Biker Build-Off
Encyclopedia
Biker Build-Off is a reality television
series for the Discovery Channel
. Created and narrated by Thom Beers
, the series was originally conceived as a single special called The Great Biker Build-Off. The show proved so popular that more episodes were produced in succeeding years, to the point that it was turned into a regular series (and its name shortened to just Biker Build-Off) in 2005.
builders from different parts of the country—usually with very different styles of building—each build a unique custom bike in their respective style, pitting their teams and expertise against each other to see who is the better builder.
1. Each builder has 10 days to build a working custom motorcycle in his or her respective style.
2. Upon completion, the two builders bring their bikes to a mutually-agreed neutral location.
3. When they meet, the two builders and their teams will begin a lengthy ride to a bike show.
4. At the bike show, the two bikes will be showcased and a winner decided by an audience ballot.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series for the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
. Created and narrated by Thom Beers
Thom Beers
Thom Beers is an American television producer and narrator/ voice over artist. Beers, a former producer and executive with Turner Broadcasting and Paramount Syndicated Television, has produced over 40 television series since the mid 1990s, most under the banner of his own production company formed...
, the series was originally conceived as a single special called The Great Biker Build-Off. The show proved so popular that more episodes were produced in succeeding years, to the point that it was turned into a regular series (and its name shortened to just Biker Build-Off) in 2005.
Premise of the Show
Two reputed custom motorcycleMotorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
builders from different parts of the country—usually with very different styles of building—each build a unique custom bike in their respective style, pitting their teams and expertise against each other to see who is the better builder.
Format
Biker Build-Off was originally an irregularly-grouped series (termed "rounds") of contests that spanned a calendar year. The original Great Biker Build-Off was a single competition. In 2003, the second round had three contests, and the third round (2004) had six. In 2005, the program was turned into a regular series in which each round would feature a total of 13 contests each. There has also been a World Biker Build-Off special (pitting three international bikers) in 2004.The Rules
Various aspects of the rules have evolved over the course of the series. When the show became a regular series, the current rules of the Biker Build-Off were defined as follows:1. Each builder has 10 days to build a working custom motorcycle in his or her respective style.
- They must obtain a framework, engine, and other necessary parts, construct their unique body, have it painted, and then complete assembling the bike and make it operational before midnight of the tenth day. During this build period, the show switches perspectives back and forth between the two builders as they and their respective teams plan and build their bikes.
2. Upon completion, the two builders bring their bikes to a mutually-agreed neutral location.
- Custom motorcycle master of ceremonies Hugh KingHugh KingHugh King is the co-executive producer and master of ceremonies of Discovery Channel's reality television series Biker Build-Off.- External links :...
(co-executive producer of the series) will meet the two builders at the agreed location and declare where the ride will go and where the bikes will ultimately be judged.
3. When they meet, the two builders and their teams will begin a lengthy ride to a bike show.
- The ride is designed to "break in" each bike and ensure they're both truly road-worthy before they reach the bike show. If a problem emerges that prevents the bike from running, the builder is allowed one hour to repair it before he/she is disqualified. (The disqualification may be waived by the competing builder; several shows have featured instances where the bike would have been DQ'ed but the other builder did not enforce the rule.)
4. At the bike show, the two bikes will be showcased and a winner decided by an audience ballot.
- Exceptions may occur for specific competitions. A 2007 contest designed to build drag bikes was decided by a best-of-three set of drag races.
Round 1 : 2002
- Billy LaneBilly LaneFor other people of the same name see Billy Lane and Billy Lane William David Lane is widely known as a builder of custom motorcycles, owner of Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, Florida — and for his 2009 conviction following a drunk-driving incident in 2006, where Lane's driving resulted in the...
vs. Roger Bourget : Original run : September 28, 2002
Round 2 : 2003
- Billy LaneBilly LaneFor other people of the same name see Billy Lane and Billy Lane William David Lane is widely known as a builder of custom motorcycles, owner of Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, Florida — and for his 2009 conviction following a drunk-driving incident in 2006, where Lane's driving resulted in the...
vs. Dave Perewitz : Original run : September 1, 2003 - Indian Larry vs. Paul Yaffe : Original run : September 1, 2003
- Billy LaneBilly LaneFor other people of the same name see Billy Lane and Billy Lane William David Lane is widely known as a builder of custom motorcycles, owner of Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, Florida — and for his 2009 conviction following a drunk-driving incident in 2006, where Lane's driving resulted in the...
vs. Indian Larry : Original run : September 1, 2003
Round 3 : 2004
- Chica vs. Hank Young : Original run : June 21, 2004
- Cory Ness vs. Arlen NessArlen NessArlen Ness is an American entrepreneur and motorcyclist, who is best known for his customized choppers and hot rods. Ness is internationally recognized as a master builder.- Career :...
