Bourget Bike Works has retained K.D. Auctions for an online only auction of its rolling chassis, CNC machines, tooling, parts and accessories. An inspection preview is organized at Bourget Bike Works 21407 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, AZ 85024 on Tuesday September 17, 2013 from 9 am to 4 pm (PT). Over 400 lots are offered to the highest bidders with closing Wednesday September 18, 2013, 7.30 am (PT)
Roger and Brigitte Bourget divorced in 2005, and since 2009 Brigitte solely owned and managed the business. In 1993, Roger Bourget was the original creator with his wife of Bourget’s Bike Works and imposed at the time a very unique drop seat/long front end custom motorcycle style that everybody at the time could identify as his design. A design copied later by many other builders. Roger at the time was offering the first V-Twin custom bike with a 170-17 rear tire, then the first jackshaft frame with car tire, the first to offer a rolling chassis, the first oil-in-frame/drop-seat chassis, the first jackshaft design with centered drive train for wide-tire chassis and also created and designed the fat 5-speed tranny with Jim’s collaboration. Following the divorce from Brigitte, Roger left Bourget Bike Works in July 2009 and opened with new wife Emily a shop in Montrose, Colorado called Roger’s Bourget Chopper Shoppe.
Since her ex-husband departure from the business, Brigitte Bourget was somewhat struggling trying to maintain alive Bourget Bike Works. It looks like a bad economy since 2008 and the professional absence of a well known original founder and custom builder with strong personality and style took an heavy toll on the business to the point where the business started failing. This year, a BBW 40,000 sq. ft back building was sold off to pay off a bank note. Then, to clear inventory, a big clearance sale of frames, parts and accessories was organized now followed by the complete liquidation of the Bourget Bike Works factory. Complete Liquidation Catalog at KD Auctions.
Added 08/26/2013 at 7.50 p.m. Brigitte Bourget wrote to mention that she will still build a one-off if she gets a request, subcontracting as necessary. Also stated that BBW will sell some accessories and clothing.
at least we CAN see the forest for the trees.
A winner is always a winner no matter what trials and tribulations that person goes through.
keep on rolling Roger…..
Steve Carr
Surprised it lasted so long. Thought they closed a long time ago…
If you don’t evolve, you die.
This long chopper was very innovative…in 1995.
Went on the auction site. Looks like BBC was over equipped with CNC machines. Why?
Symbol of a past era crashing in 2008.
hey guys, this is not about a style of bike, or CNC machines, maybe the owner knows exactly what he is doing and is on his way back to the top….
read the article ….
Steve Carr
Everyone should check out Rogers new shop whether in person or via online. Roger should have been named “The King of Innovation “. Best wishes to Roger, his Chopper Shoppe & to his family. Thanks for inspiring so many of us gear heads to push the boundries above and beyond the expected norm. Cheers & Godspeed…..
To Chaos,
The king of innovation award should go to Roger and Bridgette’s employees back in the 90s. They’re the ones that would come up with the new ideas. The oil in frame idea goes to a guy named Scott, nitrous bottles in tanks goes to Kyle, the guy who showed Roger what a cnc machine could really do is Ken. It’s not what you know it’s about getting employees to do the work for you then stand at the shows and say LOOK WHAT I MADE.
Don’t be so jealous of Snoozebutton….. Every succesful company has a team that works hard but it needs a innovative leader to be successful. Nuff said….
When your employees are coming up with ideas and all you do is look at a DuPont Registry magazine for your next toy. That’s not being innovative. Nuff Said..
And believe me I’m not jealous at all of this person! A mans character is not measured by how much money they have.
Way over capitalized in tooling.Soichiro Honda would have had fifty little mom and pop operations manufacturing one class of component for him.The days of doing every operation in house are over decades ago.A CNC mill can read a custom designers line of code just as well in Taiwan or Tennessee.If a CNC is not running 24 hours a day it’s hardly paying for it’s floor space.
I think everyone is missing a major portion of this story…..Roger sold his interest out to his ex-wife Brigitte in 2008 and has had nothing to do with Bourget Bike Works since that time. His NEW company is located in Montrose Colorado and is called Roger Bourget Chopper Shoppe which has no affiliation with BBW.
If BBW is now “gone” their demise had nothing to do with whatever Roger did or did not do 10-15-20 years ago.
Personally I have been friends with both Roger and his current wife Emily and Brigitte, his former wife, for many, many years and I wish them all the very best!
