Nobody is more aware of this than the teutuls. A need for respect among the biking cognoscenti is at least part of the reason why a quartet of production choppers (see sidebar, page 101) is now en route to a small dealer network. "We have so many orders for our one-off bikes, and we're so busy with the show, that it seemed like the right time to go into production bikes," explains paul sr., who owns over 100 motorcycles, including three dozen OCC customs. Paul Jr., meanwhile, admits that he's inherited only so much of his father's motorcycling Dna, preferring designing bikes to riding them. It's a job that's kept him busy, having created 120 custom bikes in eight years as OCC's chief designer.
Monetary success and the sort of mad, crazy fame that keeps nba stars in paternity suits may be theirs, but the teutuls also have a tough row to hoe as standard-bearers for the custom-motorcycle industry. American Chopper may have helped spawn an international cottage industry of backstreet chopper builders when launched in '03, but after five years, you can count the survivors in a rolodex. Once the tv-inspired enthusiasm waned, the reality of buying, owning, maintaining and, especially, riding a custom chopper sent many would-be teutulers screaming for the comfort of a stock harley. Over the past half-decade, dozens of high-profile custom- motorcycle firms have bitten the shop-floor dust, along with bandwagon chopper tv series such as build or bust, texas hardtails and southern Chopper. At this rate, don't be surprised to see choppers become as pass as battlebots in a few years.
Not only is a lull in the custom market reflected in tv ratings, but for the first time in many years, the Motor Company itself is cutting back production. The waiting list for bespoke OCC bikes may be longer than their raked front ends, but most of those capable of forking over six figures for a one-off chopper have names like sunoco, Intel and John Deere. Until now, requests for lower-priced OCC choppers (if you can call $30-50K "lower-priced") have remained unaddressed. So, with a growing staff of 80 concentrating on OCC retail stores and production bikes, the teutuls hope to ride out the lull in a new, multimillion-dollar factory. This will leave more time for their role as motorcycling's roving ambassadors. "We've focused on making a positive impact on motorcycling and people's lives, whether it's supporting the military or the Make-a-Wish Foundation," paul sr. Says. "Well, that and I'd love to have more time to get out and ride."
In the end, if he Who Dies With the Most toys truly wins, the teutuls can ignore the haters. Motorcyclists are famously tough to please, and so what if a custom chopper made to look like a toy fire engine doesn't appeal to some dyed-in-the-leather sportbiker? If it causes housewives and non-biking families to embrace motorcycling, chop away, fellas.