Picture Of The Week. Jesse James In 1995.

Jesse authorized me to publish this picture of him taken in 1995, I think the year we met for the 1st time in Daytona during Bike Week. He was 26 yo. Remember this style of bike? Seems to me that Jesse’s fashion was somewhat Seattle Grunge inspired (Kurt Cobain, Nirvana.) Time is flying…

27 Responses to “Picture Of The Week. Jesse James In 1995.”


  1. 1 olgraybeard Feb 5th, 2012 at 10:23 am

    probably just me . . . this bike reminds me of Paul senior’s first chopper, not really a complement

  2. 2 olgraybeard Feb 5th, 2012 at 10:28 am

    The Sunshine Bike

  3. 3 Greg Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:24 am

    He looks so young! Hey, Cyril, find other old pictures of people we know.

  4. 4 Shifter Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:25 am

    Who knew he would become the Jesse James we know now.

  5. 5 Irish Rose Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:26 am

    …a mullet?

  6. 6 Jason Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:28 am

    At the time it was a great custom. Still is…

  7. 7 Patrick Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:33 am

    He is almost smiling…

  8. 8 Fredp Feb 5th, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    John Covington of 1995 Surgical Steeds was was past the curve than Jesse.
    http://surgicalsteeds.com/motorcycles/custom/cobra/cobra.html

  9. 9 Jeff Nicklus Feb 5th, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Wow …. that brings back some memories!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  10. 10 Dog Williams Feb 5th, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Given the times it was a great bit of kit from a young guy . . . the comparison with the Elder Turtle is, frankly, ridiculous, at least you could ride JJ’s. Groovy flash from the mists of time, thanks a bunch Cyril.

  11. 11 nicker Feb 5th, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    RE:
    “…the comparison with the Elder Turtle is, frankly, ridiculous….”

    Not at all, it’s spot on.
    That’s exactly what i was thinking when i first saw it.
    But then JJ’s appears to be a scratch built custom.

    Iff i remember it correctly, Sr’s scooter as shown on TV was a stock shovel with stuff bolted on and a flamed paint job. The big difference…. !!!

    -BTW-
    Sr. said on TV that it was his first build, in 1975, he said he “had come late to custom bike building”
    Many people had built their Last scooters by 1975, way too many morons getting in just “to be somebody.”.

    -nicker-

    So, ride-ability isn’t an issue, as i see it.

  12. 12 sollis Feb 6th, 2012 at 2:21 am

    Ron said if i grow my hair jesse would do to lol

  13. 13 Brett Feb 6th, 2012 at 7:04 am

    Irish Rose…it wasn’t a mullet, he just slicked back the top & sides, it was all 1 length. I remember him when he was doing security for Danzig. When they played Green Bay, I had to drive the from the airport to the venue.

    Funny thing is, when he tied it back in a pony tail, it looks exactly like his hair now, until you saw him from behind.

  14. 14 Brett Feb 6th, 2012 at 7:06 am

    Actually, I believe that bike was built for former Danzig guitarist John Christ. Otherwise Jesse did a bunch of these & John’s looked exactly like this one.

  15. 15 Danny Feb 6th, 2012 at 9:01 am

    Pic above is one out of a few used in a Hot-Bike magazine.. (June ’97)
    This scoot belonged to Mark Richardson (Wild Works, Costa Mesa,Ca.) it was built by Jesse using different parts manufacturers..
    Frame is a Choppers Guys “Fat Guy” with a billet Li’l John Butera swingarm..aluminium tank by Battistinis, fenders handformed in aluminium by Jesse..triple trees by Jesse, Perewitz wheels and disc rotors..
    This was a typical mid to late 90’s styling..
    A couple years later Jesse gave his “El Diablo” range of bikes more a twist of his own styling..

    Just saying…

  16. 16 Sara Brown Feb 6th, 2012 at 9:49 am

    Business up front…..party in the back …

  17. 17 Rick Lossner Feb 6th, 2012 at 10:25 am

    Extend those Forward Controls and I’d ride it today .. timeless design IMHO

  18. 18 Olive oil Feb 6th, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    Hey Cyril I have some cute baby photos of myself !!

  19. 19 AAron Feb 6th, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    I agree looks just like the bike build off he made with American Choppers, shows he has no creativity left in his pea sized brain!

