October 17, 2010 4:07 AM PDT
I'm thinking the closing of West Coast Choppers is the combination of a few things. I'm sure the quarter million dollar fine a couple years back for seeling bikes that violated California clean-air laws had something to do with it. Add that to all the BS publicity that folows Jesse's every move in his personal life, and he probably just said enough is enough.
I remember seeing an informal interview with Jesse James a few yers back and at that time he was considering closing West Coast Choppers, and maybe even getting out of bike building all together. He said he missed the days of pounding metal in the privacy of his small shop and selling the bike based on how it looked, not because he was the television star. He admitted that he enjoyed the ride to fame, the money, riding side by sice with Kid Rock, meeting famous people and marrying Sandra Bullock, be he wasn't quite sure he was ready for all the scrutiny and invasion of his private life when he got there.
Bullmoose made the statement "I really liked his work, no matter what ya think of him as a person". I too really like his work, and we really wouldn't know all this stuff about his personal life if it wasn't for the fame. Really, how often do we go to a bike show, see a great looking bike made by a local builder and ask whether or not the builder cheated on his wife. I think that is what Jesse wants to get back to.
I really hope Jesse continues to build bikes because he is without a doubt one of the great tallents who's bike are a work of art, not the result of how much tecnology can be used.