West Coast Choppers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| West Coast Choppers | |
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| Type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Founded | |
| Headquarters | Long Beach, California |
| Key people | Jesse James |
| Industry | recreational vehicles |
| Products | motorcycles Apparel |
| Website | http://westcoastchoppers.com/ http://chopperdogs.com/, http://www.jessesgirl.com, http://www.ciscoburger.com http://store.westcoastchoppers.com |
West Coast Choppers is a company best known for selling chopper-style motorcycles. Some of their more well-known customers include celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, Keanu Reeves, Bill Goldberg, Kid Rock, James Hetfield, Tyson Beckford, and The Undertaker. In recent years, under the management of Jesse G. James, the firm has expanded into licensing the brand onto other items and the creation of a now-ended television series on the Discovery Channel.
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[edit] History
The company's rise to national prominence coincided with the 2001 shows Motorcycle Mania I and II, airing on the Discovery Channel. James later starred with Kid Rock in Motorcycle Mania III (2004). With the release of these shows interest in Jesse James and the West Coast Choppers allowed to the firm to expand knowledge of its brand and to expand its already strong cult-like following. Jesse James has also narrated a recent 2006 Discovery show called History of the Chopper, where he makes his own master piece to commemorate the 1960s.
In 2001, the company's merchandise (along with the No Fear brand) was banned from the Simi Valley Unified School District in California based on its usage of the German Iron Cross.
[edit] Fairness policy
Production of a custom West Coast Choppers motorcycle can take a year or more. Anyone who orders a motorcycle from West Coast Choppers receives it on a first-come, first-served basis. One cannot get their motorcycle early by paying more money or by virtue of celebrity status. There was a notable controversy over this policy when Fred Durst, frontman of Limp Bizkit, attempted to bribe the outfit to receive his motorcycle early. Jesse James turned him down, later saying, "I only sell bikes to cool people."
[edit] Presence in pop culture
West Coast Choppers merchandise, particularly T-shirts and hats, is popular among teenagers in the United States.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- West Coast Choppers Site
- Fortune Article
- American Motorcycle Club Article about Iron Cross Controversy
- Article about Jesse James and the Fred Durst incident
