The motorcycle industry is going through some very hard times right now. Most of our problems are not our own fault. The country is suffering on all fronts and most people don’t have that extra spending money right now to indulge themselves on toys. That’s fair enough and I can respect and understand that. I have been around long enough to have weathered many ups and down in this business.
Today when I got the news that OCC, aka American Chopper, is airing their last show this Thursday I was THRILLED! These clowns are only partly a victim of the bad economy. They destroyed themselves in a run of selfishness and excess in a time when the country is hurting. Ok, fine, so they made millions selling their dysfunctional family fights to the cable networks. Who intern made millions selling advertising time to corporations. I know how the world works.
After this week they will be history and us in the motorcycle industry can hold our heads high again and not be ashamed. I can’t stress to you folks enough how the motorcycle industry HATED those ass whipes. Everyone from us local bike shops all the way up to the motorcycle industry top movers and shakers would roll their eyes when ever OCC was mentioned.
They had their 15 minutes for fame ( along with a few others ) but for the most part the "custom" motorcycle business is dead. Right now and for the foreseeable future the motorcycle business is shrinking back to the basic nuts and bolts. Folks that did not sell their bikes are just doing what they can to keep them on the road. Gone are the days of spending 5, 10, 15.....30 grand on chrome crap and paint. Owning a Harley right now is a lot like owning a house. Most are not worth what their owners owe on them! So it doesn’t make much sense to add more junk to them. I had a guy just the other day complaining to me he can’t even afford a new battery for his bike this year and might not put it on the road.. Its THAT bad out there!
Some people are all up in arms, but not me. I look forward to the industry getting back to basics. The days of the Mega-Mart bike shops are very numbered. In tough times they can’t turn the volume of business needed to support the massive overhead they have just to keep the doors open. Most of the shops that are surviving are the small ones that resisted the "up-scaling" that the OEM’s were forcing down our throats.
12 comments:
Was briefly breezin' thru Blog Land tonite, so while I was still conscious 'n in an upright position, I wanted to drop by 'n say hey to my favorite crusty kinda biker dude....whom I miss a whole darn bunch I might add.
I'm really hopin' that people'll stop droppin' dead all around me so I can come by 'n do an MDJ update....but one WITHOUT a death theme for a change.
Hope all is well with ya kiddo....'n hope to be back soon.
Great post. OCC was and will continue to be a circus act (if re-runs continue to be aired). In my opinion their bikes were never 'over the top'. The public went ga-ga over them while far more talented bike builders went unnoticed.
Great post. OCC was and will continue to be a circus act (if re-runs continue to be aired). In my opinion their bikes were never 'over the top'. The public went ga-ga over them while far more talented bike builders went unnoticed.
Great post. OCC was a circus act at best!
As always Crusty you cut right to the chase. Great post my friend. I like getting back to basics. All the hype and flash are fine if that's what you are into. As for me I love the ride. That ride or the lack there of has been eating at me these past few months. Hopefully with my new schedule starting this next week I can get back to riding.
Lead on Crusty,
Ronman
I never got the whole OCC thing. We were in Myrtle Beach one year and there was this crazy long line of people waiting to get in to meet the OCC guys. Poseurs, all of 'em. Enjoyed your post :-)
Great Post, Great Blog.
I do watch OCC but only for the comedy. Whilst some of the bikes were nice most were just plain stupid. That company wouldn't have survived without the TV show.
Steve
Here's something real going on in Orange County... My name is Dave, and I’m currently organizing my annual Ride for Wishes with the OC chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. This summer, I’ll ride from Orange County to New York, to raise money for Make-A-Wish. Last year’s ride sponsored one local wish child’s dream to have her bedroom redecorated. This year, my goal is to raise enough money to sponsor 5 wishes. Please visit my blog to learn more and how you can help me make local children’s wishes come true! Help me make a difference and as always, keep the chrome side up! http://rideforwishes.blogspot.com/
OCC never really bothered me. I only saw parts of two episodes. One I ragged about because they had Kate Goselin of Jon & Kate Plus 8 riding bitch like she's a biker, which she absolutely is not. The other I liked only because they went to Alaska to see Sarah Palin, and I like her. She ain't no biker either though.
I figure as long as there are people out there who'll buy the Slap Chop and tune into the WWF Smackdown or whatever the hell they call it, there will be shows like OCC. Let the door hit them in the ass on the way out for all I care. I agree...time to get back to basics.
Late comment, here Crusty. I was in a local bike repair shop that caters mostly to Harley's but does all brands when asked. Rough little place but with a super wrench in back.
Anyway, I asked the owner, "How's business?" "Very good. Guys are repairing, rebuilding, and maintaining their bikes now instead of just buying a new toy new."
Wait...
Paul and Paulie are no longer on TV?
But who was that I just saw arguing about the value of OCC?
Zombies!
My hopes were high that those fuckers finally self destructed...however im thing it was a publicity stunt just to hold onto viewers.....staged fighting and bickering is what its about, nothing to do with bikes. Hang tight eventually they will have to cancel the show as even the dumbest nitwits get tired of it.
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