After wondering during the last 48 hours if he would make it on time for the Build-Off (read the story here), Jesse James is still on his way to Vegas (just 2 hours away at time of publishing), so about to meet the deadline to participate in tonight’s Discovery TV show. Competitors, Paul Jr;, Paul Sr., Richard Rawlings and Aaron Kaufman are already on location since last Saturday.
In the 2-hour special of this Monday December 10 (9e/8c), you will see footage of the bikes being built during the 6 weeks given to the participants. Then, you will be asked to vote by text message for your preferred bike/builder.
Tomorrow Tuesday December 11, at the same time (9e/8c), a new 2-hour special live from the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe And Casino. Party time, on stage interviews of the builders by host Sal Masekela, music by legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and the final results of this foursome bike building competition. So, tell me where do you place your bet, and why?
To vote, text to 97979
#teamjunior text 1
#teamjesse  text 2
#teamfastnloud text 3
#teamsenior text 4
Jesse james for sure!
Go Gas Monkey!!
There is only one true builder on that stage and that is Jesse James. I have no doubt that his creation will far exceed anyone else on the stage and I likewise have no doubt that he actually built the vast majority of his bike himself unlike some of the others.
With that said I have to admit I will be shocked if he actually wins the build-off. With the public voting from home, or wherever, JR will win due to the victim role he plays so well on the now cancelled TV show (OCC). Further, it is my opinion, that JR will receive a larger number of many votes, mostly from female voters, as a vote against JJ simply because they are still pissed off about the Sandra Bullock break up.
Hope I am wrong but that is the way I see it.
Over & Out,
Jeff
PS: I will be watching the Build-Off tonight during commercial breaks from Monday Night Football. The Texans play tonight after all!
The Fast and Loud guys I think are in the drivers seat. Everybody already knows Jesse’s, Jr’s, and Sr’s work so even if they do something great they miss the wow factor. And as mentioned, their personalities are all well known. We’re all tired of the drama so the personalities have worn their welcome. These Fast and Loud guys…good looking, goofy beard, they seem nice…the endearing newcomer could get a lot of votes just because everyone’s tired of the other choices.
This ‘show’ being about personalities irritates me immensely and I’ve never even seen one. When building a motorcycle why can’t the craftsmanship be the deciding factor, not the fact that audiences are bored of personalities. Now I’m bored of writing this so I am o…
Jeff,
DVR.
~Mo
Well first off I think the whole show is a crock , but if I’m gonna chose a builder to win I’m gonna have to go with the only ‘ Real Builder ‘ in the bunch …. and that’d be Jesse James
You guys crack me up.
You say that because the general public are doing the judging the results will be a joke.
but you are judging before you have even seen the bikes.
Opinions are like……………………
Yes Jesse and the Tuetels are d-bags and egomaniacs. Yes they can build nice bikes. Yes they are doing this for the money and attention (even JJ).
What I find humorous is that everyone is ignoring the boys from Texas. Small shop without the fancy tooling and outside help that the other 3 have. Maybe more in line with most bike builders facilities than what we see in the other 3 shops?
Plus, they are having fun with this build and their show instead of taking themselves so seriously I don’t know what their build quality will be but they will be fun to watch.
I will flip to it off and on thru the next 2 nights and check back here to read the posts from the guys that say they don’t watch these shows but secretly do.
People are complaining a lot about what a “build off” is and isn’t about.
It must be able to ride for hours, it must be hand crafted, it must be original, it must be art, it must be this or that. What most forget is that we are talking about a TV show which also must be entertaining. This entertainment, however, suffers the same fate. Some people like the technical side of the build or the drama, the egos, the charity, the failure, the success or the interaction.
For my tastes and vices, I still like PjD the most each of those various factors I listed.
I dislike J. James for several of them and I think that senior is okay in essence, but has some bad “friends”.
I hope the bike that I like most will win and I’m not ashamed to admit that I hope that I like Jr’s bike best.
