Big Bear Chopper Recall

[midnitewolf]

apparently there's a recall due to inadequate weld penetration between the neck, backbone and down tubes of the frame. wanna see one?

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2192...76244200pMEjnw

and heres a copy of the recall notice

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls...intVersion=YES

[WaBiker]

Looks like I should hit them up for an NDT Job... cuz their Quality Control obviously SUCKS.

[pquirk]

A motorcycle frame is the backbone of the design and overall aesthetics of the motorcycle. The frame can either make or break a motorcycle’s form and function. That said, start your project off right with a Big Bear Chopper DOM seamless tube frame. We offer you the latest hidden shock softail design with our trademark strutless rear fender set-up and two killer rigid models with big bear attitude.
All frames are designed and manufactured in our California based Big Bear Lake facility. We CNC cut every frame component (e.g. neck, side plates, mounts, tranny plate, axle adjusters, etc). Utilizing a 0.250 wall 1.5” tube steel for the backbone and the single downtubes, a 0.160 wall 1.125” tube for the rest of the frame, we use the best steel possible for these frames. All frames are 100% TIG welded for a clean, strong and precise fusion.

Hot damn, that's what 30k buys ya?! I think I'll hang on to my sporty.

[thatbikerguy]

You can tell from the paint on the tins that the rider is Religious. Good thing!

[2hogluckydog]

Sweeeeeet.

[Tinman13]

Originally Posted by WaBiker

Looks like I should hit them up for an NDT Job... cuz their Quality Control obviously SUCKS.

Originally Posted by pquirk

Hot damn, that's what 30k buys ya?! I think I'll hang on to my sporty.

This is the first time I've heard of a problem with BBC, not saying there haven't been any.

In all fairness to Kevin Alsop (founder), he has done a lot for the custom bike industry, and has for quite awile now. Plus, their prices are more than reasonable compared to other companies for what you get.

The dude that snapped the neck could have been riding the dog shit out of it, or it may have been a manufacturing defect. Can't say myself.

A friend of mine is a distibutor for BBC (Chopper Design, Longwwod Fl.) and I've had the opportunity to ride a few different models. All I can say is I was impressed with them.

Just my .02 cents

[midnitewolf]

Originally Posted by Tinman13

This is the first time I've heard of a problem with BBC, not saying there haven't been any.

In all fairness to Kevin Alsop (founder), he has done a lot for the custom bike industry, and has for quite awile now. Plus, their prices are more than reasonable compared to other companies for what you get.

The dude that snapped the neck could have been riding the dog shit out of it, or it may have been a manufacturing defect. Can't say myself.

A friend of mine is a distibutor for BBC (Chopper Design, Longwwod Fl.) and I've had the opportunity to ride a few different models. All I can say is I was impressed with them.

Just my .02 cents

I was surprised to see this , Kevin gave us a tour of the shop and I was
impressed with the operation .

heres the recall notice
Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Recalls - Search Results

1 Record(s) Displayed.
Report Date : May 23, 2008 at 03:02 AM Search Type : VEHICLE Make : BIG BEAR CHOPPERS Model : DEVILS ADVOCATE CHOPPERS Make : BIG BEAR CHOPPERS Model : DEVILS ADVOCATE CHOPPERS Year : 2005 Manufacturer : BIG BEAR AMERICAN MADE CHOPPERS, INC Mfr's Report Date : MAR 20, 2008 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V129000 N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: STRUCTURE Potential Number Of Units Affected : 432 Summary:
BIG BEAR CHOPPER IS RECALLING 351 MY 2004-2005 VENOM AND DEVIL'S ADVOCATES CHOPPERS AND MY 2005 SLED CHOPPERS. SOME MOTORCYCLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION BETWEEN THE NECK, BACKBONE, AND DOWN TUBES OF THE FRAME. HIGH LOADS CREATED WHEN RIDING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES, STRUCTURAL MODIFICATION MADE TO THE FRAME BY OWNERS, AND/OR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE SPECIFIED TORQUE SETTING OF THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT MAY CAUSE THE AFFECTED WELDS TO CRACK. Consequence:
THE WELDED AREA COULD BREAK WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN NECK SEPARATION AND FRONT-END COLLAPSE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER TORQUE OF THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT OR MODIFY THE FRAME AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG BEAR CHOPPER AT 1-909-878-4340. Notes:
BIG BEAR CHOPPERS RECALL NO. 1B9/631. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

[pquirk]

Originally Posted by Tinman13

This is the first time I've heard of a problem with BBC, not saying there haven't been any.

In all fairness to Kevin Alsop (founder), he has done a lot for the custom bike industry, and has for quite awile now. Plus, their prices are more than reasonable compared to other companies for what you get.

The dude that snapped the neck could have been riding the dog shit out of it, or it may have been a manufacturing defect. Can't say myself.

A friend of mine is a distibutor for BBC (Chopper Design, Longwwod Fl.) and I've had the opportunity to ride a few different models. All I can say is I was impressed with them.

Just my .02 cents

Well, all I can say is I hope Kevin fired the tool who did the welding on the frames in question. Riding the dogshit out of a bike doesn't make good welds come apart. It's unfortunate for the Dude, but it's about QA, people could die. The recall is the right thing to do, I hope it was voluntary.