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Narrator: PUERTO RICO, TROPICAL ISLAND OF SAND AND SURF.
NOW THE BATTLEGROUND FOR THE ULTIMATE MOTORCYCLE FACE-OFF.
FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE KING OF CHOP, ARLEN NESS,
AN EXPERT OF INNOVATION, NOT IMITATION.
FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ROLAND SANDS,
A YOUNG MAVERICK WHO DEFIES THE RULES OF THE ROAD.
THEY HAVE JUST 10 DAYS TO DESIGN, FABRICATE,
AND ASSEMBLE THE ULTIMATE ROAD WARRIORS.
THEN IT'S OFF TO PUERTO RICO,
WHERE THE REAL CHALLENGE BEGINS --
500 MILES OF NONSTOP, OPEN ROAD...
...FOLLOWED BY THE FINAL SHOWDOWN
AT PUERTO RICO BIKE WEEK,
WHERE THE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE BETWEEN THE REBEL GENIUS
OR THE REIGNING PATRIARCH OF CHOP.
TWO BUILDERS, 10 DAYS, ONE BIKE BUILD-OFF CHAMPION.
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA,
LIFELONG STOMPING GROUND FOR YOUNG GUN ROLAND SANDS.
ROLAND CUT HIS TEETH ON THE AMA SUPER-BIKE CIRCUIT.
NOW HE'S CHIEF DESIGNER AT PERFORMANCE MACHINE,
THE FAMILY'S MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR AFTERMARKET BUSINESS.
ROLAND'S GROUNDBREAKING CREATIONS ARE HYBRIDS,
A FRENZIED COMBINATION OF CLASSIC HARLEY
AND REBEL-ROUSING SUPER BIKES.
DAY ONE AT PERFORMANCE MACHINE.
SOME BUILDERS START WITH A FRAME,
BUT ROLAND'S GOT OTHER IDEAS.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO THE JUNKYARD,
AND WE'RE GONNA GO GET OUR BIKE.
AND WE HAVE TO CUT IT UP.
WE GOT TO GET THERE QUICK, TOO.
THE GUY'S ABOUT -- HE'S ABOUT TO CLOSE, SO...
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
Narrator: WHAT BETTER PLACE TO FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
THAN THE MOTORCYCLE GRAVEYARD?
I'M LOOKING FOR A LATE MODEL --
A LATE MODEL TWIN CAM, A CRASHED ONE.
IT CAN HAVE NECK DAMAGE OR FRAME DAMAGE,
BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA CHOP THE FRAME UP ANYWAYS.
BUT SOMETHING WITH GOOD CASES THAT ARE INTACT,
NOT CRACKED -- GOOD BARRELS.
SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH, LIKE A GOOD STARTING POINT.
[ HORN HONKING ]
OH, MY GOD.
DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD THAT HURT?
HEY, WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE?
THERE YOU GO.
IS IT A TWIN CAM?
IT'S A TWIN CAM -- DEFINITELY A TWIN CAM.
AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS --
666.
OHH!
LET'S PUSH IT OUT AND LOOK AT IT.
IT'S A SIGN.
OH [BLEEP]
I GOT TO PUT THE KICKSTAND DOWN THIS TIME.
I THINK THIS IS IT. YEAH, WE GOT IT.
WE DEFINITELY GOT A STARTING POINT.
ALL RIGHT. COOL.
NOW WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE SHOP,
AND WE'RE GONNA TEAR THIS THING APART AND GET READY TO BUILD.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
OH! WHO FORGOT TO PUT THE TIE-DOWN STRAP ON THE BIKE?
Narrator: ROLAND'S SALVAGING JUST THE FRAME AND THE ENGINE.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUNK.
HE'S ENLISTED THE HELP OF METAL MADMAN JOHNNY CHOP.
HE CALLED ME UP AND SAYS, "YO, MAN.
I NEED YOU TO HELP ME MAKE A GAS TANK."
SO HERE I AM -- CAME OVER TO HELP HIM OUT --
CAME OVER TO POINT AND LAUGH, ACTUALLY,
BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT I CAN O IN THE MEANTIME.
THE TITLE, THE FRAME, AND THE MOTOR --
THAT'S ALL WE WANT. FROM THIS THING.
Narrator: ROLAND'S VISION STARTS ON PAPER.
THIS BIKE'S GONNA BE LIKE A CROSS
BETWEEN A SPORT BIKE AND A HARLEY.
IT'S LIKE THE BLENDING OF THE TWO TOGETHER.
THE FRAME'S GONNA BE STOCK FROM HERE TO HERE.
AND THE NECK WILL BE STOCK, BUT WE'RE GONNA CHOP THE NECK.
AND WE'RE GONNA DROP THE NECK DOWN,
PROBABLY AN INCH AND A HALF AND RAKE IT OUT TO 35 DEGREES.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA CHOP IT AND DROP IT.
Narrator: 500 MILES NORTH,
UP THE RUGGED CALIFORNIA COAST...
...LIVES THE MONARCH OF CHOP, ARLEN NESS.
SINCE 1967, HIS WICKED MACHINES HAVE DEFINED THE CHOPPER REALM.
IN HIS LAST BUILD-OFF,
ARLEN LOST THE TITLE TO SON CORY.
