At the dawn of the 20th century, craftsmen across the country made automobiles and motorcycles in their own garages and machine shops. Quantum leaps of innovation unfolded monthly, brought to life as much by those ordinary machinists and craftsmen as they were by the huge factories. Over several decades, though, that home grown activity of creating a vehicle of one’s own design in their own garage at their own expense has vanished. Sort of.
Big Boy Cycles (BBC) in Placerville is a shining example of what happens when two regular (but very talented) men with a wide variety of skills and experience decide to build a motorbike. Roland Preissner and Timm Cooper became acquainted with each other through mutual pursuits of building and modifying Range Rovers for special off road use. Through their common interests of motorcycles, especially lightweights, they embarked on an effort that resulted in the pics you see here.
The BBC’s are legally motorized bicycles. It is a smart way to start a fledgling motorbike company, for a myriad of reasons. Most importantly, they are exempt from emissions testing and from most lighting requirements, two very big hurdles to clear in regulation-happy California. But they also recognized a niche in the motorized bicycle market wherein nobody was making bikes of any real quality or design appeal. Everything was focused toward cheap cheap cheap. What about the riders who want a small lightweight machine to conduct their urban and suburban endeavors, but who are also willing to pay for something with a little quality, class and panache? Target acquired, target hit.
The bikes are powered by proprietary engines copied from the tried and true Honda OHC single – a bulletproof engine if ever there was one. Everything else (except for a few of their designed parts that are laser cut by Microform Precision) is designed, constructed, welded, wired and painted by BBC. See the slide show for detailed pics. Sounds nice, sure they look cool and antique, but how do they ride?
On my test ride, I observed that the power train worked smoothly, the exhaust note was present but subdued (see the attached video), the brakes were easily actuated and the slow, parking lot speed handling was neutral and predictable. The really unexpected occurrence, however, is how much everyone (even non-riders) stares, points and walks right up to you to ask you about it. The first visual impression people have is that it is a pre-WW1 antique, and everyone loves those. The next is the quality of the craftsmanship. The icing on the cake is the “discovery” that the bike is completely modern (including electric start) and they understand that they too could own and ride one.
BBC will have four examples on hand at the Easyriders Bike Show Tour this coming weekend (Jan 14-15) at the Sacramento Convention Center. Stop in and see the bikes for yourself, examine the workmanship, the quality and the creativity of the design. Roland and Timm will happily engage you in discussing the bike’s history, performance and plans for the future.
Until next time, stay tuned and upright,
Jack
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