BBC out of buisness

[Barefoot Choppa]

Paint jobs are subjective.....if thats how they're viewed....as paint jobs, then they don't bring those kind of prices. Think about a tank and all the tins as a canvas...add numerous painstaking hours of airbrushing.....and it becomes art. Also very subjective as to price and the whole "eye of the beholder". I have seen 5K-10K paint "works of art".

[vision]

Originally Posted by Barefoot Choppa

Paint jobs are subjective.....if thats how they're viewed....as paint jobs, then they don't bring those kind of prices. Think about a tank and all the tins as a canvas...add numerous painstaking hours of airbrushing.....and it becomes art. Also very subjective as to price and the whole "eye of the beholder". I have seen 5K-10K paint "works of art".

True enough and for sure that kinda art belongs on bikes destined to be shown on turntables under lights but not for bikes that are ridden a lot and throwing rocks going over fresh tar, hitting potholes and being left unwatched on the city streets for hours at a time.
Guess it's just the cheap ass in me that thinks if you got that much to spend on a airbrush art why not have the guy do a mural for your marble entryway? I got a $2500 chopper with a $200 solid black paint job and stickers. There are several artist who's work I generally dig (always meant to ask you....did Latisha Woods do your bike? I think she used to be on here but that was before my time) But I know if I had their work on my tank I would just want to take it off and keep that tank in my living room and make or buy another beater for bike.

OK after going back and looking at your gallery your not the guy. Maybe I was thinking of Seans bike? Just remember that she had done some stuff on a tank before but I can't remember the specifics.

My feeling is that: For bikes pay for a painter and get a paint job. For art pay for an artist and get a piece of art even if you want it done on bike tins. Yea $10,000 is not crazy for art but to appreciate a motorcycle you gotta ride it and doing that you will be destroying the art.

[EscaladeSteve]

Shawn had Leticia do his tins. She lives in So Cal now and does tattoos.

[Barefoot Choppa]

Originally Posted by vision

True enough and for sure that kinda art belongs on bikes destined to be shown on turntables under lights but not for bikes that are ridden a lot and throwing rocks going over fresh tar, hitting potholes and being left unwatched on the city streets for hours at a time.
Guess it's just the cheap ass in me that thinks if you got that much to spend on a airbrush art why not have the guy do a mural for your marble entryway? I got a $2500 chopper with a $200 solid black paint job and stickers. There are several artist who's work I generally dig (always meant to ask you....did Latisha Woods do your bike? I think she used to be on here but that was before my time) But I know if I had their work on my tank I would just want to take it off and keep that tank in my living room and make or buy another beater for bike.

OK after going back and looking at your gallery your not the guy. Maybe I was thinking of Seans bike? Just remember that she had done some stuff on a tank before but I can't remember the specifics.

My feeling is that: For bikes pay for a painter and get a paint job. For art pay for an artist and get a piece of art even if you want it done on bike tins. Yea $10,000 is not crazy for art but to appreciate a motorcycle you gotta ride it and doing that you will be destroying the art.

I don't disagree with any of this Ron......And yes, you're thinking of Shawns bike. Mine was painted by Nicholas (Vicious Choppers) and for me, no wheres near a 5-10K job. Don't get me wrong, I love my paint, Nicholas did a hell of a job.......much more then I expected.......but for a whole lot less.

[vision]

Originally Posted by Barefoot Choppa

I don't disagree with any of this Ron......And yes, you're thinking of Shawns bike. Mine was painted by Nicholas (Vicious Choppers) and for me, no wheres near a 5-10K job. Don't get me wrong, I love my paint, Nicholas did a hell of a job.......much more then I expected.......but for a whole lot less.

Yea yours is about at the top end of what seems right to me on a really nice bike. Maybe not art but a real nice looking paint job from a skilled painter. Somewhere about the 3 to 5K level though it seems your paying for an artist and not simply getting paint on your bike. That is the type of thing that just seems silly for a motorcycle that is built to be ridden. But then again I think $400 for an air cleaner cover a machine turned out from a $19 chunk of billet is just silly for a motorcycle as well.

Latisha does some fantastic painting. If I had money I would have one of her canvas works for sure but still be running my painted gas tank.

[Barefoot Choppa]

Originally Posted by vision

Yea yours is about at the top end of what seems right to me on a really nice bike. Maybe not art but a real nice looking paint job from a skilled painter. Somewhere about the 3 to 5K level though it seems your paying for an artist and not simply getting paint on your bike. That is the type of thing that just seems silly for a motorcycle that is built to be ridden. But then again I think $400 for an air cleaner cover a machine turned out from a $19 chunk of billet is just silly for a motorcycle as well.

Latisha does some fantastic painting. If I had money I would have one of her canvas works for sure but still be running my painted gas tank.

Um......not even close to the 3 to 5....... Try less then 1/2 of the 3........now, wanna restate your thinking?

[vision]

Originally Posted by Barefoot Choppa

Um......not even close to the 3 to 5....... Try less then 1/2 of the 3........now, wanna restate your thinking?