THIS TIME HE'LL TAKE NO PRISONERS,
AND A ROOKIE FROM SO-CAL IS NOT GOING TO STEAL HIS THUNDER.
DAY ONE -- ARLEN HAS SUMMONED
HIS LONGTIME FABRICATOR, BOB MUNROE.
SINCE ABOUT 1971, I'VE BEEN DOING STUFF FOR ARLEN.
I MEAN, HE'S THE GUY. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE KNOW HIM.
I WORK ON HIS STUFF, SO YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF PRIDE THERE.
Narrator: UNLIKE ROLAND,
ARLEN'S COMING OUT OF THE GATE FULL THROTTLE,
WITH AN INSANE, NEWLY ENGINEERED RIGID FRAME.
THIS IS OUR NEW FRAME PROTOTYPE,
AND WE'RE GONNA USE IT FOR THE BUILD-OFF.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS FRAME AND THE WAY WE DID IT
IS THE MOTOR IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED.
YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING DOWN ON EVERYTHING.
YOU SEE -- YOU SEE EVERYTHING,
WHERE NORMALLY A GAS TANK WOULD HIDE A LOT OF THAT.
Narrator: FROM ABOVE THIS LOWRIDER,
YOU WILL GET A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW AT A SUPERCHARGED 145-CUBIC-INCH
"S" AND "S" MOTOR WITH OVERHEAD CAMS.
YEAH, ONE THING ABOUT THIS FRAME
AND THE WAY WITH THIS OVERHEAD CAM, WE HAVE TO GET,
EVEN WHEN WE GO TO DO THE FINAL ASSEMBLY,
WE HAVE TO ASSEMBLE THE MOTOR IN THE FRAME.
Narrator: THE HEADS OF THE MOTOR WILL BE ABOVE THE BACKBONE,
GIVING A LEAN, MEAN LOOK
THAT THIS HEADMASTER HAS DUBBED "THE TOP BANANA."
IT'S GONNA BE LONG AND LOW AND SLEEK.
YOU COULD CALL IT PRETTY ZOOMY.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, BACK IN SUNNY SO-CAL,
THEY'VE RIPPED OUT THE ENGINE FROM THE STOCK HARLEY
AND CALLED IN THE CAVALRY TO REVAMP IT.
WINK ELLER.
HOW YOU DOING, ROLAND?
GOOD, MAN. HOW YOU DOING?
LOOK GOOD.
Narrator: LEGENDARY ENGINE MAN WINK ELLER
HAS BEEN IN THE GAME FOR OVER 25 YEARS,
REBUILDING MOTORS AND RIDING HARD.
WINK'S BEEN GOING FAST ON A MOTORCYCLE
SINCE, WELL, I THINK, BEFORE I WAS BORN.
WE'RE GONNA STAY WITH A SMALL CC.
WE'RE GONNA GO, WHAT, 95 CUBIC INCH ON IT?
95 INCH. WE'LL LEAVE THE STOCK STROKE IN IT.
AND IT'LL BE A GOOD RPM MOTOR, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: IN THIS GARAGE,
IT'S OLD SCHOOL AND THE NEW GENERATION
JAMMING SIDE BY SIDE TO GET THIS BIKE DONE.
NEXT UP, THE GAS TANK.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO THERE YET --
IF WE'RE GONNA DISH IT IN.
WELL, I-I'M PRETTY -- THAT'S WHY YOU CALLED ME, RIGHT?
BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TO LOOK GOOD?
[BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
I CALLED YOU 'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TIME
EXACTLY.
Narrator: HIS VISION -- A ONE-OFF TANK TOP.
WITH THE "C" AND "C" MACHINE,
ROLAND'S SCULPTING A PIECE OF ART
THAT WILL TAKE OVER TWO DAYS TO COMPLETE.
THE RESULT --
A GLEAMING, BILLETED TANK SHIELD WORTHY OF ANY WARRIOR.
YEAH, PERFECT.
HIGH FROM THE FRONT. THAT'S FRONT TO BACK.
THAT'S GONNA LOOK AWESOME, DUDE. YEAH, LET'S GO RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: ROLAND'S GOING HIGH TECH IN HIS TANK DESIGN,
WHILE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ARLEN'S STAYING OLD SCHOOL.
WELL, THESE ARE THE PATTERNS FOR THE GAS TANKS.
AND WE'RE GONNA CUT THE BACKING OUT,
THE BACK OF THE TANK OUT OF THIS 16-GAUGE COLD-ROLLED SHEET.
Narrator: ARLEN'S DESIGNED A DUAL-TANK SYSTEM
THAT WILL FLANK THE EXPOSED ENGINE.
A SURPLUS OF '70s-STYLE BOBBER TANKS HELP WITH THE FAB.
WE'RE GONNA USE THE FRONT OF THESE TANK HALS
FOR THE ROUNDED SECTION.
Narrator: LONG BEACH, DAY TWO.
NO CAFFEINE KICK START, JUST SHEER ADRENALINE.
YEAH, I GET TO GIVE YOU A RIDE AFTER THIS.
Woman: ROLAND, ARE YOU GONNA TRUST JOHNNY WITH YOUR LIFE?
