belfert
Shoreview, MN, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2004
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msmith1199 wrote:belfert wrote:I suspect Paul Jr. never made it much of anywhere with Paul Jr. Designs. His website when still operational didn't show many clients and seemed to be more about selling merchandise than his design work. I'll bet his cash flow dried up pretty good with the show gone.
But wasn't his design work all about selling merchandise?
His website seemed more geared to selling Paul Jr Designs hats, T-shirts, and similiar type merchandise than anything else.
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1492
No. Virginia
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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AFChappy wrote:I like the show until vince left and I beleive it really took a turn south when Jr and Sr could not focus on what brought them the fame. I still like the custom bikes they built for the fireman and Airmen and appreciate their desire to honor each. While we could always have a negative perspective on why the show is off the air, there were a few times when the show focused on others that they got along the most.
I also stopped watching when Vinnie left the show, and didn't know about all the recent drama involving Paul Jr. firing, Paul Sr. lawsuit, show cancellation, and new Jr. vs. Sr. show. But that's why TLC produced the show in the first place and what attracted its' audience, the drama involving the characters, not actually the bikes itself. And also likely the reason TLC cancelled the original series, as it was losing its' drama factor with most of the principle cast gone. I doubt Paul Sr. had anything to do with the cancellation, as he also likely needs the show, as does Paul Jr. It is about free advertising, but also about their share of the revenue generated from the show itself. These types of shows generate a lot of revenue from worldwide licensing and syndication rights, and it wouldn't surprise me that the American Chopper principles share in those revenues to a certain degree. It was reported that the late Steve Irwin "Crocodile Hunter" made close to $200 Million from worldwide licensing of his shows. And also likely the reason both Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. agreed to participate together in the new show, unless this is all some type of elaborate publicity stunt, is that in the end, it is about the money.
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dieharder
Ottawa, ON
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Joined: 09/10/2009
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msmith1199 wrote:dieharder wrote:msmith1199 wrote:This should be pretty interesting now that they are back like this. Last year I don't recall ever hearing Jr say anything about opening his own bike building operation. I wonder why all the sudden he is? I bet this is a made for TV type thing. The TV people encouraged it so they could still have the conflict and still keep the show based around bike building. Sr and Jr both are going to make a ton of money off of this. Sr being disgusted with it is all part of the act. But hey, looks like Vinny is coming back too. He had his own bike operation going. TLC must have made him a real good deal to come back. He was the most liked person on the show and the show took a ratings hit when he left.
I don't think it was part of the original plan when he left OCC, but once Sr. ended last season (or TLC cancelled - not sure which), there was immediate talk about Jr. picking it up, getting Vince and Nub back. I guess they've been filming since.
It doesn't matter what he tried - Jr. is a bike builder and that's what he's best at. Forget about designing BBQs for Coleman.
Nub was actually the real talent in most of those bikes. Sure there were some interesting things in the design, but it was the paint jobs that made most of the bikes stand out. Nub did most of those, at least the better ones.
Although I'm not knocking nub's abilities, paint is only one piece of the puzzle. Sure... it's the first piece that most people see, but not necessarily the most important. Once you've had a chance to look over one close up and see the chrome work and the detail involved in the fabricated pieces, that's when you begin to see the big picture. When I went to Daytona a couple of years ago and saw one in the Harley dealer an exit or two north on the I-95, I was quite surprised.
1999 Itasca Sunrise
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msmith1199
Central, CA
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Joined: 10/07/2001
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belfert wrote:msmith1199 wrote:belfert wrote:I suspect Paul Jr. never made it much of anywhere with Paul Jr. Designs. His website when still operational didn't show many clients and seemed to be more about selling merchandise than his design work. I'll bet his cash flow dried up pretty good with the show gone.
But wasn't his design work all about selling merchandise?
His website seemed more geared to selling Paul Jr Designs hats, T-shirts, and similiar type merchandise than anything else.
Okay, but that's what having a business is about, selling stuff.
2004 National Tropi-Cal T-350, Class A, Triple slide, 330 HP Cat DP.
2006 Dodge Dakota 4x4 or
2002 Harley FLSTF Fat Boy on a Trailer or
2004 Polaris Quad on the Trailer
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msmith1199
Central, CA
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Joined: 10/07/2001
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dieharder wrote:msmith1199 wrote:dieharder wrote:msmith1199 wrote:This should be pretty interesting now that they are back like this. Last year I don't recall ever hearing Jr say anything about opening his own bike building operation. I wonder why all the sudden he is? I bet this is a made for TV type thing. The TV people encouraged it so they could still have the conflict and still keep the show based around bike building. Sr and Jr both are going to make a ton of money off of this. Sr being disgusted with it is all part of the act. But hey, looks like Vinny is coming back too. He had his own bike operation going. TLC must have made him a real good deal to come back. He was the most liked person on the show and the show took a ratings hit when he left.