    AA

  20. 20 Luis Feb 6th, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    Aaron. You must have been very drunk while watching the tv show. You are the one with the pea size brain. The 2 bikes have nothing in common. Send to Cyril a picture of your bike. We all need a good laugh…

  21. 21 Dog Williams Feb 6th, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    Whatever Nicker, however, and I’m no apologist for Mr James and his highly publicised ‘private’life, I also believe his passion for the industry in which he is involved is legitimate and coming from a life long obsession with bikes and cars.
    Furthermore, your inference that he is one of the many ‘morons’ looking to be ‘somebody’ is classic old school chopper snobbery, how does one prove themselves ‘worthy’ by your criteria to become eligible for fame and fortune in the world of custom bike building ?
    Neither JJ’s and certainly not those flacid, grotesque, non motorcycles eminating from OCC, are my bag but I know if given a choice of their work which one I’d be taking.
    As Luis proposed to Aaron, see above, send in some shots of either your ’75 era build or from more contemporary times and we can all have a crack at passing judgement on the validity of your bike building prowess . . .
    I’m glad that the “mullet’ issue has been cleared up as well, so many people are incapable of seperating his real gig from his fatally flawed social world, that shit shouldn’t matter a damn. Since when has the world of choppers, hot rods and alternate lifestyle choices been about the moral high ground ???

  22. 22 bigalyts Feb 6th, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    Boy, who would have figured that he would have been “Shtoppen” Sandra, 10 years later!!!!!!!!! With all his Millions he could never get his Skin that clean, ever again. I bet he wouldn’t have got a chance to Shtoop Von Bulow or whatever her name is. The Tatoo monster, Chickadeee.

  23. 23 Jason Hallman Feb 7th, 2012 at 11:26 am

    Like him or not…it is nearly impossible to critique his work. (don’t bother unless you have ever had one of his bikes on your lift). His wardrobe is ghastly in the photo but that bike is timeless. Everyone has to bring up Sandra or Kat anytime we talk about him. The fact is that Jesse and (like them or not) the Tuetels certainly spawned an aftermarket that has afforded many of us a living and for that I respect him.

  24. 24 1550tc Feb 8th, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    one thing about Jesse he was never over chicked, under dicked and needed money for an equailzer lol

  25. 25 Wiz Feb 10th, 2012 at 7:06 am

    Hair is POWER Man! Just ask Samson after Deliela got ahold of him ‘an snipped his DO! It’s a statement that you ain’t swallowin’ the horsecrap society is shovin’ down our throats! If my long hair pisses you off…it’s doin’ it’s job! My locks are there just to protect my RED, white, ‘n blue neck! FREEDOM BABY!!! Let it ‘an my Freak flag fly! I’ve gotten ONE haircut since 1974, ‘an that was a mistake! I turned 50 ‘an decided I wuz tired of bein’ a warrior. Get a haircut ‘an be like everyone else, felt like a dog with his ASS SHAVED!! I constantly fought cowboys/rednecks[tryin’ to cut my hair with sheep shears/razor blades/etc.]/school boards/parents/and society in general durin’ the 60’s in the middle of South Dakota. They would all disappear fer two weeks outta the year when all them bikers came through on their way to Sturgis. I said, “When I grow up I wanna be one of THEM!” Heh, Heh, watch out for what ya wish for, ya just might get it!! Wiz

  26. 26 Hugh G Feb 12th, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    That was pre-womanizer. nice.

  27. 27 nicker Feb 14th, 2012 at 12:14 am

    Dog ——-(whatever),

    Try reading what i wrote again, and this time kick your brain into gear first.

    Pay attention, the point were:
    – JJ’s scooter only “resembles” SR’s 75 bike.
    – JJ’s is scratch built and SR’s is a simple bolt-on-stoker.
    – No mention of JJ’s “highly publicized life” ….
    – No “inference” that JJ’s looking to be ‘somebody’….

    “Morons” was a reference to the unwashed masses who are into “the bike scene” not bikes.
    Easily recognizable by their total lack of interest in actually knowing how to ride, having a working knowledge of their bike or even being able to intelligently talk to their mechanic about maintenance and repair issues.

    RE:
    “…classic old school chopper snobbery, how does one prove themselves ‘worthy’…”

    If by “snobbery” you mean waking away from posers who try passing themselves off as scooter jockeys but don’t know “shit-from-shinola”…… i’m 100% guilty as charged.

    Look, it’s really a very simple proposition….
    Life is too short to suffer fools lightly (especially us older types).
    But for those who Eat, Sleep, Dream, Live & Love bikes (any kin-a bikes) they are driven by their commitment alone. They live to continue to expand their bike experience, not for recognition, but for the sheer joy of it.

    And so, “worthiness” is irrelevant in that context.
    It ya have to ask what it is, you’ve missed the point.
    Pictures & experience sharing between those who connect on that level is way cool.

    -nicker-

    RE:
    “…how does one prove themselves ‘worthy’ by your criteria…”

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Cyril Huze