I must admit I’m a bit curious to see what JJ’s bringing to the table. Want to see the Gas Monkey bike as well……
Sorry, its simply not that interesting any more.
-nicker-
Go team fastandloud. You got this one in the bag
S far I’m diggin the Gas Monkey guys.
Doubt if Jeff N is too far off. Also there may be a factor with older guys like me only being able to watch the show for the first 26 minutes and having to turn it off to avoid throwing up. Sorry, guess I just don’t get the whole format. Love Jesse’s work but I can’t wade through the show to watch it happen. Dunno who’s even playing in Monday Night Football tonight, but that’s where I’m heading. Looking forward to Cyril’s pics of the finished bikes tomorrow or whenever.
I hope those so-called non building boys from Gas Monkey pulls this off. Aaron is 1 hell of a mech/all around. Jessie is the most arrogant,vain thinks he knows evything but surely don’t no how to treat a Southern girl,,damn Fool. And 4 the Ny’ers whatever what do you say,,,,,Peaceful N Louisiana
Jesse James is the only by bike builder there. He makes everything his self. And put everything together his self. so I guess you know who I’m voting for. You got Cherokee acoustics vote Jesse
Seriously – Gas monkey guys have had great spirit and fun during this build off – people slamming ion the New Yorkers – ok Senior I agree as he is incredibly arrogant but Jr. Come on folks – he is terrific!, Jr. Didn’t like the idea of Jesse James getting extended time although was polite about it on the phone – he is always a team player -,doesn’t blab on and on about how great he himself is like other bike builders …… Now Jesse James – he’s just a plain do&?$# bag, who thinks he’s so freakin wonderful –
All the bikes looked REALLY KOOL….really hard to say which one I liked the best….but MAY THE BEST BIKE BUILDER WIN…..
Team Fast N Loud vote here. They are awesome guys who built a real bike within the timeframe originally set for the competition and then rode a PINK bike to Vegas. They definitely earned a win.
Putting all personalities aside,the JJ bike and Paul Srs are the best candidates. I must admit all 4 bikes are nice…..The F&L bike is most my favorite style,but not that special and doesnt rise to a build off winner. Its the bike I would most like to own but nothing real original or special. The Paul Jr. bike is the best Ive seen from him ,but a little too “bling-bling” self consciously over the top for me. The JJ bike and the Paul Sr bikes have the most original thought and engineering to them and deserve the win.
I’m still undecided about my vote. Im a little turned off by JJ’s arrogant “I’m the best craftsman and dont care what anyone thinks” attitude . I tend to sympathize with Paul Sr. since Im about his age and have a son with an attitude. I think the decider for me will be that JJ missed the deadline so Ill probably use that as the “tie breaker” and go with Sr. All in all,Im pleasantly surprised by the quality of all four bikes. Much better than last year.
American Chopper is going off the air because they stopped building and no body wanted to see the drama anymore, Paul Jr definitely has more creative talent than the old man hands down, Gas Monkey is a throwback to rideable choppers, Jesse would fire his crew if they couldn’t meet a deadline but I guess he gets a pass, Drama, Drama, Drama. None of it’s worth watching anymore, Who cares.
Doesn’t feel right voting from a TV show. Feels like a popularity contest. I like all the bikes greatly and wish I could have seen the detail put into them up close. With that I just can’t vote personally.
Got to hand it to Jesse for biting off more than he can chew. An EFI twin cam in a moto gp style chassis in 6 weeks is a bold move. I appreciate the innovation, and also the amount of tweaking it is going to take to get it to go fast.
Senior’s bike looks like an unsophisticated Confederate rip-off. They need lay off the autocad and the computerized milling machines, it sucks the soul right out of their builds. Gas tanks were cool, as well as the carbon-fiber springs.
Junior. 2 into 4 into 1 exhaust, wtf? He is a cake decorator, end of story. Where is your self respect?
Gas Monkey built the only solid, traditional chopper, within the rules. Win.
