Orange County Choppers and Ducati

I tell ya guys, the future for Ducs is in fishtail mufflers. Aaah chrome pipes. Now we have a source for skulls, wolves, lowering kits and chrome pipes.

Ducati NA sees the feeding frenzy of the twice per season tv splash of some signage in the store. Woo hoo! Watch for the episode where fat Mikey dumps a 1198 off the stand. You know it's coming. Then the obviously forthcoming episode where Paulie stands there blankly staring at a classic and a girder front end for 20 minutes with plasma cutter in hand.

In a flurry of blue words the franchise will be gone in two years as Big Dufus will get sick of the ducs and the specialized overhead and talents needed. Prices will be rock bottom to move the stuff while Duc sales at OCC simultaneously flatline. Duc riders would rather not be associated with the choppah mentality and the ribbing they will get. "You bought your bike where?"

Look for the OCC custom clutch cover and chrome wheel blowout sale on ebay next year.
 
Guys,

IMO, all this, "Sportbike vs. Cruiser," stuff is elitist horsehockey that demeans us all. Some of us, (and I include myself on this list), like choppers. I love 'em. I think they're beautiful. And I think they sound cool. And when I have enough money to buy yet another motorcycle, I may very well buy one, (and a GoldWing and another dirtbike and a Boxer and a Vespa,...but that's another story).

Hey, if it's got two wheels, I love it. Bikes are cool. Period. And while my heart belongs to Italian sportbikes, I can appreciate cruisers, choppers, scooters, whatever.

Btw, the tri-state DesmoDucati Club has their annual picnic up there in Orange County, so maybe they'll join forces with OCC. Stanger things have happened!

Elton
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. The good and the bad

I knew posting this would get some backlash due to the TV show and how most perceive OCC. The custom Monster is a one off type thing and while I can't really say much yet about what is being done to it, I can assure you it is not going to be as over the top as some of our theme choppers have been. A majority of the work has been stripping the bike down to get some things powder coated and the rest are parts out of Ducati's parts catalog.

Again, I am a sportbike guy. I own a R6 with over 25,000 miles on it with 15 track days contributing to those miles. I just picked up a Yamaha WR250X Supermoto which is a blast to ride around here in the twisties. Point being, I am really excited to have us selling Ducati's cause we really do have a nice dealership facility and I really think having Ducati here will be a great venture. If all goes well, I would really like to have Ducati Owners and sportbikes in general gathering here, rider meeting spots to go check out some of the nice roads around this area, MotoGP/WSB race viewings. We have a Hilton hotel right next door as well. So it really is a good place to have meets and gatherings. Add to the fact that we are now selling Ducati's, and I think it will be a good pairing. Now I just have to figure out a way to get Nicky Hayden here to do some autograph signings or something

-Eric
 
Flaming aside I too do like choppers, but those in the vein of a Roger Goldammer creation, where everytime he does something I'm stunned with "how the hell did he ever think of that". OCC's style of customizing has for the most part been the same generic long raked frame, the same S&S type motor and then just a bunch of waterjet pieces added on, pretty much like watching an Xmas tree getting decorated. Ducati mentatlity is pretty much the opposite of this, where it's all about getting lighter, better handling, more power first and in doing so making it as visually appealing as possible.

The TV show would be the other source of flack. Most of us who are into Ducati's are also very interested in the mechanics behind the bike, and where our interest to the show may have been initially to watching a craftsman apply his vision and skills it's now mostly about the drama. Most women I know love the show, "ohh, Pauly did this, Mikey did that, and that bike is pretty, even if I don't know how it works".

I guess time will tell how this works out for them, I'm just dreading seeing a maltese cross on a duc or some hillbilly wearing the Ducati corse over Confederate flag Gitter Done Nicky Tshirt.
 
I will definitely stop by one day. Not into the autograph signing thing, but if you have comfortable chairs to rest on, and offer drinks and food I will drag a few friends with me from NYC.

We may even buy a t-shirt.
 
Don't worry rap, they're working on a series of right and left hand Ducati hammers ranging up to 16 pounds. Chromed of course with the Duc and OCC logos lasered into the heads. A skull embossed striking surface is extra.
 
I can appreciate that, good luck with the dealership.


As for the rest of you degenerates ..... FWIW as a former HD owner and mechanic I'm with Elton on this one.
 
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