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT'S 300 DOLLARS' WORTH OF GOOD FUN RIGHT THERE.
IT'S TIME TO PUT THE MOTORCYCLES AWAY, I THINK.
YEAH, LET'S DO SOME WORK. WE BOTH CRASHED.
Narrator: BACK INSIDE, THE FUN IS OVER.
I'M THINKING THIS TAIL SECTION'S GONNA BE A PAIN IN THE AS.
Narrator: ROLAND GOES TO HIS RACING ROOTS FOR THIS TAILPIECEI
FROM THE DRAWING,
I'M JUST IMAGINING A KIND OF A SIMPLE SHAPE.
IT'S GONNA COME BACK LIKE THAT.
I'VE JUST NEVER MADE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
I MEAN, I'VE DONE REAR FENDERS --
REAR-FENDER TAIL SECTIONS, WHERE I CAN COME OVER THE TIRE,
BUT I'VE NEVER MADE A RAISED-UP TAIL SECTION BEFORE.
IT'S KIND OF A SCARY PIECE TO DO, YOU KNOW?
IT'S GONNA MAKE OR BREAK THE BIKE AT THIS POINT, I THINK.
Narrator: BUT GETTING HIS VISION OFF THE PAPER AND INTO A BIKE
PROVES TO BE A LOT HARDER THAN HE IMAGINED.
WE WANT TO HAVE AN AIR GAP IN HERE --
THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE TAIL-SECTION THING.
I'M TRYING TO VISUALIZE A LINE THAT'S GONNA WORK FOR THAT.
BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THAT IS,
IT'S LIKE KIND OF ARCHING WAY DOWN HERE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA WORK.
OH, THIS IS STRESSING ME OUT.
Narrator: THE PRESSURE IS ON IN LONG BEACH.
BACK UP NORTH, IT'S EASY STREET FOR THE VETERANS,
AND BOB FINISHES THE TANKS.
AND WHAT DOES ARLEN THINK OF THE DUAL TANKS?
Ness: YEAH, THE GAS TANKS ARE COMING OUT KILLER.
GOT THE RIGHT LOOK. PLENTY ZOOMY.
Narrator: MODEL CLAY HELPS DETERMINE
JUST HOW CLOSE THE FENDER WILL HUG THE 300 REAR TIRE.
IT STICKS TO THE FENDER WHEN YOU GO TAKE THE FENDER OFF.
LET'S TRY THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S IDEAL.
AND IT'S GETTING HARDER --
YOU CAN'T JUST GO UP TO THE THRIFTY
AND BUY MODELING CLAY ANYMORE, YOU KNOW.
I GUESS MAYBE KIDS WERE EATING IT OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?
YOU PROBABLY CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
BOY, THAT FITS PRETTY GOOD, ARLEN.
YEAH.
Narrator: DEEP IN THOUGHT,
ARLEN WELDS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FENDER.
HEY, ARLEN! ARLEN!
YOU'RE BURNING THE...
THE TIRE?
IT'S PROBABLY JUST THE CLAY, BUT IT COULD BE THE TIRE.
IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL,
HE COULD END UP WITH ONE WELL-DONE REAR TIRE.
IT'S NOT BEYOND RUNNING.
YEAH.
EVEN THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS MAKE MISTAKES.
BACK IN LONG BEACH, THE *** KID HAS A STROKE OF GENIUS.
OH, DUDE, THAT'S KIND OF COOL.
I THINK THIS IS GONNA WORK,
BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY MIMICKING THE GAS-TANK SHAPE, YEAH.
THAT LOOKS KIND OF SICK.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
THIS IS A STRUCTURAL TIE-IN, AND IT'S ALSO GONNA HELP US
GET THE SHAPE OF THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT.
Narrator: THE REST OF DAY THREE
IS SPENT GRINDING OUT THE DEVIL'S TAIL...
...PLUS A TRICKED-OUT EXTRA FROM WINK.
Sands: WINK BENT UP
SOME REALLY COOL PERFORATED VENTS ON THE SIDE --
SOME STAINLESS-STEEL WIRE VENTS.
IT'S GONNA ALLOW US TO GET COOLING IN THROUGH OUR BATTERY.
IT MAINLY JUST LOOKS COOL.
THAT'S AWESOME.
Narrator: WITH THE CLOCK TICKING,
ROLAND'S GOT ONLY ONE CONCERN.
Sands: THE ONLY THING I HAVE IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW
IS IF JOHNNY'S GONNA FINISH THE GAS TANK BECAUSE,
AS YOU CAN SEE...
JOHNNY'S OVER THERE SMOKING A CIGARETTE.
JOHNNY'S DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST.
HE'S BULL[BLEEP]
[ ROOSTER CROWS ]
Narrator: EARLY MORNING, DAY FOUR.
WITH THIS MASSIVE 145-CUBIC-INCH "S" AND "S" MOTOR,
THERE ARE PROBLEMS.
CAN YOU SEE UP HERE? SEE HOW TIGHT WE ARE TO HERE?
FOR THAT SIZE TUBING, IT'S HARD TO GET OUT OF THERE
BECAUSE THE RADIUS ISN'T TIGHT ENOUGH.