: Original run : June 22, 2004 - Russell Mitchell vs. Eddie Trotta : Original run : June 23, 2004
- Mitch Bergeron vs. Kendall Johnson : Original run : June 24, 2004
- Matt Hotch vs. Joe Martin : Original run : June 27, 2004
- Best Bike : Original run : June 27, 2004
World Biker Build-Off 2004
- Joe Martin vs. Russell Mitchell vs. Scotty Cox : Original run : September 6, 2004
Round 4 : 2005
- Jerry CovingtonJerry Covington- Background :Jerry started building custom motorcycles in the early seventies and founded Covington's Cycle City in Woodward Oklahoma in 1993....
vs. Warren Vesely : Original run : January 11, 2005 - Joe Martin vs. Shinya KimuraShinya kimuraShinya Kimura is a Japanese born custom bike builder and founder of Zero Engineering and Chabott Engineering, he originated the "zero style" custom bike.-Zero Engineering:...
: Original run : January 18, 2005 - Jesse Rooke vs. Ron FinchRon FinchRon Finch was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Central Michigan University from 1937 to 1946, compiling a record of 54–18–1. Finch was also the head basketball coach at Central Michigan for one season in 1943–44, tallying a mark...
: Original run : January 25, 2005 - Russell Mitchell vs. the Detroit BrothersDetroit BrothersDetroit Brothers Inc. is a manufacturer of custom motorcycles, parts and accessories. It was formed by David and James Kaye in October 2002. The company was featured on Discovery Channel’s program, “The Great Biker Build-Off," in February 2005 and September 2006...
: Original run : February 1, 2005 - Indian Larry vs. Mondo : Original run : February 8, 2005
- Chica vs. Mike Pugliese : Original run : February 15, 2005
- Cory Ness vs. Eric Gorges : Original run : February 22, 2005
- Hank Young vs. Cole Foster : Original run : March 1, 2005
- Billy LaneBilly LaneFor other people of the same name see Billy Lane and Billy Lane William David Lane is widely known as a builder of custom motorcycles, owner of Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, Florida — and for his 2009 conviction following a drunk-driving incident in 2006, where Lane's driving resulted in the...
vs. Mike Brown : Original run : March 8, 2005 - Kendall Johnson vs. Eddie Trotta : Original run : March 15, 2005
- Matt Hotch vs. Rick Fairless : Original run : March 22, 2005
- Arlen NessArlen NessArlen Ness is an American entrepreneur and motorcyclist, who is best known for his customized choppers and hot rods. Ness is internationally recognized as a master builder.- Career :...
vs. Roland SandsRoland SandsRoland Sands is the 1998 AMA 250GP National Champion road racer, an award-winning designer for Performance Machine, and owner and founder of Roland Sands Design.- Background :...
: Original run : March 29, 2005 - The Ultimate Chop : Original run : April 3, 2005
Round 5 : 2006
- Billy LaneBilly LaneFor other people of the same name see Billy Lane and Billy Lane William David Lane is widely known as a builder of custom motorcycles, owner of Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, Florida — and for his 2009 conviction following a drunk-driving incident in 2006, where Lane's driving resulted in the...
vs. Russell Mitchell : Original run : August 7, 2006 - Trevelene vs. Scott Long : Original run : August 14, 2006
- Mike MetzgerMike MetzgerMike Metzger is an American Freestyle Motocross rider. In the 2002 X-Games he won the Freestyle and Big Air events and got second place in Step Up, earning him an estimated $100,000 in three days. In 2003 he also got first place in Big Air...
vs. Larry LinkogleLarry LinkogleLarry 'Link' Linkogle is a professional Freestyle Motocross rider, world record long distance motorcycle jump holder, stuntman and co-founder of Metal Mulisha. Larry Linkogle, along with Mickey Dymond, Brian Manley, Mike Metzger and Johnny Airtime are widely regarded as founders of the Freestyle...
: Original run : August 21, 2006 - Kevin Alsop vs. Ivy Tosclair : Original run : August 28, 2006
- Roland SandsRoland SandsRoland Sands is the 1998 AMA 250GP National Champion road racer, an award-winning designer for Performance Machine, and owner and founder of Roland Sands Design.- Background :...
vs. Jesse Rooke : Original run : September 4, 2006 - Ell Pitts vs. Harold Pontarelli : Original run : September 11, 2006
- Marcus Walz vs. Michael Prugh : Original run : September 18, 2006
- Detroit BrothersDetroit BrothersDetroit Brothers Inc. is a manufacturer of custom motorcycles, parts and accessories. It was formed by David and James Kaye in October 2002. The company was featured on Discovery Channel’s program, “The Great Biker Build-Off," in February 2005 and September 2006...
vs. Jason Kangas : Original run : September 25, 2006 - Gypsy Charro vs. Kim Suter : Original run : October 2, 2006
- Paul Yaffe vs. Dave Perewitz : Original run : October 9, 2006
- Craig Whitford vs. Mike Long : Original run : October 16, 2006
- Brian Klock vs. Jason Hart : Original run : October 23, 2006
- Matt Hotch vs. Roger GoldammerRoger GoldammerRoger Goldammer is a Canadian motorcycle builder most known for winning the World championship of bike building three times.- Professional career :...
: Original run : October 30, 2006