OCC fans, re-runs are back on Discovery

[1bad65]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

They both have gigantic egos, but JR's is more justified than SR. JR is the one who designed the bikes that made OCC famous while SR threw temper tantrums and made BS decisions.

Sr has built two successful businesses. It sure looked like Jr was headed for bankruptcy when he left OCC, heck the guy was designing dog parks and grills.

Imo, the only thing that saved Jr was this new show. There is no way he could buy a shop on his own, I'm betting the network either bought him one or they leased out an existing shop that he can build bikes at for this new show.

[DGthe3]

How much of that success SR 'built' is based on the show though? IIRC the shop from the first couple seasons was pretty much nothing. And it was JR's bikes that got them recognized. I haven't seen any of those episodes in a long time because SR didn't allowed Discovery or TLC to re-air them.

[fielderLS3]

I used to watch the show, but stopped a couple years ago. Why exactly did they break up (I know they were both ego maniacs and that it was inevitable) but what was the exact incident that set it off?

Does this mean Mikey goes to work building bikes for Jr, or is he just going to draw for the rest of his life?

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by 1bad65

Sr has built two successful businesses. It sure looked like Jr was headed for bankruptcy when he left OCC, heck the guy was designing dog parks and grills.

Imo, the only thing that saved Jr was this new show. There is no way he could buy a shop on his own, I'm betting the network either bought him one or they leased out an existing shop that he can build bikes at for this new show.

Nope thats backwards, OCC was the ones who almost went under as when folks called to have a bike built for a big corp, they asked for JR to do it like all the rest. And if you watched the last few shows. SR went on and on how it was JR fault that OCC almost went under as he wouldn't come in and design bikes. As at the end JR was a design consulant for OCC to keep those big Corp Theme bikes jobs coming in as they all wanted him to do it.
But he didn't do that cause SR was trying to low ball him on his 20% ownership in the business and so he walked.

And in such proved that he was a key player, OCC had to lay off almost everyone and nearly filed for bankruptcy.

[v6sonoma]

Everyone knew Jr was the driving force of their designs. They split up during the worst times in the economy and that hurt OCC. The designs they made after Jr weren't as good. Every time I see the stealth bomber bike they made I think of how awful it looks (it looks like a dolphin!)and how Jr would have made it so much better. They were lucky enough to survive but even when Jr and Sr were working on a personal bike together Sr acted like a total jerk. Jr might not have had the best work ethic but the job always got done and he took the time to make sure it was right. Sr let it all go to his head and never gave his son the credit he deserved for helping make OCC what it was. I'm glad the show is coming back but I have a feeling it won't last more than a season. I think the worlds excitement with the chopper has faded and the reason they loved American Choppers was the family dynamic. With that gone I'm not sure it will last. I'll be watching though just like I did before.

[1bad65]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

And in such proved that he was a key player, OCC had to lay off almost everyone and nearly filed for bankruptcy.

I think the econmy might have something to do with business being down. Those choppers are 'toys', and in a recession alot of people cut back on buying toys.

[Tecca]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Id KaPlots if they tossed Vinny n Codys shop into the mix, a 3 way battle royal.

I thought I read that Vinney and Mikey are working with Jr. now???

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by 1bad65

I think the econmy might have something to do with business being down. Those choppers are 'toys', and in a recession alot of people cut back on buying toys.

Not really, the big corp theme bikes were their bread n butter.
Without them and JR, they would still be in that 2nd small shop upstairs.
The downstairs one was to small for much of anything.

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by Teccboxx

I thought I read that Vinney and Mikey are working with Jr. now???

Well Vin and Cody started their own bike shops long ago, VForce Customs.
Well before the big blow ups, they got out early while times were good.
Though they never showed or aired the Cody quites episode. Only the Vinny one. They never brought up his name again like it was banned.

Last known, once Mikey was out of rehab he was selling his art to make ends meet and the pre interview stuff had SR n JR both saying they wouldn't have Mikey around but it could be a joke for drama.

He may be back up to speed now that hes not boozin all day long.

Id like to see Mikey back in as comic relief.
-----

Also they started to show the old biker build off shows, which they dropped once Indian Larry died and Billey Lane killed that guy on a moped passing in a no passing zone drunk. Which had to of sunk him, in all the BL build offs, at every gas stop and every build sceen he had a coronna in his hand.

[1bad65]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Not really, the big corp theme bikes were their bread n butter.
Without them and JR, they would still be in that 2nd small shop upstairs.
The downstairs one was to small for much of anything.

You sure about that? They do make mass production bikes that are for sale to the general public. I'm sure they sell alot more of those than the few corp theme bikes we see.

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by 1bad65

You sure about that? They do make mass production bikes that are for sale to the general public. I'm sure they sell alot more of those than the few corp theme bikes we see.

The mass production was late in the game and those bikes are cheap, less profit. Theme bikes they got paid around a mill each including a l the press they did for the company.

It was the theme bikes that bank rolled that big new shop, to start the cheap knock offs.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

The mass production was late in the game and those bikes are cheap, less profit. Theme bikes they got paid around a mill each including a l the press they did for the company.

It was the theme bikes that bank rolled that big new shop, to start the cheap knock offs.

A million for those bikes? Wow. I'd have thought it would be closer to 100k. Figure the labour for each of those is what, 5 guys for about a week? Add several thousand for non-fabbed parts. And several thousand for paint and chrome ... I can't see those custom bikes costing OCC any more than $20,000 a piece to make. Even if I'm way off and it somehow costs them $40,000 to make a theme bike ... thats still a crazy high profit margin.

[2ndgenz28]

not just the bike, but press and likness rights to use them and the bike as an advert.

They didn't build that world head quarters, SR house, JR house and all the toys the rest of them got building just 1-2 $100,000 theme bikes a month.

[fielderLS3]

I'd be curious to know what they are making just of the TV show alone (just direct income from Discovery, not even the extra business the TV exposure has gotten them). That's probably as much, if not more, than the bikes.