History of the Chopper - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

tlwisner · 03-07-2006, 06:58 PM

Jesse James' show last night was pretty good, and I'm not a big fan of most of these chopper shows. This one was mostly history instead of just the usual finish the fancy bike before the "deadline".

An aspect they brought up was racism amongst bikers. They had Sugar Bear, an old time custom bike builder from LA pointing out how blacks didn't go to events like Daytona or Sturgis - his uncle went once and was shot while on the side of the road checking his bike. Old Easy Rider magazines were full of ads for "White Power" swastika patches. They also had two old time white builders going on about how bikers were never prejudiced. It was interesting to find out that the guy who built the custom bikes for Easy Rider was black - and for that reason he is still pretty much unknown amongst the motorcycle community.

azoazc · 03-07-2006, 07:38 PM

He actually built bikes for himself and customers. Easy Rider just takes pictures of the bikes. The bike aren't built specifically for them. Also found the racism thing funny. Those two old white guys saying that they weren't prejudiced!! C'mon! Any "non-predjudiced" people here refer to black people as "colored" still?

monica · 03-07-2006, 07:43 PM

ignorant old people maybe?

MagnumForce · 03-07-2006, 07:48 PM

How sad really that one cannot be given credit for helping to launch a cultural phenomenom because of his race. I sure hope this oversight is corrected.

**drgibson** · 03-07-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monica

ignorant old people maybe?

Sadly Monica you are wrong Racism is alive and well and like many other flaws of the human heart/brain it still remains incurable. We are still passing on this disorder on through the generations.

tlwisner · 03-08-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgibson

Sadly Monica you are wrong Racism is alive and well and like many other flaws of the human heart/brain it still remains incurable. We are still passing on this disorder on through the generations.

Very true. Racism is the combination of ignorance and fear, and there are a lot of scared idiots out there.

sunny · 03-08-2006, 10:36 AM

it has to do with hatred. and dehumanizing those who appear different.

i grew up in a very racist family, but i was blessed by being born and reared in southern california. the neighborhood and the elementary school had more influence on me than my family did. i've done everything i could to pass those higher ideals on to my kids.

Uechi Kid · 03-08-2006, 10:44 AM

I saw it. Thought it was good eve though I'm not a JJ fan. Good history leason.

HAMMERPETE · 03-09-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlwisner

Very true. Racism is the combination of ignorance and fear, and there are a lot of scared idiots out there.

So true so true. THis is why I am leaving the south for good.
I agree with you Sunny. My So-Cal influence let me look on both sides of the fence.

farmbone · 03-09-2006, 02:29 PM

I saw the show. It was preety good. What was the name of the guy that built the bike? Benjamin hardy? I tried to find it on the internet and had no luck. There is more prejudice here in the north than I ever have experience in the South.

**Uncle Bob** · 03-09-2006, 03:04 PM

As far as the "racist" symbols, I was under the impression that the motorcycle boom created by the return of G.I's from WWII started the fad of displaying "War Trophies" on their bikes.

All the german helmets and other insignia were worn not to show allegiance to the nazi's but rather as trophies that showed you had eliminated one or two.

sunny · 03-09-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmbone

I saw the show. It was preety good. What was the name of the guy that built the bike? Benjamin hardy? I tried to find it on the internet and had no luck. There is more prejudice here in the north than I ever have experience in the South.

i lived up north for about 6 years. in my opinion it was about the same, except for the fact that down here the racism is way more open and hateful when black people aren't around. southernors supposedly being more "polite" and all that crap.

there's racism out west too, but you have so many different ethnic groups that it all isn't against just these or those. and the children born and reared there get to see so many more ethnic groups close up in schools, that you don't think of the color of the skin as a differentiator. at least i didn't.

03-07-2006, 06:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
tlwisner Throttle Jockey Joined: Apr 2004 Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 3,208	History of the Chopper Jesse James' show last night was pretty good, and I'm not a big fan of most of these chopper shows. This one was mostly history instead of just the usual finish the fancy bike before the "deadline". An aspect they brought up was racism amongst bikers. They had Sugar Bear, an old time custom bike builder from LA pointing out how blacks didn't go to events like Daytona or Sturgis - his uncle went once and was shot while on the side of the road checking his bike. Old Easy Rider magazines were full of ads for "White Power" swastika patches. They also had two old time white builders going on about how bikers were never prejudiced. It was interesting to find out that the guy who built the custom bikes for Easy Rider was black - and for that reason he is still pretty much unknown amongst the motorcycle community. __________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create

03-07-2006, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
azoazc Kickstand Operator Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 259	He actually built bikes for himself and customers. Easy Rider just takes pictures of the bikes. The bike aren't built specifically for them. Also found the racism thing funny. Those two old white guys saying that they weren't prejudiced!! C'mon! Any "non-predjudiced" people here refer to black people as "colored" still? __________________ www.banditalley.com www.wnysportriders.org If water feels like concrete at 100MPH, what does concrete feel like? WEAR YOUR GEAR!!!! Edited by ME

03-07-2006, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
MagnumForce Throttle Jockey Joined: May 2005 Bike: 05 M50, 06 CBR600F4i Location: Sitting on the can... duh! Posts: 3,160	How sad really that one cannot be given credit for helping to launch a cultural phenomenom because of his race. I sure hope this oversight is corrected. __________________ "I love the smell of toner in the morning… it's the smell of victory!" MAJ M, Staff Officer

03-08-2006, 10:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
sunny Leaned over, knee down Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 suzuki savage, '90 honda shadow, '75 kh400, and a broom Location: fort worthless Posts: 4,678	it has to do with hatred. and dehumanizing those who appear different. i grew up in a very racist family, but i was blessed by being born and reared in southern california. the neighborhood and the elementary school had more influence on me than my family did. i've done everything i could to pass those higher ideals on to my kids. __________________ "blah blah blah, the world revolves around me, blah blah blah, your perception of events can't possibly be valid, blah blah blah, i wasn't there but i know everything about everything, blah blah blah." - 95% of the male population. you WISH this post was brought to you by rum.

03-08-2006, 10:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
Uechi Kid Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 04 M95, Yamaha VStar 650 Location: Antioch, Ca. Posts: 733	I saw it. Thought it was good eve though I'm not a JJ fan. Good history leason. __________________ "Carpe Diem"

03-07-2006, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
monica Want's a Cute Title " Teddy Bear Hugger" Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 01 sv650s Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 68	ignorant old people maybe?

03-09-2006, 02:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
farmbone Fender Buffer Joined: May 2005 Bike: M50 Blk Location: South Bend , IN Posts: 429	I saw the show. It was preety good. What was the name of the guy that built the bike? Benjamin hardy? I tried to find it on the internet and had no luck. There is more prejudice here in the north than I ever have experience in the South.

03-09-2006, 03:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Uncle Bob Site Admin & Squeegee Boy Joined: Dec 1969 Bike: 2003 Volusia SE Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada Posts: 107	As far as the "racist" symbols, I was under the impression that the motorcycle boom created by the return of G.I's from WWII started the fad of displaying "War Trophies" on their bikes. All the german helmets and other insignia were worn not to show allegiance to the nazi's but rather as trophies that showed you had eliminated one or two. __________________ Yadda yadda yadda, whatever, they ain't going to listen anyway.

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