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COMPARE CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS TO SOME OF OUR
COMPETITORS
UPDATED FOR 2008
APC IS OUR LATEST BRAND TO ADD TO THIS.
WE ESPECIALLY LIKE THEM BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR SALES LITERATURE SAYS HOW
AFFORDABLE THEIR BIKES ARE. TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY OFFER FOR MORE MONEY
THAN MOST WE'VE FOUND.
| ITEM |
CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS |
APC* |
| BUILT BIKE MODELS |
26 |
10 |
| UNASSEMBLED KIT MODELS |
24 |
0 |
| FRAME STYLES |
3- RIGID, SOFTAIL OR
RUBBER MOUNT |
2- RIGID AND SOFTAIL WE
THINK |
| BASE MOTOR¹ |
S&S V
96, V 107, V 113, V 124, T124V OR SH 93H |
S&S V96 |
| BASE TRANSMISSION |
PROWLER 6 SPEED |
6 SPEED |
| MANUFACTURER'S LICENSE? |
YES |
YES |
| BASE BRAKES |
PERFORMANCE MACHINE |
HAWG HALTERS |
| BUILT TO YOUR SPECS? |
YES |
NO |
| BASE SUSPENSION(SOFTAILS) |
LEGEND AIR RIDE |
SHOCKS WE THINK |
| WARRANTY? |
YES |
WE THINK SO |
| WHEEL OPTIONS |
OVER 70 |
9 |
| REAR TIRE OPTIONS |
200, 250 OR 300 |
240 OR 300 |
| POLISHED DRIVETRAIN
STANDARD? |
YES |
DON'T KNOW |
| SHEETMETAL OPTIONS |
UNLIMITED |
NONE WE CAN SEE |
| BUILD TIME |
10-12 WEEKS |
PLENTY IN STOCK IF YOU
DON'T MIND YOURS LOOKING LIKE A MILLION OTHERS |
| BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE |
1991 |
1998 |
| BASE PRICE RANGE |
$19,250- $36,000 |
$26,545- $43,995 |
*SOURCE: N.A.D.A. GUIDE AND APC WEB SITE.
THEIR WEB SITE LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED THOUGH.
MORE TO COMPARE
| ITEM |
CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS |
BBC* |
PHANTOM CHOPPERS** |
| BUILT BIKE MODELS |
26 |
21 |
7 |
| UNASSEMBLED KIT MODELS |
24 |
21 |
2 |
| FRAME STYLES |
3- RIGID, SOFTAIL OR
RUBBER MOUNT |
2- RIGID OR SOFTAIL |
2- RIGID OR SOFTAIL |
| BASE MOTOR¹ |
S&S V96,
V107, V113, V124, T124V OR SH93H |
S&S 100 |
ULTIMA 100 |
| BASE TRANSMISSION |
PROWLER 6 SPEED |
6 SPEED |
TRICKSHIFT 6 SPEED |
| MANUFACTURER'S LICENSE? |
YES |
YES |
NOT ACCORDING TO THE MIC
2006 LISTING |
| BUILT TO YOUR SPECS? |
YES |
NO |
NO |
| BASE SUSPENSION(SOFTAILS) |
LEGEND AIR RIDE |
SHOCKS |
SHOCKS |
| WARRANTY? |
YES |
UNKNOWN |
UNKNOWN |
| WHEEL OPTIONS |
OVER 70 |
9 |
NONE WE KNOW OF |
| REAR TIRE OPTIONS |
200, 250 OR 300 |
250, 280 OR 300 |
200, 250 OR 300 |
| POLISHED DRIVETRAIN
STANDARD? |
YES |
NOT ON ALL MODELS |
YES |
| SHEETMETAL OPTIONS |
UNLIMITED |
UNKNOWN |
UNKNOWN |
| BUILD TIME |
10-12 WEEKS |
4-5 MONTHS |
UNKNOWN |
| BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE |
1991 |
1997 |
1999 |
| BASE PRICE RANGE |
$19,250- $36,000 |
$24,00- $37,400 |
$23,995- $37,000 |
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. WE STACK UP PRETTY
WELL AGAINST THE COMPETITION, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS
LONGER THAN EITHER OF THE OTHERS WE MENTIONED HERE. WHEN YOU'RE READY TO STEP UP
TO A REAL CUSTOM BIKE LET US KNOW AND WE'LL HAND CRAFT ONE BAD ASS HOT ROD BIKE
FOR YOU.