JJ to win. PJD “theme” bikes are a joke. Occ was made in a Cnc machine and I could have made ass monkeys bike.
One thing learned after 30+ years of racing and competition — if you don’t get to the starting line on time — you lose. Vote goes to Monkeeboyz. Ultimately it is about the “ride”…
If Jesse finished in time — he would have got my vote for doing the Ducati-esque inspired HD engine Monster.
More impressed across the board than I thought I’d be. Richard said it best that their (Aaron’s) build was about exemplifying the roots of custom bike building, a bunch of friends getting together, knocking back some cold ones and chopping out a nice, rideable bike. Jesse and Senior built cool bikes, but they can’t stand up to a properly done shovel
Richard said it best that their (Aaron’s) build was about exemplifying the roots of custom bike building, a bunch of friends getting together, knocking back some cold ones and chopping out a nice, rideable bike. Jesse and Senior built cool bikes, but they can’t stand up to a properly done shovel
My vote goes to gas monkey. It’s kool, its traditional, nuff said.
I love how everyone acts like they know JJ on here…
Lets break it down honestly:
1-There is no more energy in the tank for Discovery to push American Chopper. The show is stale, so is the back story. Bottom line: that money tree isn’t going to bear anymore fruit.
2-Jesse is far talented than anyone than anyone they have pitted him against as of yet. Jesse is still a money maker for Discovery…not like he was in 2000 – 2003, but he draws a crowd. Say what you will about him but he has tons of fans (male & female). The bottom line: That money tree will bear fruit…Discovery just leaves it on the vine longer
3-Gas Monkey or whatever the hell that show is called is ready for the picking…they get two (yes two) for the price of one and that show seems fresh in the eyes of many only because no one knows who the hell they are. I have been in the industry long enough to know that if they were worth their salt I would have at least heard of them by now. Hell…even writing for The Horse for all the years I did I never heard of them and that is the magazine I would imagine they would be in. Bottom line here: Discovery has someone new to exploit. They tried it a few years back with Motor City Motors…
Junior’s bikes are a joke
Jesse is actually talented
Gas Monkey (or whatever) is not going to compete at a level anywhere near JJ.
You can’t fake talent or skill and no one (on that stage) has put the time in that Jesse has
That said…Jesse will most likely not win again…
If I were to vote, I’d vote for the Gas Monkey’s…. traditional build thats ridable. I can appreceate Jesse doing his build with his talent and tools, just not my style of bike… and Sr’s is the same type of ninja/cafe style that I just can not ride. and Jr.’s bike while the effort was busy, I just don’t see a 1,000 lbs of motorcycle being an easy and ridable bike for any legnth of road time. In all, I believe the efforts of all are worth the end result,… my favorite would still be the Gas Monkey Bobber! A ridable good looking Shovelhead! Go GAS MONKEYS!
Watched the show last night and I too have to hand it to the Gas Monkey guys….a good looking bike that is actually rideable, even if it is pink.
Looked like JJ might have been a bit too ambitious with his build, but should be cool when done.
Sr’s did indeed look like a Confederate rip off.
Jr’s, while interesting and actually styled pretty well was like most of his builds way overdone.
GO GO GAS MONKEYS!!
I voted for Gas Monkey. It’s the only real bike in the build.
JJ is gasping for breath in a severly asthmatic, dying career.
Jr. built a show bike, not a rider.
Sr…. well that thing is just ugly.
For me, JJ and Senior both missed the deadline, end of story. JJ’s bravado is all phony, he blew it and he knew it, shame on the producers for letting him get away with it. GM boys built a rider and whether they’re known or not, they did it right.
So, who watched the biker buildoff last night? Totally disappointed with all 4. JR bike was his worst ever, Paul Sr bike was as souless and worst frontend I have ever seen, the tom and jerry bike was a shovel they hardtailed and painted pink and jesse, sorry, didn’t make the time limit and then NO one has seen Jesse ride the bike. The winner? Discovery!
Rules are rules, but Discovery could give a rip less as evidenced. Both Senior and Jesse should have been eliminated…period.