Over & Out,
Jeff
It is just sad that ANY bike builder/ manufacturer is going out of buisness. Roger put out some very inovative bikes and parts, and he still is. No buisness can keep on going on stagnant ideas, and designs. BBW needed new and inovative products, and it was unable to fufill that. They tried and unfortunatly after Roger left they went under. It is just sad that any buisness looses, but that is buisness one looses one wins. Take care all those whom used to work at BBW.
Too funny .. .lots of comments from folks whom either didn’t read the article, or .. just want to blab on a subjectively cluelessly?
This is NOT Roger’s current shop.. it’s the ex attempting to sell bikes based on previous work done by Roger whom is running a diff’ shop, diff’ name.. This is his old shop run by the ex.
I remember seeing these guys at Sturgis 2 years ago thinking.. WTF? Still selling top $ choppers when folks were moving from bobbers to baggers ?
Brigitte Bourget had no chance, didn’t have the profile, didn’t have the expertise in motorcycles to maintain the business of her ex husband. What a bad divorce decision to want the BBW business. As mentioned by Cyril Huze, Roger Bourget has a small custom shop in Colorado. Maybe he can get the CNC machines from his ex wife for almost nothing. Revenge?
When at Sturgis, for the past few years, the first stop for me was the Bourget spot. I would drool, take pix, dream, drive my wife nuts. One day Roger was there, he talked bikes with me for a good 20 minutes, very nice guy. It’ s too bad it went down the way it did, his bikes are truly unique.
To Snoozbutton… YEP!
It was mentioned you gotta evolve. Yep….. the ones who evolved are the ones who bought those over priced so called ” One Off Choppers”. They evolved and grew a brain, realizeing they were taken to the cleaners and left with a fancy lawn ornament.
Hey snoozbhton
considering I have been to Rogers new shop and seen him doing all the wrenching on the bikes I’m pretty sure you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.. Yes sometimes there are collaborative efforts however in this one you’re wrong all the way across the board. Bridget with a greedy bitch. Simple as that. No knowledge of the industry other than what her husband has shown her.
This is just another good day for Eddie Trotta….
Where are current Bourget bike owners supposed to get parts from?
I was a Bbw dealer backin the day 95-99 , and roger was the figure head and designer, who without him none of it would of ever happened, but Bridget ran that company, if you needed something , you called Bridget , she did a great job, and made everyone at Bbw a ton of money, but like myself, without a great team behind me , I’d just be another guy wrenching in my garage , they had the best guys in the business at the time making all the frames tanks ect, some great designs some not so, but they kept working and plugging away , now the test of time will tell us all the truth, if roger is a great bike builder he will make it back to the top, Bridget was so close to keeping it alive , and Martin is right , it does open doors for me and all the other chopper builders, choppers forever! But I’ll throw a few baggers in there just in case !
Bourget’s Bike Works, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ owned and operated by Brigitte Bourget since 1993. To set the record straight, I am not a greedy bitch, in fact I assumed over $7 million in debt that was amassed by my ex business partner. None of the commentators on this site know me personally or professionally with the exception of Eddie Trotta who I have always admired and respected. It was my money that started BBW back in a garage in 1993 and I have worked my ass off in this business every day since then. I would challenge any builder, rider, shop owner, etc. to test my knowledge of motorcycles and of this industry. Other than Eddie Trotta, I’m not sure anyone on this blog can say they have been involved in this industry for 20 years. 20 years in this industry is like 100 in a normal life, that being said you get a little burned out. I owe no one on this blog an explanation of any kind whatsoever. The fact that I am liquidating excessive equipment and real estate and stale products that have been collecting dust for 20 years is a wise business decision and does not mean I am out of business. Someone above mentioned that unless a CNC is running 24 hours a day it can’t pay for itself – hello – you’re 100% correct. There are great fabricators and machinists right here in my town that worked with me in my shop building my prodcts and now have their own shops and financially it makes a hell of a lot of sense for me to sub out to them rather than have the overhead and employee headaches of doing everything in house. This industry is not what it once was – no more American Iron Horse, no more Big Dog Motorcycles. I have been able to withstand because I have made changes. I guess everyone on this blog has kept every piece of equipment, every building, every part, every motorcycle, etc. that they’ve ever owned because if they sold anything they no longer needed, clearly they’d be going out of business. If anyone would like to speak with me personally I can be reached at Bourget’s Bike Works, Inc., 21407 N. Central Ave., Phoenix AZ 85024 or call me at (623) 879-9642 or email me at brigitte@bourgets.com or go to my website http://www.bourgets.com. I only work Monday – Thursday these days – I’m enjoying some time off and taking things a little easier – trying to destress my life some – not that it’s anybody’s business. I’d love to sell you something!! Replacement parts for your Bourget motorcycle, a rolling chassis, some billet parts, etc. Or you can contact any of my dealers who still sell Bourget motorcycles and parts – they can all be found on my website http://www.bourgets.com under locate a dealer.
