Hey Rich... still want a Big Bear?

[ImpactG]

Thought you'd all find this interesting. I frequent a forum on occasion called 'Club Chopper'... real cool site for build info, paint, fabrication, etc. There's a lot of industry professionals that post. Anyhoo...

Looks like one of the members had an issue where a frame weld separated and almost put him on the ground. He contacted BBC and at first they denied accountablility. WELL... now there's a HUGE recall of some of their chopper and pro-steet models which could account for 20% of their total builds! Here's the official info:

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE

The BBC Frame Recall has been expanded to PRO-STREET models.
I have copied some of the pertinent info from the NHTSA docs.

Pro_Steet owners will soon be getting letters notifying them of the recall.
Please read

Descriptive Information which characterizes/distinguishes the recalled vehicles from those model vehicles not included in the recall:
Originally this recall was limited to a vehicle type called "Chopper". After initiating the 08V-129 recall, our review indicated many of the compromised motorcycles were welded by one individual employed by Big Bear American Made Choppers, Inc. from 04-132004 through 12-28-2004.
As no procedure was found in the Safety Recall Compendium for revoking models that have been released as recall motorcycles, Big Bear American Made Choppers, Inc is amending the 08V-129 recofllist, by adding all additional Prostreet motorcycles that the employee identified had welded and also motorcycles, where a Weld Sheet could not be located.


6. With respect to the defect, furnish a chronological summary (including dates) of all the principle events that were the basis for the determination of the defect. The summary should include, but not be limited to, the number of reports, accidents, injuries, fatalities, and warranty claims.
1 August 2007 a customer, who owned a 2004 Venom Chopper (Kit Bike)
notified us that his frame (Aj separated from the backbone (B) and the down tube. he
was adVised to bnng the motorcycle in. Upon receiving the motorcycle. a warranty
repair was completed.
2 January 28 2008 we were alerted by an email from an owner who indicated that 011 August 31 2007 he was traveling on a higllway When the neck stem on his 2004 Devil's Advocate Chopper (kit bike) (Aj separated from the backbon~ (B) and the
down tube (C) resulting in a non injury single vehicle aCCident. January29 2008 we
received a package from the same owner that included photographs of his vehi Ie with
the (rame tubes separated from the neck. Based on this information we decided to
launch an investigation that resulted in this recall.
3. In Marcil 2008 a customer notified us that his frame on I7I's 2005 Devif's Advocate Chopper (kit bike) (A) separated from the backbone (B) and the down tube. he was advised to bring the motorcycle 111. Upon receiving the motorcycle. the recall procedure wa completed.

All 2004 Devil's Advocate Choppers All 2004 SLED Choppers All 2004 Venom Choppers VIN Identified 2004 Devil's Advocate Prostreets VIN Identified 2004 Venom Prostreets All 2005 Devil's Advocate Choppers All 2005 SLED Choppers All 2005 Venom Choppers VIN Identified 2005 Devil's Advocate Prostreets VIN Identified 2005 SLED Prostreets VIN Identified 200S Venom Prostreets VIN Identified 2006 Devil's Advocate Choppers VIN Identified 2006 SLED Choppers VIN Identified 2006 Venom Choppers

You may also go to their website NHTSA

Do Not Ride

STOP RIDING YOUR MOTORCYClE IMMEDIATelY. YOU MUST NOT RIDE YOUR MOTORCYCLE UNTIL THIS RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED

The thread:

Big Bear Choppers 2004/2005 SLED, Venom, and Devils Advocate Frame Recall - Club Chopper Forums

[Rad032]

Sounds like a custom builder's nightmare.

[ImpactG]

Yeah, and I think the recall will extend to just their frames as well. Can you imagine buying a frame and spending a year or more building a custom just to have to tear it down because of a bad weld? Ouch!

I believe the problem started when their brought their frame building in-house. Previous to a couple years ago, they were farmed out. I guess they needed to train their fabricators a bit better... now it's gonna' COST them. I don't see how they'll be able to stay afloat. The recall number is closing on 1000 bikes.

[Rad032]

Yea, re-weld, re-paint, re-assemble...ouch.

[anamosity]

Ouch and with the chopper market slowly going down the toilet as well.

[wild_deuce03]

That's crazy!!!

[Trashman900C]

Originally Posted by ImpactG

Yeah, and I think the recall will extend to just their frames as well. Can you imagine buying a frame and spending a year or more building a custom just to have to tear it down because of a bad weld? Ouch!
.

arent they "production customs?"

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by ImpactG

I believe the problem started when their brought their frame building in-house. Previous to a couple years ago, they were farmed out.

The article says that the welder was their employee, and the recall goes from 2004 to 2006... So either the welder actually worked for the outside company DBA BBC, or they didn't farm out their frames.

Either way... I want an Athena, it's not on the list

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Trashman900C

arent they "production customs?"

The completed BBC bikes are, but what he's talking about is that you can purchase BBC parts for a home-build... everything from the basic hardware (want a Sled frame with Devil's Advocate tank and Reaper fender?), to complete rolling chassis nearly ready to wire and paint.

[ImpactG]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The article says that the welder was their employee, and the recall goes from 2004 to 2006... So either the welder actually worked for the outside company DBA BBC, or they didn't farm out their frames.

Either way... I want an Athena, it's not on the list

Ah... you're cool then.

[RichLockyer]

BTW... From the chopper forum... do you know JSTWKD?

[ImpactG]

No. I just stumbled on it about 3 weeks ago and have been lurking fairly heavily. Actually, I haven't even joined yet. I was kinda' waiting until I finished up the work on mine to first post... unless I run across a need during the work process.

It's really amazing the knowledge they have over there. Looks to be a lot of practicing industry professionals that post regularly -- fabricators, painters, mechanics -- good stuff. You can learn a lot just reading back through the threads. From a customizing standpoint, it's quite a step forward from what's typically done and discussed on most bike forums. A real gem.

[ARCHAIC]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The completed BBC bikes are, but what he's talking about is that you can purchase BBC parts for a home-build... everything from the basic hardware (want a Sled frame with Devil's Advocate tank and Reaper fender?), to complete rolling chassis nearly ready to wire and paint.

actually you can (or used to be able to) buy the full bike in kit form , single color powdercoat. no welding necessary & if you lived near BBC when you finished the build you could bring it up to them for a look-over. been in there a few time & they were super nice peoples!!!!! hopefullythis recall wont hurt em too bad

[RichLockyer]

Ya... I've been to the shop 4 or 5 times and always take a few minutes to chat with "Mike the Greek". One trip, the leader of my club was able to arrange for a tour of the final assembly building. It was a Saturday so the fabrication shop was locked up, but we got to see where they put everything together and dyno test the engines... plus we got a sneak peek at the GTX bagger about a month before they went public with the design.. they didn't even have the new S&S X-Wedge engine yet and were testing the frame with a standard 110 S&S with modified mounts to work in the X-Wedge frame.

[ARCHAIC]

Thats awesome!!! man net time im in cali we gotta hook up for a ride. hey whaddya know ill be out in septemer.