CAN YOU COME OUT AND COME DOWN?
THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE DRAWING IS.
DESIGN IS ONE THING. FABRICATION IS ANOTHER.
PROBABLY HAVE TO COME THROUGH THERE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
COME OUT THERE.
THAT WOULD -- THAT WON'T WORK.
YEAH, YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO COME THROUGH.
Narrator: WITH 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THEM,
THESE TWO NEVER LOSE THEIR COOL.
POLISH AND SHOP DO THAT. THAT LOOKS GOOD.
THE FRONT PIPE WAS THE HARDEST
BECAUSE OF THE REAL SHARP BEND UP THERE,
BUT I THINK HE DID THAT IN A LITTLE OVER 15 MINUTES.
Narrator: WHILE THE SIDEKICK DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING,
THE BOSS HAS TIME TO DREAM UP ANOTHER NESS CREATION.
WHAT WAS THAT, ARLEN?
YEAH, GIVE ME A CALL WHEN THE PIPES GET DONE.
I'LL COME TAKE A LOOK.
WELL, I MIGHT GET THEM DONE BEFORE HE GOES TO SLEEP.
Narrator: THEY'RE SITTING PRETTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA,
BUT IN SO-CAL, THERE'S NO TIME FOR KICKING BACK.
THIS IS THE LIST OF STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NOTHING CROSSED OFF FROM YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I PUNCHED JOHNNY, SO WE CAN CROSS THAT OFF.
Narrator: AT THE END OF DAY FOUR,
THE BARS HAVE FINALLY COME TOGETHER.
THEY'VE GOT SORT OF A DROOP LOOK TO THEM.
I THINK IT WILL SORT OF FIT THE RETRO-RACER LOOK QUITE A BIT.
THEY'RE ABOUT DONE.
Narrator: WITH ONE DAY LEFT FOR FAB,
ROLAND IS FEELING THE PRESSURE.
Sands: I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA BE DONE.
I STARTED LOSING IT AT ABOUT 10:00 AT NIGHT, THOUGH.
LIKE, ALL MY -- I THINK MY CREATIVITY DISAPPEARS.
MY...MY MACHINING SKILLS FAIL.
I CAN'T BEND METAL.
IT JUST -- THAT'S HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A MASK ON, AND I CAN'T SEE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: IT'S THE LAST DAY OF FABRICATION,
AND BOB LAYS DOWN THE LAW ABOUT THE FINAL ORDER OF BUSINESS.
YOU GOT THE TWO CARBURETORS STICKING OUT HERE.
THAT'LL PROBABLY BE IT.
KEEPING WITH THE DUAL THEME,
ARLEN INSTALLS TWO "S" AND "S" SUPER "E" CARBS
OUT OF THE BLOWER.
I MEAN, IS THAT OKAY IF THAT'S LIKE THAT?
YEAH, THAT'S WHERE I'D LIKE IT.
GOOD, SO I GOT PLENTY HERE.
THAT'S CUTTING THAT ANGLE ON THAT PIECE OF TUBING
SO WE CAN PUT THESE ON THE BLOWER FOR THE CARBURETORS.
CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THE GIRLS WE RUN WITH.
Narrator: WITH THE FINAL SCREWS IN AND PLENTY OF TIME TO SPARE,
ARLEN AND BOB HAVE FABRICATED
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL STEEL PREDATORS EVER BUILT.
NOW, WE CAN TURN THIS WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU WANT.
WELL, SUN'S AT THE BACK. THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THEY WANT.
HOW DO WE LOOK?
NOW, DON'T TIE ME UP.
WHOO!
BOY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING FAST RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO HERE,
SO LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO, ROLAND.
Narrator: LATE ON DAY FIVE IN LONG BEACH.
ROLAND AND CREW MUST GET THE FAB DONE TONIGHT,
OR THEIR WHOLE SCHEDULE WILL BE SHOT.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET IT DONE.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, YOU JUST DO IT.
Narrator: FINALLY, JOHNNY CHOP GETS HIS TANK INTO SHAPE.
THIS WILL BE THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE CARBURETOR,
AS OPPOSED TO HAVING JUST AN AIR FILTER DOWN HERE
OR A VELOCITY STACK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO DRAW THE AIR INTO THE CARBURETOR.
SO IT WILL ESSENTIALLY GO THROUGH THE TANK
AND DOWN IN THE CARBURETOR.
Narrator: "BIKER BUILD-OFF" ROYALTY DROPS BY
TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST BIKE BUILDER,
MATT HOTCH, IS IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: SO HOW DOES MATT HANDLE HIS BUILD-OFF DEADLINES?
YEAH, START BENDING [BLEEP]
TRIAL AND ERROR.
TRIAL AND ERROR.
MAKE IT, YOU DON'T LIKE IT, CUT IT OFF.
BEST WAY TO DO IT.
AND IN THE WEE HOURS, THE BIKE IS COMING TOGETHER.
PUT PEGS ON IT.
THROWING THE CHAIN ON IT.
WE HAVE A BIKE.
WE HAVE A BIKE. [ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
YOU TAKE THIS THING OFF THE STAND,
JUST GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT IT, IT'S EXCITING.
DUDE, I'VE NEVER SAT ON A HARLEY LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE.