I don't think it was part of the original plan when he left OCC, but once Sr. ended last season (or TLC cancelled - not sure which), there was immediate talk about Jr. picking it up, getting Vince and Nub back. I guess they've been filming since.
It doesn't matter what he tried - Jr. is a bike builder and that's what he's best at. Forget about designing BBQs for Coleman.
Nub was actually the real talent in most of those bikes. Sure there were some interesting things in the design, but it was the paint jobs that made most of the bikes stand out. Nub did most of those, at least the better ones.
Although I'm not knocking nub's abilities, paint is only one piece of the puzzle. Sure... it's the first piece that most people see, but not necessarily the most important. Once you've had a chance to look over one close up and see the chrome work and the detail involved in the fabricated pieces, that's when you begin to see the big picture. When I went to Daytona a couple of years ago and saw one in the Harley dealer an exit or two north on the I-95, I was quite surprised.
I'm not knocking the work, I'm just saying it was the paint job that made most of those bikes stand out. If they had just been painted a solid color their wouldn't be much to them.
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Juggler
Michigan
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Joined: 02/09/2001
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Not too impressed with their water-jet fabrications at all. No craftsmanship involved. Take a... oh lets say a taxi driver who has never touched a tool in his life. Train him to push the correct buttons on the water-jet, and out pops a piece as nice as any OCC guy can do.
Now Indian Larry... that guy could fabricate, or, make something from nuthin'. I.E. bobber frame made from chain.
OCC does have a talented crew, as measured on a different scale. Rick, who CAN make sumthin' from nothing has to be their go-to guy.
Not to leave the impression I didn't care for OCC bikes, the bike made from Statue of Liberty Copper was outstanding in my opinion, as well as the Lincoln bike. But on a scale from 1 to 10, I have to give them an overall score of 6 to 7. I really don't like trinkets welded onto bikes. That Jet Bike... sheesh.
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msmith1199
Central, CA
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Joined: 10/07/2001
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Juggler, I'd have to disagree on the simplicity of the waterjet. Sure it's automated, but somebody still has to design the piece and operate the software. I bet it has a steep learning curve. Once the piece is all designed and the machine programmed, sure then it's just pushing a button, but it takes a bit to get there.
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lesmore49
canada
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Joined: 11/25/2004
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bstark wrote:Harley seems to be waning in popularity and perhaps the custom stuff will follow close behind in a failing market.
Just in the process of getting rid of my 01 Harley Ultra with only 15,000 miles on it. Being the fourth and last Harley I've owned in a lifetime of biking starting in 59 of owning a bunch of Brit bikes and campaigned a "Triton" (Bonneville engine souped to the gills in a featherbed frame with Ciarrianni forks) sounds like a nice cafe racer along with other "Exotics" (junk) like a James, Bultaco's, I recall taking a friend's Bultaco Pur Sang 250 for a run at his farm...beautiful handling, the front end would come up nicely with a touch of throttle. Senor Bulto knew how to make a fine motorcycle. Maico's and other stuff. I can attest to the Gold Star being everything it was intended to be along with having ridden a Vincent Black Shadow AND a series "C" Lighning (awesome machines that would startle the c*** out of any Nippon rider today) and would love an old MV Augusta (especially with "dustbin fairing") to be gracing my shop.
Les: Triumph Baltimore actually forced Triumph to build or modified them on arrival,(early/mid-seventies if memory serves) a quasi chopper with the tall "sissy rail" chrome seat extension along with 14" riser bars; god-awful things that I haven't seen one of those factory chopper Triumphs...and I'm glad I haven't.. were a knee-jerk response to U.S. market demands at the time. Fortunately any evidence of these has long since decayed or was erased when successive owners returned them to stock form.
Thruxton fairings, pipes etc.. oooh how we lusted after that stuff!
I had a buddy who modified his Yamaha SR 500 (same as one of my bikes)...clubman bars, rear sets, small fairing, megaphone exhaust...not bad for the late '70's...not quite a Manx Norton...but a nice street bike in '79. I rode it a few times...in the city...hard on the wrists and forearms with those clubman bars..but it looked beautiful...
Les
lesmore49
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