Brigette,
My hats off to you, Roger would not be where or who he is if it wasn’t for you.
Brigitte,
You owe no one any explanation beyond a description of the stock & tooling you are selling.
Recognizing comments by those who know nothing of business is like picking out prattle from break-in-bikers.
Good luck.
-nicker-
Why not change the last name then? No need for the notoriety right? LMAO.
Any business owner who can pay the bills but work just Mon-Thur. is my new hero 😉 My best wishes for EVERYONE who makes a living in the 2-wheeled world.
Roger is a washed up builder. Maybe if he could keep it in his pants he would have stayed on top.
Brigitte was the business and god bless her for getting out with her dignity. My suggestion is go have some fun and relax in life.
Note, I am tracking this article from Dealer News which cited Cyril. I’m glad I read through all the comments and came to Brigitte’s own words. We will make sure to talk about this, on this weeks Hog Radio Show.
FYI – We had Brigitte on our show last year where she shared with us about the company. You can listen to it anytime, I have nothing but admiration for her.
Best to you Brigette, we will get you back on again in a few months to share with us.
As for name change, Brigitte has been co-owner since it was launched so she is entitled to keep it.
BOZACK you said it all in a nutshell! You have been to his new shop and seen the truth first hand. If Roger was such a bad guy and did nothing for BBW why did she keep the name and make no announcement of his departure pretending he was still there?! look at the inventory she produced between ’09 till her demise – cheesy ugly pieces of junk made with leftover parts (almost like a greedy bitch was just perpetrating a fraud against unsuspecting customers wanting Rogers work) her response confirms for me she is deranged and has delusions of grandeur and needs help! Roger is and always will be an undeniable asset to this industry! Haters gonna hate!
JohnS, why don’t you take a look at the BBW website, it was announced there in 2009 that Roger was no longer part of the company! Also, I actually own a 2010 Cobra Limo of which I can tell you was not built out of leftover parts. Maybe do your homework JohnS before you get on a site and type words that you obviously have no clue of what your saying, most likely hear-say on your part and well we know what those who put stock in hear say are. As for keeping the Bourget name, why wouldn’t she, she helped start BBW, therefore she earned the right to keep it.
I have dealt with Brigitte since actually 2009 and I will say she is an amazing woman and I’m glad to call her my friend.
Before you judge a person (or type shit about them) get to know them and walk a day in there shoes!!
Good luck on your sale Bridgett. Eddie saw you this year in Sturgis with Shope at the buffalo chip. very nice guy. Always loved Rogers bikes. Sad all the way around. Hope both companies make a huge comeback with all the chopper community. ……..Always gotta be someone talking shit.
Michele B – I bet you do like your 2010 cobra limo cause it looks like it was designed by a chick not like a real Bourget. do your homework your completely wrong. she uses chassis sitting around since 2008. I know the facts, ask all the people she screwed out of money how nice she is. you probably have an ex you screwed in a divorce too! I have seen on video she claimed to be a female bike builder and designer for 20 years even taking credit for Roger patents in an interview she did last year in Sturgis! she is crazy and we know what people who put stock in what a crazy person says are…
Brigite cant even ride a motorcycle what a joke! Now Roger has to put up with this!
JohnS. I see still talking out your ass. My bike looks nothing like a chick built it in fact if her builds are so bad why is Roger buying them used and selling them! And as for my personal life I don’t have discuss that I’m intelligent enough not to have to. But we see your IQ level stating hearsay earlier now trying to bring up a divorce which again if you weren’t one of the attorneys involved you know nothing about. But again relying hearsay.
a video is hearsay? whats your IQ?! your as crazy as she is! After ’09 anything that came from BBW (a Brigite build) is crap DONT BUY IT!
If you listen to that video she states BBW holds the patents which is 100% correct she didn’t state she was the “inventor”. Again facts, kid!