THIS THING'S READY FOR PAINT.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR A COMMERCIAL.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.
***-KID PAINTER CHRIS WOODS OF AIR TRIX
IS TURNING ROLAND'S STEEL DRAGON INTO A MASTERPIECE.
I AM SANDING THE INNER COAT CLEAR.
AND WE DO THAT SO THAT WHEN WE SPRAY THE CANDY ON THERE,
IT WON'T PUDDLE UP INSIDE THE METAL FLAKE.
Narrator: WITH THE SILVER DOWN, CHRIS UPS THE ANTE
BY ENGINE-TURNING THE 24-KARAT GOLD LEAF.
Woods: THE GOLD LEAF I USE, IT'S VERY, VERY THIN.
YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO TURN IT.
IT'S A PERFECT TIME TO TURN THE GOLD.
Narrator: BUT TO REALLY MAKE THIS PREDATOR SHINE,
THE AIR TRIX CREW IS HITTING IT WITH CANDY-APPLE RED.
Woods: THIS RED IS 75% JUST STRAIGHT CANDY-APPLE RED,
AND WE PUT A LITTLE VIOLET, GIVE IT A LITTLE --
LIKE, A LITTLE BLUISH TINT TO IT.
CANDY'S VERY DIFFICULT.
YOU CAN'T REMOVE. YOU CAN ONLY ADD PAINT.
Narrator: IT TAKES TIME TO MIX THE PERFECT COLOR.
BUT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT'S ALREADY IN THE CAN.
THAT'S ARLEN YELLOW.
I GUESS THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU CAN CALL IT.
THAT'S HIS CUSTOM MIX, SO...
IT'S A POLYESTER BASE COAT, SO IT ACTUALLY HAS
THE SAME TRADITIONAL ASPECTS OF A BASE COAT.
IT DRIES IN FIVE TO 10 MINUTES REALLY FLAT
SO THAT THE TECHNICIANS WHO COME BACK
CAN TAPE THEIR GRAPHICS OFF RATHER QUICK.
Narrator: WHEN IT COMES TO ARLEN'S PAINT,
THERE'S ONLY ONE MAN FOR THE JOB -- HIM.
THE COLOR LOOKS KILLER.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED,
SO PRETTY NICE TO EVEN HAVE A COLOR NAMED AFTER YOU, HUH?
Narrator: DOWN SOUTH, ROLAND HAS TO GET TO SANTA BARBARA
TO CHECK UP ON THE PAINT.
HE CALLS ON HIS DAD, PERRY, FOR SOME HELP.
ABOUT AN HOUR?
I THINK WE HAVE
OUR QUICKEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE.
I JUST LEARNED HOW TO FLY IT, SO YOU GUYS BETTER HANG ON TIGHT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
FUN.
[ BEEPING ]
Narrator: SO HOW DID THIS YOUNG GUN
GET ON TOP OF THE WORLD?
BIKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN HIS BLOOD.
AT 19, HE EXPLODED ON THE SUPER-BIKE RACING CIRCUIT.
IN 1998, HE OBLITERATED THE COMPETITION
AND WON THE AMA GRAND PRIX.
Sands: I MEAN, I WAS A WRECK ALL THE TIME.
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, I TOOK IT SO SERIOUSLY,
AND IT WAS TOUGH ON ME -- LIKE, PHYSICALLY TOUGH.
AND I WOULD PARTY MY *** OFF, TOO,
SO I WOULD GET SICK WHEN I WAS RIDING.
Narrator: ROLAND LEFT HIS VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER BEHIND HIM
AND JOINED DAD PERRY IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
NOW ROLAND SPENDS HIS DAY
AS THE CHIEF DESIGNER FOR PERFORMANCE MACHINE.
FOR THE TOP BANANA, SPRAYING THE YELLOW WAS EAS.
NOW ONTO THE INTRICATE TANK GRAPHICS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAINT BOTH SIDES OF THE TANK,
INSIDE AND OUT ON BOTH TANKS, SO IT'LL BE DONE FOUR TIMES.
THIS WILL BE YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN.
THIS WILL BE THE OUTSIDE TANK DESIGN.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE GOING WITH.
IT WILL BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS AS FAR AS COLOR.
THE YELLOW THAT YOU SEE THAT'S EXPOSED RIGHT NOW,
THAT'S ALL GONNA BE A TRUE-BLUE PEARL COLOR.
I'M GONNA GIVE IT ITS HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS
AND TRY TO KEEP FROM SWEARING AS WE'RE DOING THIS.
WE'RE DOING GREAT.
THE ARTWORK AND STUFF'S ALMOST DONE,
SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST THROW SOME CLEAR ON IT TONIGHT,
AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL START ASSEMBLING TOMORROW MORNING.
Narrator: LATE THAT NIGHT,
ARLEN BRINGS THE FAMILY TOGETHER TO CONTEMPLATE HIS CHANCES.
MY HUSBAND'S THE KING. WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?
ARLEN CAN BEAT ROLAND HANDS DOWN.
I'M GLAD I'M NOT GOING UP AGAINST HIM.
SO HE'S ALREADY BEEN SPANKED ONCE,
AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE SPANKED AGAIN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ROLAND THAT MIGHT HELP HIM OUT?