Therefore, I ran with the boys from TX that built a real rider as seen….Gas Monkeys!
Boss Hawg
I was actually impressed with all 4 bikes, although I thought JJ’s bike had a very bizarre geometry to it… the angle of the forks seemed to be awfully steep for a sport bike. That guy is a major douchebag too… is there anybody more arrogant and cocky than him? He’d be a nightmare to work with… its his way or the highway, and I’m sure he doesn’t put up with his employees missing deadlines, but he’s aloud to take as long as he wants. What a D-bag that guy is.
Jr has the most class out of all of them and builds a sweet looking piece of art… no, its not going to be the most ride-able, but thats really not what these shows are about.
Gas Monkeys bike was pretty cool looking, although not much fab involved. And does the head guy from Gas Monkey actually do any work? It looked like the guy with the beard did everything.
Sr’s bike was OK, but not really my style. What the hell kind of front end was that?
And one last thing… enough with Jesse saying he’s the only one that builds everything and the Teuttels just order parts from various catalogs and assemble a bike. They stopped doing that years ago and now build most everything in house. They may use machines to do a lot of it, but they still build much of the bike in-house. Jesse may be more talented, but I don’t see him being very far ahead of Jr, Rick, Vinnie, and a few of those other guys…they are all very talented craftsmen. Now Sr, he’s just the boss and doesn’t do much of anything himself…sorta like the head of Gas Monkey.
I now realize why Jesse moved to Texas… he needed a lot of space for that huge ego of his. The guy comes across as a major tool.
IMHO from bottom to top:
PJS – Not my cup of tea. Not really into theme bikes, but bike seems to make sense
for what they were going for.
Sr. OCC- Much improved over last year! Cool looking bike reminds me a bit of a Confederate but…. bike does not seem like a legit hp ride, not sure if that agricultural front end would be to fun on a fast turn..
Gas Monkey – Nice clean clean classic. Nothing bad to say here, timeless legit bike.
Jj- Since like JJ I ride Choppers & Sport bikes I understood what he was going for, a serious bad ass v-twin racer, that was purpose built, super fast, handles, cutting edge tech that actually works. I can see how this bike not appeal to everyone, but this is the bike I would want to own – soo Jj gets my vote!
IMHO from bottom to top:
PJS – Not my cup of tea. Not really into theme bikes, but bike seems to make sense
for what they were going for.
Sr. OCC- Much improved over last year! Cool looking bike reminds me a bit of ap Confederate but…. bike does not seem like a legit hp ride, not sure if that agricultural front end would be to fun on a fast turn..
Gas Monkey – Nice clean clean classic. Nothing bad to say here, timeless legit bike.
Jj- Since like JJ I ride Choppers & Sport bikes I understood what he was going for, a serious bad ass v-twin racer, that was purpose built, super fast, handles, cutting edge tech that actually works. I can see how this bike not appeal to everyone, but this is the bike I would want to own – so Jj gets my vote!
Jesse James is his biggest fan! I can’t stand his repetitive mouth running constantly… about his past due bike…. it’s past the deadline! I think his bike is gutsy but not my cup of tea.
On Paul Sr’s team.. that Jason dude is a tool and punk… he needs to shut his mouth… I’m happy to see they made a bike this year but it is lacking … the pipes and the bars look unfinished.
I enjoy the Gas Monkey guys… nice people and while there bike is solid … it is lacking on imagination…. its a straightforward classic chopper.
Paul Jr’s team… Again they come up with a bike that has some imagination to it… Theme bike or what ever you want to call it… its a well put together ride that looks beautiful. They made a ton of part just like JJ and OCC…. JJ wants you to think he is making 99% of the bike… he didn’t make the motor.. the tranny(only a cover for it)… front forks and a lot of other parts! I use to like JJ and his craftsmanship but his mouth is such a turn off.
It all comes down to personal taste… Good luck to the Gas Monkey guys and PJD!
OK so what would happen if you took these 4 bikes to a peer judged competition like AMD or Artistry in Iron? In my honest opinion if any of these 4 made it over the 50% line I would be shocked.
Too bad they didn’t invite Ken Nagai.. then the winner would be obvious
http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2012/12/10/blow-n-digger-by-ken-nagai/
In terms of the bike I would like to ride, Gas Monkeys, hands down.
I guess they should not tell anyone who’s bike is who’s and let the people vote, takes the whole popularity thing out of the mix.
JJ’s bike is a hand built creation
SR’s is a modern manufacturing protype built by a team, and a decent entry
F&L its a bike pretty run of the mill nothing we haven’t seen at the local drive in. Only reason they are here is their TV Show and Richards antics jumping around like a 12 year old girl at a Justin Beiber concert.
Jr. well another “Theme bike” Big surprise its like he is stuck in his youth designing his High school home coming float over and over!
Blow hards bike looks like a Buell, and the Old mans boys built him an ugly non rideable chunk of aluminum, and the boy wonder once again built a hideouse representation of an old car. The winners are Richard and Aaron who built a rideable motorcycle that all of us would like to own. Hail the new Kings!!!!
Well they all built some cool bikes , but that said, JJ bike is the most hand made built by the builder. looks fast and cool !!! Sr nice but built by a cnc . Jr , looks cool dig the 39 chevy . Fast and Loud guys nice keeping to the roots of building cool ride, and they were the only ones finished on time. Have always been a big fan of JJ work . but you can;t win if you are not at the starting line same for Sr and Jr. After all it is a contest, with rules. Good luck to all.
I placed my bet on all four bikes being ill-handling, poorly engineered showpieces with no real attention paid to rake or trail, and which will all crack at the frame welds with any type of real-world street use and likely end up in a ditch on the side of the road.
Childish adults with toys needing attention / acceptance from the general public.. acting like needy children or helpless victims. Sounds like it would make a better Dr Phil show.
Custom building a motorcycle should never be a race!!
Take out the personalities and look at the fact that this was a “TEAM” build off competition with a agreed to completion date and the Gas Monkeys win on that criteria. On a human skill level by a TEAM and Paul Jr did it. Seniors team used modern technology to create their entry, and whats novel about hanging a engine from a frame. Jessie is the most single talented of the group, but with this idea in his head for years the entry in my opinion was too agressive for the time line by the small team he used, but it is entertainment and thats what it is about, just sayin. I never won a race I was late to the start line for.
by the comments above… I can easily tell who has built a motorcycle or not… Gas Monkey crew embodies the “homebuilt” cycle… and on another level Jesse James embodies the “custom” cycle. Paul Jr. doesn’t get it and never will… and Senior, well sorta… but should lay oiff the water jet. Geez!
shovel / choppers RULE ! WTF Jesse ?
Jesse failed miserably and is just too big of an a-hole. If he’s so much better than everyone else he would man up to the fact that he failed to build a bike under the rules of the competition. I like the FnL guys, but watching Aaron do all the work and Richard get half the credit wont last long at all. Show that guy doing something, anything, besides talking. It doesn’t bother me at all that Sr.’s crew uses modern milling machines. If he shaved aluminum by hand with a hammer and chisel himself (if he could) it would still be the same design. And it’s a much better design that what he did last year.
The Bike I’d want to ride for the next 30 years is the one the Gas Monkey Guys built. 1st
Sr’s Bike is well designed and well proportioned, I’d give it second place.
JJ’s bike looks like a franken build some guy did in his garage, probably fun to ride, but looks kinda haphazard. 3rd Place
Jr’s bike looks kinda fun to ride, but I wouldn’t want to be seen on it. I’d say this about a tie with JJ’s bike overall. Last Place.
