Speaking with others in the industry, the after-thought of introducing the 2010 Bear Bones Chopper 250 mm at $19,500 is a recipe for disaster…Take a minute…You think about it…2009 Venom 250 mm Chopper Satin Black with SS 100 SMOOTH at $30,900…what do you think of the base models minor differences?  Are they justified at $11,400 apart for two models that are both 250mm Choppers with one color paint and polished finsihes?

What will these pricing differentials do to Kelly Blue Book and NADA Guides retail and trade-in values…thousands of previous buyers have paid a premium for the Big Bear Choppers kit bikes, builds and , of course, other models, too, that are nearly identical to the Bear Bones when speced-out with the exception of an engine mod or paint and finishes?

If you are one of Big Bear Choppers owners or dealers…would you be thoroughly pissed?  Would you cancel your dealership agreement or try to dump out of your bike?  Would you drop the pricing on the floor models, clear the floor and bring in another manufacturer?

Ask any successful manufacturer and/or retail business owner and they will tell you that Big Bear Choppers apparently does not have a very astute business plan in mind and just may be desperately seeking $$$$$ to stay afloat based on this move with the Bear Bones model.

Remember the mass frame recall and the ongoing alleged product liability with the amputee in NY?

Manufacturer: BIG BEAR AMERICAN MADE CHOPPERS, INC

Component: STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected: 1,152

Summary: Big Bear Choppers is recalling certain model years 2004-2006 Devil’s Advocate Choppers, Sled Choppers, Venom Choppers, Devil’s Advocate ProStreet, Sled ProStreet, and Venom ProStreet Motorcycles.

Some Motorcycles may have inadequate weld penetration between the neck, backbone and down-tubes of the frame.  High loads created when riding on rough road surfaces, structural modification made to te frame by owners, and/or failure to maintain the specified torque setting of the top motor mount may cause the affected welds to crack.

Consequence: The welded area could break without warning resulting in neck separation and front-end collapse.  This could result in a crash.

Remedy: Dealer will inspect and maintain the proper torque of the top motor mount or modify the frame as necessary.  The recall began on March 26, 2008.  Big Bear has additional makes, models and model years.  Additional owner letters will be mailed beginning December 18, 2008.   Owners may contact Big Bear Choppers at 909-878-4340.

Notes: Big Bear Choppers Recall No. 1B9/631.

Owners affected by the recall may contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

Manufacturer’ Report Date: MAR 20, 2008

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 08V129000

Frustrated BBC Owner Dec 3rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm

As an owner of one of BBC’s POS bikes on the NHTSA recall list and am unable to find a BBC dealer anywhere within reasonable transport distance (more than 500 miles) that will do the recall I’m very pissed off at BBC and their whole handling of this issue! I now have a $30,000.00 bike that I can’t sell, ride or get fixed! Even if I could get the neck issue fixed there is ample evidence that suggests that many other welds on the frame are also faulty!
I’m inclined to agree with Boss Hawg’s statements on the whole thing and would add that the suit back in NY with the amputee was settled for $1.5 million against BBC. I know of at least 3 other suits that are pending for varying issues including the one that started whole recall. Why anyone would even consider buying a BBC now is beyond me after seeing how they have treated their loyal customer base by basically throwing them under a bus!
For you BBC well wishers I would like to point out some facts that may change your minds on supporting them. If any of you have followed the ongoing battle over at ClubChopper on the subject you might want to reread it from start to finish. The gentlemen who started the thread (I’ll use his handle initials) LL was almost immediately attacked by BBC and BBC tried to use him as a scapegoat for their screw up! BBC even sent all of us owner letters saying that LL was responsible for the failure and listed a bunch of BS reasons. Then when the NHTSA got involved things changed but BBC still to this day is denying (publically) that their welding was the cause even after admitting it in documents they sent to the NHTSA!
One last thing, BBC did deliberately and willfully withhold the little fact that there was a neck failure BEFORE this LL had his in the first documents sent to the NHTSA! So the entire time that LL was getting blasted by BBC they never revealed that they already knew they had a weld problem and chose to do nothing about it until LL filed a complaint with the NHTSA and other owners pushed for a more exhaustive investigation. BBC put a lot of riders and other innocent people at risk just for the sake of money! If that’s the kind of company you want to support I’m glad you’re not on my team! If BBC does go under it will be a good thing for the semi-custom motorcycle market in my opinion!

One must assume that it depends on how deep the pockets of Big Bear Choppers are now and how much Big Bear Choppers may lose if the Bear Bones does not stimulate additional buyers?

Oh…but what if the Big Bear Choppers frame recall (Potential Number of Units Affected: 1152 above) keeps growing as it has from the first reported and lawsuits keep piling on like the one in New York with the amputee?

Do you think the Bear Bones Chopper may ever generate enough do-re-mi to keep the company afloat and their buyer base happy…?

Should we smell the roses and be on the look-out for what is known as crash & burn soon….Tell us, do you think Big Bear Choppers is really “Rethinking, Revising and Reinventing the Premium American Motorcycle” ?

Boss Hawg