YOU BETTER WATCH OUT,
'CAUSE THE BAD BOYS ARE COMING TO TOWN NOW.
Narrator: WHO'S DOING ALL THAT TRASH TALKING?
I'M A NESS, ALL RIGHT? REMEMBER THAT.
Narrator: AT AIR TRIX IN SANTA BARBARA,
ROLAND IS CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO SEE HIS BABY.
WHAT'S UP?
COME CHECK OUT YOUR TANK, BOY.
THERE'S YOUR TANK.
[ WHISTLES ] PERFECT.
Narrator: NO DISAPPOINTMENT HERE.
CHRIS IS THE BEST.
SEND HIM SOMETHING,
AND IT TURNS OUT EXACTLY HOW I PICTURED IT IN MY HEAD.
THAT THING HAS SO MUCH ATTITUDE, MAN.
Narrator: ROLAND'S FOUND A NAME FOR HIS RED-HOT BABE.
I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME OLD BIKER MOVIES I HAD.
THAT LOGO CAME FROM THAT MOVIE "THE GLORY STOMPERS."
AND I JUST TOOK "THE GLORY STOMPERS" LOGO,
SCANNED IT IN, REDID IT, KIND OF TWEAKED IT MYSELF,
AND THEN GAVE IT TO CHRIS.
AND CHRIS JUST, YEAH, LAID IT OUT.
Narrator: TO MAKE SURE THIS STEEL BEAST WILL NEVER BE TAMED,
ARLEN WILL ASSEMBLE A MOTOR
THAT'S BEYOND THE REALM OF CHOPPERDOM --
A 145-CUBIC-INCH "S" AND "S" SUPERCHARGED ENGINE
WITH OVERHEAD CAMS.
IT'S COMING UP WITH INNOVATIONS LIKE THIS
THAT KEEPS ARLEN'S LIFE RICH.
I KNOW I HAVE A COOL JOB. [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S GOOD TO BE ME.
Narrator: IT'S DAY NINE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA --
DO OR DIE FOR THIS YOUNG GUN'S BIKER BUILD-OFF.
A GNARLY FRAME IS BACK WITH A MIND-BLOWING,
POWDER-COATED CHROME FINISH.
WE GOT THE FRAME BACK.
WE'RE READY TO START PUTTING PARTS ON IT.
Narrator: NOW FOR THE HEART AND SOUL --
A 95-CUBIC-INCH EDELBROCK ENGINE RIPPED FROM A PILE OF RUBBLE
AND REVAMPED BY THE ENGINE WIZARD WINK ELLER.
Sands: THIS IS A TWIN CAM.
Narrator: EVEN EVERYDAY TASKS CAN BECOME TENSE
WHEN UNDER THE GUN.
DUDE, UM, WHAT -- WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT, DUDE.
YOU SHOULD -- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
DUDE, YOU SHOULD NEVER [BLEEP] POUND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ROLAND, DON'T [BLEEP] GET ON ME LIKE I'M A KID.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY [BLEEP] WHEELS I'VE PUT TOGETHER,
AND THEY ALL COME OUT FINE.
HEY, COME ON. CHILL.
DON'T DO THIS TO ME RIGHT NOW, MAN.
DUDE, I'M -- YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT.
I'M SORRY.
THE THING IS [BLEEP] COMPLETELY [BLEEP] CROOKED, OKAY?
I'M NOT GIVING YOU [BLEEP] ALL RIGHT? SORRY.
I DON'T MEAN TO GIVE YOU [BLEEP]
BUT DON'T DO THAT, DUDE. NOT NOW.
Narrator: HAMMERING AN AXLE INTO THE WHEELS
CAN SCREW UP THE BEARINGS.
I DON'T EVER USE HAMMERS ON WHEELS, DUDE, BUT...
Narrator: BUT ROLAND CAUGHT THE PROBLEM IN TIME.
WITH A NEW AXLE, HE GOES WITH A GENTLER METHOD.
ON DAY 10 OF THE BUILD,
ARLEN NESS IS PULLING EVERY TRICK OUT OF HIS HAT
AND PUTTING IT INTO HIS BIKE.
WITH A RIGID FRAME,
ARLEN'S GOING TO NEED SOME CUSHIONING FOR THE LONG HAUL.
FAMOUS SEAT MAKER DANNY GRAY.
I'M A PRETTY OLD GUY TO HAVE TO RIDE A RIGID.
WE NEED AN EASY SEAT WITH A LITTLE SPRINGS
AND PLENTY OF PADDING.
COIL SPRINGS ADD TO THE EXTRA CUSHION.
THE SPRING-LOADED SECTION OF THIS SEAT
THAT RIDES ON A BED OF SPRINGS GOING UP AND DOWN,
IT'S NOT A NEW INVENTION.
BUT IT'S REALLY NEW TO BE USED IN THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY.
Narrator: BUT WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THIS BIKE EXTRA SPECIAL?
THE GLUE -- THAT'S ACTUALLY MADE WITH ELEPHANT ***.
[ ELEPHANT TRUMPETS ]
[ LOCUSTS CHIRPING ]
IT'S REAL EXPENSIVE.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF ELEPHANTS.
