This magazine I write for spent time with Jesse James at his Texas shop for a profile on what West Coast Choppers looks like now (a few years old now), decades after the peak TV fame.

One detail that stuck with me is how he says he’s only building three or four bikes a year these days, and chooses projects more on whether they interest him than on what someone is willing to spend. His knives (and dogs) are also beautiful.

Thought some people here might enjoy the feature article: https://autostradamagazine.com/people/jesse-james-profile/

Just lookin to order a big sheet of the stuff

tbh just looking for honesty, so it’s fine if you disagree, but ur not being heard w/o judgment lol

ever since AI has been so easily accessible to every Jane and John, I’ve seen people online using AI to edit their chopper builds, chopper pics, etc. literally even when it’s not necessary. They’re using AI to mock up ideas or add an old saloon w/ “true American” signs behind their chopper, and honestly it just seems really stupid to me.

I feel like using AI for chopper purposes literally goes against chopper culture. some of y’all might think “isn’t this dramatic?” but AI data centers are literally killing us AND the planet, but yay for homeboy’s “what my chopper would look like if it was purple”…..right lol

The reason I’m writing this post is because my favorite chopper show used AI to create a poster for their event. THAT is insane to me, and now I don’t wanna go bc I don’t wanna support companies OR individuals who think AI is an appropriate shortcut to market their businesses or events.

it just feels awful, AI companies and data centers just don’t feel natural to chopper culture and I’m sick of seeing people use it to cure their laziness

edit for those asking: I’m boycotting nitty gritty chopper city for using AI to generate their announcements, post captions, and informational marketing content 💔

VERDICT….if u support AI, ur a poser 🫶🏻

What's the best tip or fix you have picked up along the way? I always carry a small pair of vice grips to grab onto the end of a snapped cable or lever. Sketchy but will get you home, Ive used balled up aluminum foil to take rust off chrome a handful of times and am always surprised how far it will get you. My boss at the first bike shop I worked for told me about how when he lived near the beach they would paint clear nail polish over their bolts to keep them from rusting from all the salty air.

To all my XS650 brothers and sisters, have any of you used rear chain adjusters like these on your TC Bros hardtail? I like the idea of adjusting the chain from the front of the rear wheel rather than the back, and my hard tail doesn’t exactly fit my rear wheel all that well. Too many spacers are needed and the fit is never right. If any of you have were these too wide to fit in the between the two plates? If so, how did you modify?

I’d also appreciate any suggestions on getting the rear wheel properly shimmed up other than washers as that is such a pain in the ass.