Regardless Bourget bikes will continue to sell, new and used. peace
I’m just sitting back laughing my ass off at this whole thread. It amazes me that some people think they know what they’re talking about and aren’t even close to correct. (expecially Bridget) Do the math- I started building in 1989 and didn’t incorporate until 1993. Bridget was born in 1969 funny how a 20 year old girl could start a motorcycle company that doesn’t know how to ride a bike! Laughable at best. she’s a glorified office manager. I was completely responsible for every design that ever came out of BBW all the way up to the Cobra and the shredder, Emily rides the original shredder with a 2008 title. And let me be clear I don’t have any connection to that stupid looking three wheeled thing they built after I left. Ask any of my old employees there is never a change allowed in my shop unless I made it or agreed upon it. I can tell by snooze buttons comments the guys a moron and has no idea what he’s talking about. Every successful businessman has the bestday people helping him bring his ideas to fruition. And I want to thank all my past employees that I had because I had the best manufacturing team in the country. Yes scott Williams was my right hand guy we did design work together back in the day but in no way was the oil in the frame Scott’s idea. I actually did the first drop seat bike before Scott was even hired at my shop. And as for Kyle- Kyle didn’t even know what a motorcycle was when I hired him He worked at a sports car shop doing sheet metal. And I have no idea who Ken is. Anyway I’m gonna ramble on for a few more minutes …. You will see who did the design work at bbw when you see how my work has progressed. Check out my new designs the new baggers The Raven and The Falcon will be seen on display at Biketoberfest . I did all the design work and molds with my own hands, two years worth of work. And in March Daytona Bike week I will debut my 2 new choppers. The long bike will never be dead As long as I have anything to do with it. My new choppers will make all the old stuff look like old stuff. Thanks to all my loyal customers and industry friends who know the facts and see through all this BS. So if you want a REAL Roger Bourget bike built go to http://www.rogerbourget.com …okay now I’m done getting sucked in by the ignorant comments. See you at the next rally.
So sorry to hear so many derogatory comments. I bought a Black Jack Ace back in 2004 from Eric and Liz at the Ft. Lauderdale dealership. I still love my bike. Get so many complements… everyone tells me what beefy, well built bike I have. Just hope I will be able to always find parts for it!!
Glad to hear Roger finally step in and set the record straight. I have owned three of Rogers’s bikes including a Fat Daddy, Fat Daddy Chopper, and Python Chopper. I still have two. I have been following Roger for 15 years. The guy has a lot of respect in the industry because of his innovative designs and quality builds. I sure am glad to hear him say that the long bike will continue to be built by his new outfit. Roger Bourget is a biker’s bike builder bar none.
Bourget: Lot’s of bling – whoops! – No engineering.
I know I am the proud owner of one of their sparkling static piles of junk.
Bourget just bolted on allot of billet parts with no quality under the paint job.
Bourget is the epitome of ‘Lipstick on a pig’.
Both Bourget’s got what they deserve by the way they treated their clients.
Bourget: French for ‘looks great won’t run’.
I hope they have the continuing spare parts.
ROGER, as of today still respect you and your skillz, many days watching you build bikes, assembly, still like that BUELL that you built, with the S & S 100 HP you dropped in it, the awesome blue ghost skull paint job that DEANO’s did.
If you ever need a parts man or get the job done person, i would drop everything and move to Colorado with my family. RIP MIKE HELMUT
It breaks my heart to read all the made up lies and stuff about Brigitte. She is an honorable, overly generous woman with a heart of gold. Roger would not be where is without her in the picture. He has told me that personally many times in the past. I honestly think Brigitte should change her name back to Bring or something other than Bourget. Its usefulness has run out. She is a number one business woman in my book any day. I am proud to be her Dad.
Bridgette you are an awesome lady and person,i,m a disabled vet and you personally hooked me up with liz at chopper zoo to try to help me.i wasn,t able to afford a bike but I,m waiting for settlement and then I will join you,r unique club of Bourget owners wich is the only bike I want
thank you
phil diblasi
brigette tell them all to kiss you,r ass you have accomplished more than anyone of these assholes
that couldn,t put together a mickey mouse puzzle.you have build an empire how many of these maggots can say that
you,r friend and pretty soon new customer,iraq took some of my functions but I will still own a Bourget in my time.let the jeaulosy inspire you like a marine
best of luck
Philip diblasi
I have known both Roger and Brigitte for almost 15 years and I can honestly say they were both great people. She ran the business and was extremely good at it. Anyone who owns a business knows that just because you can build a motorcycle, does not mean you can run a business. They were partners, each doing their part. The whole thing is sad really and I wish them both the best of luck.