IT'S THE GUY THAT GETS IT.
ARLEN ALWAYS HAS A WAY OF INVENTING SOMETHING NEW,
WHICH CHALLENGES ME.
ISN'T THAT COOL?
YEAH, I'M HAPPY WITH THIS. DON'T YOU THINK?
I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. IT'LL PASS.
Narrator: IT'S D-DAY BACK AT PERFORMANCE MACHINE.
TONIGHT THIS BIKE MUST BE LOADED ONTO THE TRUCK FOR PUERTO RICO.
I'M SO READY TO BE DONE WITH THIS BIKE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO BUILD THIS BIKE
IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE DID, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY.
IT'S ALL THERE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
IN HERE AND ADD AN INCH.
WHILE ROLAND IS OUT, THE CREW HITS A SNAG.
SHE'S A LITTLE CLOSE.
WHEN FABBING THE PIPES,
BRETT DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE CARBURETOR.
THE CARBURETOR'S IN THE WAY.
DIDN'T FIT THE THING UP WITH THE CARBURETOR ON IT,
UNFORTUNATELY -- ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
SO I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO ADD A PIECE OF TUBING HERE
TO EXTEND IT OUT TO MAKE IT FIT, TAKE UP THE GAP.
Narrator: AS SOON AS THE GUYS START THE ADJUSTMENT,
ROLAND COMES BACK.
THE EXHAUST DOESN'T FIT?
THE CARBURETOR'S IN THE WAY.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE,
BECAUSE IT FITS PERFECTLY ON THE PICTURE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: THE CREW MAY THINK IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES,
BUT FOR ROLAND, IT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS.
I'M [BLEEP] STRESSED.
I AM OFFICIALLY [BLEEP] STRESSED OUT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY? DON'T STRESS.
DON'T [BLEEP] WORRY ABOUT IT.
Narrator: BACK AT NESS HEADQUARTERS,
THE DEADLINE LOOMS AS THE GUESTS ARRIVE.
OUR DEADLINE -- OUR OWN DEADLINE THAT WE PUT ON IS 7:00,
SO, UH, WE'RE REAL CLOSE.
Narrator: BUT THEY CAN'T POP A CORK TILL THE BUILD IS COMPLETE.
GRAB THAT END.
YOU KNOW, THE ONLY TIME YOU WEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS
IS EITHER FOR A FUNERAL OR FOR A WEDDING.
IN MY CASE, SAME DEAL.
Narrator: ARLEN SWITCHES INTO MORE FORMAL ATTIRE.
WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES UNTIL 7:00 TO SEE IF WE CAN FIRE IT UP.
AND ANOTHER KING ARRIVES TO START HER UP.
WHERE'S ELVIS?
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: IT'S OPENING NIGHT FOR THE TOP BANANA...
...AND THE LEGEND HAS A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR THE SO-CAL KID.
ROLAND, YOU BETTER GET YOUR [BLEEP] TOGETHER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'M JUST CHILLING, KICKING BACK --
30 MINUTES TILL THIS THING IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
WE'RE GOLD.
WE'RE GOLD.
BRACKETS DOWN.
BRACKETS DOWN.
Narrator: THE PIPES GET CROSSED OFF THE LIST.
OH, NO!
BUT THERE'S STILL FITTING ISSUES.
THE AIR CLEANER DON'T FIT.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO? I'LL HACK THAT.
JUST CUT THE CORNER OFF.
IT'LL -- IT'LL WORK.
IT'S CRUNCH TIME.
SOMETIMES [BLEEP] LIKE THAT HAPPENS.
Narrator: DOWN TO THE FINAL TOUCHES.
GAS CAP'S ON -- GOT THE GAS CAP IN THERE.
IT'S JUST -- ***.
BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL!
I'M GOING HOME. MY JOB IS DONE HERE.
Narrator: THESE GUYS HAVE RIDDEN THE ROLLER COASTER
TO HELL AND BACK.
I'M TIRED AND I'M LONELY. [ LAUGHS ]
AND I NEED A HUG.
[ LAUGHS ] YOU LITTLE SPEED DEMON.
Narrator: WITH ONLY MOMENTS TO SPARE,
ROLAND AND HIS HOMIES PULL IT OFF.
NOW IT'S UP TO WINK TO GET THE GLORY STOMPER RUNNING.
[ ENGINE CRANKING ]
THAT WAS THE SPARK PLUG.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THIS BABY ROARS LIKE A SPEED DEMON SHOULD.
FINALLY, THE TEST RUN.
IT IS AWESOME, MAN.
I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A HARLEY THAT FELT LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Narrator: ARLEN ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT IN LONG BEACH.
Narrator: PART HARLEY, PART RACING BIKE.
ROLAND SANDS HAS TRANSFORMED JUNKYARD TRASH
INTO HARD-CORE FLASH --
A GROUNDBREAKING RAISED TAIL SECTION, ONE-OFF RIMS,
A STOCK HARLEY 95-CUBIC-INCH MOTOR,
AND A GLORY-STOMPING GAS TANK.
