Cyril Huze Blog – World's Number One Source For Custom Motorcycle News

All new TV motorcycle shows I have announced produce a lot of passionate comments, before it airs, while airing and days if not weeks after. Each of you, bikers, custom builders, part vendors and distributors, motorcycle industry journalists, etc have very precise ideas about what is good or not for our sport and our industry.

It is my point of view that if these motorcycles shows are so controversial with many of you it’s because reality television 1- is focusing on ordinary people, not necessary on people in the know of the subject 2- is attempting to simulate real life but needs scripted scenes imagined by the producer to keep viewers’ interest 3- is requiring, one way or the other, some audience participation, for example a voting component with results that some will always challenge because not coming from a professional point of view. But it’s also because of these characteristics that reality television remains so popular with the public at large. And nobody can deny that some of these TV shows have brought some added credibility and respect to the profession of bike building, have revealed some true talents, have made some new people join motorcycling…and have helped many motorcycle part vendors increase their sales…

This evening Monday, May 12, 10/9C the Discovery Channel will air the first episode of its new reality TV series named #Bikerlive. I remind you what is the new format of this Biker Build-Off. In each US region, 3 motorcycle shops are given 5 weeks and a $15,000 budget to build a custom bike, any type of their choice. Viewers have 1 hour to tweet their preferred one. One shop wins, per region, per week.

A few hours before the show airs, I had an interview with Discovery executive producer Christo Doyle who will also host the live portion of each episode. He is known for producing some of the most successful reality TV shows: Monster Garage (2002-2007), Diet Doctor (2005), American Chopper, The Series (2009-2010), Dirty Jobs (2010-2011), Gold Rush Alaska (2011-2014), Overhaulin’ (2012-today), etc. I asked the main questions to which you wanted an answer.

Cyril. Please, explain the rationale of launching a new motorcycle reality TV show. Are motorcycles such a subject of interest and passion for the public at large?

Christo. Motorcycles have always been core programming for us at Discovery. I have worked on a ton of gear head programming over the years – Overhaulin’, Monster Garage, American Hot Rod and American Chopper. We have always done cars and bikes but since we moved on from Chopper, I have been on the hunt for the next great bike show. Bikes are a space that we own and need to continue to own. I have had a lot of guys from crazy talented guys in backyard bike shops reach out. I wanted to come up with a show that shined a light on the works of art that they never get the attention they deserve. I liked the idea of these small town builders competing but not in a cheesy network format. These guys are gritty and cool and #BikerLive became that.

Cyril. The premise of the original Biker Build-Off series (2002-2007) was 2 reputed custom motorcycle builders, usually with very different styles of building, pitting their teams and expertise against each other, then making a lengthy ride to a bike show with a winner bike/builder decided by an audience ballot. This format was successful and contrary to other “biker shows” even succeeded in pleasing the very fussy folks of the motorcycle industry. Why didn’t you keep it?

Christo. All shows run their course. I worked on Biker Build Off towards the end of its run and while it was just as entertaining as ever, the audience slowly lost interest. All of these shows eventually show decline and BBO was no different. The audience gets wowed by something fresh and exciting but eventually that wanes. That’s TV.

Cyril. There are a lot of talented motorcycle builders in the country, professionals, semi professionals, and backyard builders, a lot of hacks too. Explain your reasoning in choosing builders and the different criteria you used to select them. I am pretty sure you know how to identify those who will be good front of a camera. But what was your source(s) to evaluate their building expertise?

Christo. First and foremost we looked for bikes that blew us away. We wanted a variety of different styles so that there was something for everyone. There is something cool about a bagger guy going up against hipster café racers types. It would be boring if everyone built the same bike. What I love about all of these builders is that they have a very specific bike they build and a mantra that fits right in. We also looked for bigger than life characters. But as you can imagine, that is pretty damn easy in the bike industry.

Cyril. American Chopper, a TV show that you have produced, was privileging art motorcycles versus rideable bikes. Will #Bikerlive emphasize the pure function of a custom motorcycle versus only its aesthetics?

Christo. The most important rule – and really the only rule – in #BikerLive is that to win a bike has to be rideable. This is not a show about making fantasy or theme bikes. This is about guys making badass bikes with whatever they have access to. These bikes are built for people that love to ride…and not just to the corner and back.

Cyril. Why doesn’t your new show include an after-build riding portion that gives or discredit a custom builder?

Christo. Everyone has to ride their bike in #BikerLive. If they can’t, they can’t win.

Cyril. When you go live on air to ask viewers to vote, will you simply ask them to vote for their preferred bike or give them some verbal directives like voting for merit, originality, appearance, execution, etc?

Christo. You simply vote for your favorite motorcycle builder. We are hands off in terms of direction. We want the bikes to shine and do not want the show gummed up with the heavy hand of the producer. This is not American Idol for motorcycles.

Cyril. Please, explain the voting process. Will viewers see live on the screen the number of “tweet votes” for each builder, or just a total at the end of each episode?

Christo. Viewers can monitor the vote throughout the show on BikerLive.com and we will put live voting results into the show periodically.

Cyril. It has been suggested to me many times that to add credibility to such a TV show, 3 non-voting motorcycle professionals should be able to comment on each creation (likes/dislikes) before the public is asked to vote. What do you think?

Christo. I have tried that in Chopper Live. It adds something for the casual viewer but this time I wanted people to simply vote on the bike they like best, the bike that they would want to own and ride. I didn’t want a panel of judges. It has been done to the nth degree and in my opinion, there is no place for it in the motorcycle world. People like a certain bike because it lights a fire in them for some reason. I don’t think we need someone else telling us what to like.

Cyril. How many episodes did you buy from Pilgrim Productions for the first season of #BikerLive?

Christo. We have 6 episodes and 6 winners that they duke it out in a final 7th episode. I hope it is a hit and we order a ton more. There are an infinite number of incredible bike builders around the world that would make phenomenal TV.

Cyril. Will we have a grand finale with the best voted builders in each region competing against each other?

Christo. Yes. In the 7th episode we will dub one shop the winner of #BikerLive. But between me and you, there are too many unheralded ships out there to ever crown one winner. These guys are all insanely talented. We just want to get their talent out there.

Cyril. You will be hosting the live portion of each episode. Is it unusual for an executive producer to host its own show?

Christo. Yes, very and I am still trying to get used to it. I was behind the camera for a reason.

Cyril. If you would ask me to build you a custom motorcycle, would it be a Cruiser, a Chopper, a Bobber, a Cafe Racer, a Tourer, etc?

Christo. I would never say. Don’t want to alienate any potential viewers.