Nope
Your well under 3K and so your paying for a skilled painter and you seem to have gotten a very skilled painter at very good price. Now if you told me you spent $3000 and up I would think you damn well better be getting something approaching a work of art for that price and over $5000 I think is just stupid unless you truelly feel you are commissioning an individual with unique talent to do a one of kind work for you.

FTR I stay in Thailand and just had a mini chopper painted. I gave then the 4 tins and frame and they had to do bodywork and paint. In 2 weeks we got this for about $200. Is is art?...nope not even close but it looks good for the price.

[raccerx]

By JUDI BOWERS Reporter | 0 comments


Big Bear Choppers in Big Bear Lake still hasn’t re-opened. And the owners still aren’t talking. But the customers who have been allegedly bilked out of their life savings are.

The Grizzly has received numerous emails and phone calls from customers who paid thousands of dollars to the custom motorcycle manufacturer for bikes that haven’t been delivered. Samuel Parker from Central California says losing the money he paid for the bike “pretty much ruined my life.”




The customers who are waiting for bikes, or even just acknowledgement from Big Bear Choppers owners Kevin and Mona Alsop that their business has gone belly up and no bikes are coming, are from around the country to around the world. Pavel Meshcheryakov from Russia ordered two bike kits in June 2011, making full payment for $56,000. In November, Michael Forbes stopped responding to Meshcheryakov’s emails and letters. Forbes is the director of sales for Big Bear Choppers. Meshcheryakov says when he tried contacting Forbes by phone, there was no answer.

Lyle Haynes, economic development director for the city of Big Bear Lake, says the city is reviewing its options regarding a small business loan the city approved for Big Bear Choppers last spring. Haynes says the city will be behind First Mountain Bank in collecting any money from the motorcycle company, as the Alsops owe the bank even more than the $100,000 the city loaned the company.

The city loan was in conjunction with another loan of $147,000 from First Mountain Bank, Haynes says. The city attorney is reviewing all options available to the city to recoup funds, although Big Bear Choppers hasn’t officially filed bankruptcy, Haynes says. At least the city hasn’t been notified. Haynes says he has had conversations with Kevin, who indicated Big Bear Choppers is going out of business.

Approval of the loan was based in part on the numerous orders Big Bear Choppers had for bikes and kits, Haynes says. It was hoped that with the loan from the city and First Mountain Bank, the local firm would be able to hire more staff and get back on solid ground again. Haynes says he isn’t sure what happened that caused the Alsops to default.

It’s unfortunate Big Bear Choppers, which was the first local firm to obtain the loan from the city once the program was in place, defaulted, Haynes says. “My guess is that they ruined it for others,” Haynes says, meaning the program will probably be discontinued.

Parker, who paid $35,000 for a bike in April, says he was sent photos of a bike that wasn’t his as reassurance he would be getting his motorcycle. He asked for parts, which were never delivered.

The Bear Bones bike was a gift, a dream, Parker says. He fights back tears saying that he will never have an opportunity to dream the same dream again. He ordered the bike online then sent them a cashier’s check, Parker says. His dream is gone, he says.

The stories are the same around the country. People who ordered bikes, paid in full or deposits only to be strung along. Big Bear Choppers closed in early November. A note on the door said the company would re-open Nov. 28 after Thanksgiving. That didn’t happen.

Mona Alsop declined to comment whether the business was closed for good, only telling The Grizzly that when she was ready to comment, she would call us.

Mona and Kevin appeared on “The Mentor” on the Bloomberg channel in early November telling of their financial struggles hoping for help from a successful businessman. It’s unknown how the show ended.

[06 pitbull]

wow this is just bad... talked to a friend in california that has confirmed thay are out... I feel for all the people that the company still owed bikes, parts or $$.. this is how thay will get a bad rep.... I always thought bbc was a good company..but after all this info.... well I guess my opinion has changed...

[evorider]

[quote]Parker, who paid $35,000 for a bike in April, says he was sent photos of a bike that wasn’t his as reassurance he would be getting his motorcycle. He asked for parts, which were never delivered.

[/QUOTE

If this is what they did to people... They need a nice bright bullet!

[evorider]

I am sure they made some terrific bike, at one time, but obviously they went to shit real fast.

[rastoy]

I hope they enjoy jail.

[chacha]

Yep...hell of a way to F people over. It'll leave a stigma as their legacy of Big Bear Choppers.

Got word that the Sheriff has indeed served papers for their house note--eviction notice for Bank Sale...hear Forbes is in the same boat.

[NickD]

I'll be careful how I say this, but it takes two to tango . . .

I know thousands of civilians were innocently caught up in the frenzy of the "bike fad" but anyone with the slightest clue knows nothing on two wheels is worth $35,000. Not even those CVOs the MoCo sells.

As for recouping any monies from BBC forget it. The bulk of it is probably sitting in a bank account (under another name) somewhere in Australia.

[rastoy]

Originally Posted by NickD

As for recouping any monies from BBC forget it. The bulk of it is probably sitting in a bank account (under another name) somewhere in Australia.

If the govt goes after them they will find the money if they played games with it. Cash is easier to hide but when checks come in it leaves a very good paper trail.