FROM ARLEN'S KILLER MIND COMES A KILLER BIKE,
THE TOP BANANA --
A 145-CUBIC-INCH ENGINE WITH OVERHEAD CAMS,
ELABORATE BELT SETUP,
DUAL SUPER "E" "S" AND "S" CARBURETORS,
AND VICIOUS TWIN TANKS.
Narrator: PUERTO RICO, SUN SOAKED PARADISE
AND HOME OF THE SPANISH FORTRESS EL MORRO,
WHICH HAS GUARDED THIS ISLAND FROM ATTACK FOR OVER 400 YEARS.
BUT TODAY'S INVASION IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
AND NOW THE MOMENT IS HERE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAE ]
CRAZY.
DUDE, THAT THING'S SICK.
YOURS LOOKS GREAT, MAN.
CRAZY, MAN.
OH, MY GOD. [ LAUGHS ]
VERY NICE. VERY DIFFERENT STUFF.
THE SPLIT TANK IS JUST UNDESCRIBABLE.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE. THAT'S CRAZY.
IT'S THE LOWEST GAS TANK I'VE EVER SEEN ON A BIKE, I THINK.
I REALLY LIKE ALL THE MACHINING.
THE GAS TANK'S REALLY COOL.
ONE-OF-A-KIND, WITH AN ALL-MACHINE TOP.
KIND OF TRICK STUFF. IT LOOKS -- LOOKS REAL RACY.
AND I KNOW ROLAND CAN RACE, SO THIS IS A GREAT BIKE FOR HIM.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
[ HORN HONKS ]
Narrator: ARLEN, ROLAND, AND THEIR POSSES LEAVE THE DOCKS
TO EXPLORE THE ISLAND.
TOP BANANA.
FRESH BANANA FOR THE TOP BANANA.
THINK I'LL PUT THEM RIGHT IN HERE, AND IT'LL COOK THEM.
Narrator: BUT ROLAND HAS OTHER IDEAS
ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE BANANAS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE'S ALWAYS PAYBACKS.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Narrator: IN THE MOUNTAINS,
THE RIDERS STOP FOR A SMOKE, PUERTO RICAN STYLE.
THIS CIGAR FACTORY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1912.
I NEED TO GET ONE OF THESE FOR MY HOUSE.
THESE GUYS WILL COMPETE AT ANYTHING, EVEN ROLLING CIGARS.
THAT'S THE WAY.
YEAH, YEAH.
NICE, ARLEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, BUDDY.
YEAH.
HAD TO TAKE THE VEIN AWAY.
PERFECT.
ALL RIGHT.
[ CHEERING ]
HAND-ROLLED BY ARLEN NESS RIGHT HERE.
I'M GONNA SAVOR THIS.
ROLLED BY ROLAND.
GET SOME MILES UNDER OUR BELT.
EACH OF OUR BIKES ONLY GOT ABOUT 10 MILES APIECE ON THEM.
I WANT TO GET IT BROKE IN BEFORE I BURN IT DOWN.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: FINALLY, THE RIDERS PULL INTO THE TOWN OF RINCON.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
IT'S THE SECOND ANNUAL PUERTO RICO BIKE WEEK,
AND ARLEN AND ROLAND ROLL IN LIKE CHOPPER ROYALTY.
Man: MR. ROLAND SANDS!
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
AND WE'VE GOT MR. ARLEN NESS!
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
[ LAUGHS ]
LET'S DO THIS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WHOO!
[ HORN HONKS ]
Narrator: WHILE ARLEN HANGS WITH THE CROWD
AND SIGNS SOME AUTOGRAPHS...
I LOVE -- I LOVE YOUR WORK.
OH, THANK YOU.
...ROLAND BLASTS THEM WITH BURNING RUBBER.
[ ENGINES REVVING ]
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
IN 10 DAYS OF BUILDING,
TWO RADICALLY DIFFERENT CUSTOM CHOPPERS ARE THE RESULT.
LOCAL BUILDER JOSE de MIGUEL OF CARIBBEAN CUSTOM CYCLES
CASTS HIS VOTE.
ARLEN ALREADY PAID HIS DUES, AND HE'S UP THERE.
ROLAND'S A YOUNGER GUY, LIKE ME,
SO I THINK WE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO DO IT.
SO THIS GOES FOR ROLAND.
ARLEN NESS -- OH, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD GIRL.
Sands: I VOTED FOR MYSELF.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO. [ LAUGHS ] G
Narrator: AT 6:00 P.M.,
HUGH "THE CHOPPER" KING TAKES THE STAGE.
PUERTO RICO LO HACE MEJOR!
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
MAY I HAVE THE SEALED ENVELOPE, PLEASE?
THE WINNER...
ARLEN NESS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO HAVE SPOKEN,
AND THE KING OF CUSTOM STILL RULES THE LAND.
BY RETURNING TO THEIR ROOTS,
CUTTING-EDGE CREATIONS WERE BORN --
ROLAND SANDS, WITH HIS STRIPPED-DOWN RACER,
A HYBRID OF A V-TWIN AND SUPER BIKE.
AND ARLEN NESS, WITH HIS RADICAL RIGID SENSATION,
PROVED WHY HE'S STILL THE TRUE KING OF THE ROAD.
BUT THE FUTURE OF CUSTOM BIKE BUILDING
IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM.