Paul Yaffe's Through the Years Motorcycle Retrospective display at Arizona Bike Week
Paul Yaffe: Through the Years Motorcycle Retrospective
A retrospective exhibit celebrating legendary custom motorcycle builder Paul Yaffe’s storied career was on display at the Legends Pavilion for the duration of Arizona Bike Week 2017.Sponsored by Chuck Franklin Law, Yaffe Through the Years Through the Years Motorcycle Retrospective showcased 19 of the most spectacular bikes that Paul has created during his 26 years in the bike building and custom parts business. Tens of thousands of people cycled through throughout the week, taking in photos and testimonies and witnessing firsthand and up close the beauty and power of Paul Yaffe’s metal masterpieces.
“It all started with a love of motorcycles and a curiosity and desire to see what could be made of them,” says Paul. “I never would have guessed, when I first started experimenting in the mid eighties, that it would have led to where we are today.”Paul Yaffe’s Through the Years Motorcycle Retrospective display at Arizona Bike WeekAn amazing collection of some of Paul’s most memorable custom creations was on display, featuring bikes from all around the country, including one of his take on an aluminum FXR from 1995. Nineteen motorcycles provided a visual representation of the evolution of Paul’s career, from choppers to baggers to pro-streets, including both Discovery bikes (Phantom and Suzy-Q), Whitey (the bike he gave his bride her first ride on) and the world-famous Prodigy.A longtime Hamster, Paul also helped organize and participated in the Seventh Annual Hamster’s Charity “Dry Heat Run,” which drew over a thousand riders and raised over twenty thousand dollars for children’s charity. Beginning at Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation, the ride stretched for 60 miles, winding through some of the most beautiful desert terrain Arizona has to offer, and culminating at Arizona Bike Week for a concert with Creedence Clearwater Revisited.But people were really taken with the Paul Yaffe Through The Years exhibit.“We did a smaller event as part of my birthday celebration late last year,” says Paul. “But we expanded the concept, added about twice as many bikes, more photos, artwork and memorabilia. Plus, it was really special to hold the event here in Phoenix, where I opened my first shop so many years ago.”That first shop was American Legend Motorcycle Co., which opened in 1991. Since then, Paul has enjoyed one of the most illustrious and influential careers in motorcycle designing and building. Today, Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation, together with Paul Yaffe Originals, is recognized as one of—if not the—preeminent custom bike building outfits.
Our first segment introduces you to the new Arch 1s. This latest, slightly more sporting American V-twin, adds to the original KRGT1 coming from the boutique manufacturer based in Hawthorne, Southern California. Senior Editor Nic de Sena rode through Malibu with Gard Hollinger, who co-founded Arch Motorcycle with his friend, Keanu Reeves. The 1s is a unique ride for sure, and Nic explains what makes the bike really stand out.
For the entertaining story behind Arch Motorcycle from Gard Hollinger himself, you must listen to his podcast episode on Motos & Friends HERE
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The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—visit your local dealer or suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with multiple Emmy award-winning writer, Producer, Director, and actor, Thom Beers. the former Chairman & CEO of Fremantle Media North America, responsible for American Idol and America’s Got Talent.
Thom’s fertile imagination led to most of the really big reality TV shows such as ‘Deadliest Catch’ (now in its 17th season!), and many others. Of course for us in the motorcycle world, you’ll be interested to hear the genesis and story of how he started the first real fabrication reality show ‘Monster Garage’, that showcased Jesse James, and then how that led to ‘Biker Build Off’ and the ‘Zombie Choppers’ movie.
You’d imagine that most of Thom’s time is spent sitting behind a desk and on his phone. Not so. His intense stories of capturing much of the content for these shows make for some hair-raising listening.