I have built bikes,so I really know what’s going on ! In my opinion, this is about bike building, not about personalities. Jesse is a old school fabricator, I’m sure Paul senior was in his early days.fast n loud have the basic machines n tools,& junior in the beginning had less equipment. But now is a product of his generation. Who in his right mind , wouldn’ t love to have a water jet & or a computerized milling machine? I have a 1937 lathe , a cross feed table on a 50,s craftsman drillpress , n have a 48 ridged that is totally custom from a hand made aluminum wrap around oil tank & hand made distributor ,point being, how ever they build the bikes, it should be judged on style, craftsmanship, engineering , paint & overall look & style. Not who you were married to , or what pranks you came up with, or what ever. They should all be respected for their ideas & talent! Chuck from flooded long Island
Cyril, how about posting some pics of the bikes man! Is this a bike blog or not? 😉
I’ll go with “real people” over “real craftsmen’………………..Go Gas Monkey!!!
I agree Chuck, I’d love to have a CNC milling machine and a water jet.
I’m with Boss Hawg on this one. Gas Monkey shovel. Jesse can you get any more arrogant?
I I went with gas monkey Because it had the balls to ride a bike there How much does a junior to get his head out of his ass Nobody builds that shit anymore But I think Jesse’s bike was the nicest
Does Richard and “the old man”do any thing but supply money, better keep a tool out of their hands, they night lose an eye😜……
I think it would be more fun if we had less of the same thing and more of the real builders envolved and in the show,as there are so many that are so much better with less temper and bull for the fans……
Knowing the public they will vote for the stupid theme bike. Why is everything have to a theme with JR!, its sucks and its over. Gas Monkey, looks like a fun bike to ride and they rode it there, Nice!, I liked JJ innovation reaching out from what he normally builds.SR bike, i was surprised i kinda like it. I like the carbon fiber suspension spring. My vote is for Gas Monkey, clean, fun to ride, it is what its all about isnt it.
And the winner is the best builder in the World!
What’s hilarious is all these whining babies complain about the show and the builders but yet here they are whining and crying in public on that very platform. Just shut up.
Fast and loud, hats off. Clean bike I would own. But outside the intent of the forum. Not a build.
Senior didn’t build a thing. And Jason I’m sorry can’t design to save his life or his company. The lines are all off and the whole design doesn’t work. Fire Jason. Sub out to PJD, save the company.
JJ, nice design but can’t manage a project without threatening everyone or tripping over his bully ass ego. This is 2 years in a row that He continues to writes checks his ass can’t cash. He may be a builder but his design days are farther away than he believes in his Rear view mirror.
PJD – funny, they built everything all the others built yet no credit. Design wise, class of the field. This isn’t about swinging a hammer, this is what’s in your mind that truly counts. You can hire a gas monkey to swing a hammer but as you can see In the other builds – no real design, just parts. Sorry folks, if you don’t like the stage turn the channel or better yet get back to your own garage and bring something better than all that drivel.
Myself, my welder awaits me and I enjoy seeing builders show their stuff. I just think some of them here missed the mark, again.
I get the hand made concept of Jesse. That’s what I do in my garage. Pound it, mig and tig.
So PJD goes to the parts room to get a frame he didn’t build, a motor he didn’t build, fenders he didn’t build, wheels he didn’t build and a grille he purchased on the web. Then he welds on a bunch of crap and fluff and he wins?
Gas Monkey at least built a bike that can be ridden and all four should have been forced to ride their bikes 500 miles in order to qualify.
Show is a joke…
I wasn’t happy with the choices at all but I did vote.
Don’t like sportbikes so JJ and Sr lost
If Gas Monkey would have restored the 1967 instead of ruin it they’d have gotten my vote
Jr got it for a “Ness’ style bike.
I do find this post very funny because of people like GuitarSlinger who can call the contest without even seeing a bike. They are the ones who point fingers at everyone else and say they vote for PJD because it is just a popularity contest.
I thought juniors bike was over done and he should have lost. Fast and loud team should have because they built a decent bike and I like the fact that they road there bike to the build off in vages.senior or Jessie James should have come in secound place they built better bikes. I dint like that junior always has to be over the top