what aggravates him the most!
   
   Don't buy this book if you're looking for comprehensive technical detail or specifications and construction methods of the bikes. There is some further detail on the theme bikes (engine, wheels, construction, paint etc), but the information is really there to compliment the pictures of each of the bikes.
   
   The pictures are definitely a feature of the book, because things move too quickly in the show for you to really sit down and just marvel at all the details of the bikes. Being able to look over the bikes in my own time gave me a greater appreciation for the aesthetics of what is really mobile art. These bikes are not utilitarian by any means, and for those of us not living in the USA or unlikely to be able to ever see one of these bikes first hand, the book is a way to get a little dose of American Chopper without being around a TV, and deserves a space on any fan's bookshelf.



4. My nephew lives and breathes this show. He absolutely loved the book.

No comments about Heels & Wheels Model & Motorcycle Calendar 2008.

2 comments about American Chopper/Orange County Choppers: The Fine Art of the Custom Motorcycle.

1. This is a must-buy for all OCC fans and for bikers alike. Wow, I must say this book encompasses what OCC has done and their contribution to the world of custom bikes. Not only that this book have featured their custom bikes and the story behind it, but it also has provided the readers the history of motorcycles, Sturgis, etc. It also has wonderful photos of their bikes like the Liberty Bike, Jet Bike, Caterpillar Bike, etc. Make David Mann prud and buy this book.



2. This book is a must for all the OCC fans out there. I purchased this for my 14 year old nephew, who just loves all things loud, metal,motors and boy stuff !! This book showcases the artwork of the bikes created by the OCC boys, from the ideas to the finished product. As for being a technical book then I would say it will not be sufficent in that area. But to a 14 year old it does a couple of things, firstly it encourages reading and conversation, the pages are well covered with plenty of photos and enough text to be of interest. The cover is very lavish and very appealing to the boys, especially as it has an OCC medallion as the centre piece. This book even caught the attention of my nephews father, which is a good thing, although Dad will have to get his own copy !! So well done to the OCC marketing dept. you have a good product.

2 comments about Techno-Chop: The New Breed of Chopper Builders.

1. When I saw the gorgeous bike on the cover I had to buy this. A sculptured frame and single sided rear plus the title "Techno-chop" gives the impression that you are about to see some unusual, technically challenging artistic and creative bikes.
   BUT.........
   Sadly when you read and look at the pictures it's the same old stuff that we have all seen before. Mediocre pictures wrapped up in excessive jounalistic mumbo jumbo. Reading it will send you to sleep. Some parts were boring enough to skip altogether. It appears to me that someone was offered $xxxx to write 5000? words on custom motorcycles and sat down and did it.
   If you are looking for inspiration to do something yourself and fancy the type of bike on the cover, then like me you will be disappointed. I couldn't even find out who made that bike - there is no credit that I can find in the book. You could probably get better information but searching on Google.
   BUY SOMETHING ELSE!!!



2. Mike Seate is an overly-prolific writer whose articles in motorcycle magazines are dissertations and his published books are uninspiring and lazily written. I was excited a few years back to purchase a book on motorcycles and bikers in movies and received not much more than a self-published 'zine. A friend of mine, who is a brilliant writer, is constantly chastised by his mother and scolded by his ( then ) wife for not getting more stuff published. Maybe this friend should try harder to get his writing published ( other than on the internet ) but the flipside is a writer who starts with the idea of cashing in on a craze ( in this case choppers ) and publishes as many books on the subject as possible. "Techno-Chop" adds nothing to the slew of chopper bikes out there. If you ever had a writing class in college and remember churning out an assignment at two o'clock in the morning for a paper due at an eight a.m. class, go back and read one of those papers. It's not unlike Seate's books. Rushed.

No comments about How to Draw Choppers Like a Pro.

1 comments about Custom Chopper Cookbook for All Big Twins, 1936 and Up Covers Evolution Thru 1988.

1. This is a great old book with tips and tricks that are still valuable today. Everything from extending a HD swingarm frame to extending original FL style springers. For the guy just starting a chop that gets into a little more than he bargained for, this book is perfect. Shows the amatuer how to rake and extend frames using oridinary items such as come-alongs. Also a great book for the experienced builder. This is one of my favorite garage books. I got some great ideas from the cookbook which inspired my last project (which was given a 6 page feature in a magazine last month)

2 comments about Arlen Ness: The King of Choppers.

1. Michael Lichter uses his consistently strong photos and writing to tell the story of Arlen Ness's achievement of the American Dream including a prosperous, booming motorcycle business, adapting to or sparking change(creating parts like the 'Evolution Solution'), and staying married to the same woman all these years. Ness started out working for the post office and also helped out with his father delivering furniture . Both his Mom and Dad taught him the importance of a strong work ethic which would become a key factor in his success in an industry where he is affectionately referred to as "King of Choppers". When he bought a knucklehead for three hundred dollars (c. 1964) which he reworked into his own vision he knew he found his calling.
   
   Sonny Barger wrote the forward and says they have a lot in common. Barger and Ness have endured and flourished all these years. It is befitting to have Barger write the foreword because the counterculture Hells Angels and their mystique have contributed enormously to American Culture inspiring film, literature, art, the original and new wave of motorcycle chopper art that has found yet a new ever expanding audience in the 21 century.
   
   My favorite photo in the book is Hulk Hogan sitting on his customized bike "Hulkster". The book doesn't focus on celebrities but on the "art" of Arlen Ness and his story. Motorcycle creativity combined with the American Dream business machine which remains a family business and endurance are an art form that is uniquely Arlen Ness. If you are an Arlen Ness fan this book is for you.



2. This book reveals just some of the Ridable Art designs by a true American Genius. Other builders are just starting to scratch the surface of what Arlen has done for forty years. This book should be displayed front and center in ANY artists or artists at hearts collection.

3 comments about Art of the Chopper II.

1. I really enjoyed this book. Not being a regular reader of chopper mags, I knew little about the builders covered in the book and found the background info very interesting. Infact, there is more relevant info regarding the death of Indian Larry here than in the "Chopper Shaman". Stunning photography and a great range of bike styles. This is a great book that I will enjoy everytime I pick it up. Trying to match up the inside sleeve shots with the bikes covered inside is interesting too.



2. Zimberoff is an excellent photographer. Unfortunately he's not much of a writer, something someone should have pointed out when he created this book. This book features very little of the photography that made the original Art of the Chopper so exciting, replacing it with Zimberoff's self-indulgent and self-aggrandizing writing. I was excited about this book, but once I saw it, I decided to wait for it to hit the half-price bookstores and bargain shelves, and even then I might skip it.



3. If you have seen the original Art of the Chopper book which had beautiful clear glossy photos of choppers, where you could see the finest of details and are expecting the same from Art of the Chopper II then you will be disappointed, as the photos look like poorly scanned copies of choppers out of a magazine or news paper. So, if you want to read about chopper builders this book may interest you, but if you would like to see the choppers these builders build, then look somewhere else.

1 comments about Anatomy of the Chopper.

1. Doug Mitchel has already photographed and chronicled other books on the topic of motorcycles and bicycles - and if his name sounds familiar, it's because it also appears on articles he's contributed to Hot Rod Bikes, Harley Women, and others. Here full-page color photos of selected choppers supplement discussions of design choices, specs, and features, including reviews of specialty makers who prefer unusual clients. Descriptions are as exact as tank making methods for unique designs, unusual powerful cycle systems by custom makers, and survey of companies on the cutting edge of chopper production. It's a chopper fan's dream guide.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

No comments about Top Chops: Master Chopper Builders.