FOR MORE INFO ON PHANTOM CHOPPERS CLICK HERE.
*SOURCE- BIG BEAR CHOPPERS WEB SITE AND N.A.D.A. GUIDE, AT LEAST THEY
ARE A REAL SHOP.
** SOURCE- PHANTOM CHOPPERS WEB SITE, THEY'RE REALLY ONLY A
CYBER SHOP ANYWAY. NOT LISTED IN N.A.D.A. GUIDE.
NOW LET'S COMPARE CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS TO
SOME OF THE BIG DOGS, YES, PUN UNTENDED.
| ITEM |
CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS |
BIG DOG* |
TITAN** |
AIH±
NOW FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY |
| BUILT BIKE MODELS |
26 |
7 |
12 |
9 |
| UNASSEMBLED KIT MODELS |
24 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| FRAME STYLES |
3- RIGID, SOFTAIL OR
RUBBER MOUNT |
2- RIGID OR SOFTAIL |
3- RIGID, SOFTAIL OR
RUBBER MOUNT |
3- RIGID, SOFTAIL OR
RUBBER MOUNT |
| BASE MOTOR¹ |
S&S V96, V107,
V113, V124, T124V OR SH93H |
117" S&S EVO |
S&S EVO
96",112" OR 93" SHOVEL |
111" S&S WITH
OTHERS AS OPTIONS |
| BASE TRANSMISSION |
6 SPEED |
6 SPEED |
6 SPEED |
6 SPEED |
| MANUFACTURER'S LICENSE? |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| BUILT TO YOUR SPECS? |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
| BASE SUSPENSION(SOFTAILS) |
LEGEND AIR RIDE |
SHOCKS |
SHOCKS |
SHOCKS |
| WARRANTY? |
YES |
YES |
I THINK SO |
YES |
| WHEEL OPTIONS |
OVER 70 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
| REAR TIRE OPTIONS |
200, 250 OR 300 |
250 OR 300 |
200, 250 OR 260 |
240, 280 OR 300 |
| POLISHED DRIVETRAIN
STANDARD? |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NOT ON ALL MODELS |
| SHEETMETAL OPTIONS |
UNLIMITED |
NONE |
NONE |
NONE |
| BUILD TIME |
10-12 WEEKS |
NONE, YOU CAN BUY ONE
ANYWHERE |
NONE, BUY A COOKIE
CUTTER TITAN AT THE LOCAL DEALER |
VISIT YOUR LOCAL STEALER |
| BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE |
1991 |
1996 |
1995, NOT
INCLUDING THE TIME THEY WENT BANKRUPT AND CLOSED THEIR DOORS. |
1997 |
| BASE PRICE RANGE |
$19,250- $36,000 |
$24,900- $31,900 |
$21,900- $51,953 |
$23,999- $38,995 |
SO THERE YOU GO, WE BEAT THEM ON PRICE, CUSTOM OPTIONS
AND WE ACTUALLY BUILD CUSTOM BIKES, NO COOKIE CUTTER "CUSTOMS" ALLOWED
HERE. I KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO COMPARE A
CUSTOM BUILDER TO THOSE BIG COOKIE CUTTER FACTORIES CHURNING OUT COOKIE CUTTER
BIKE AFTER COOKIE CUTTER BIKE BUT WE COULDN'T HELP OURSELVES. THEIR SO-CALLED
CUSTOM BIKES AREN'T ANY MORE CUSTOM THAN WHAT THE FOLKS IN MILWAUKEE ARE
CRANKING OUT EVERY DAY. SOURCES: *
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES WEB SITE AND N.A.D.A. GUIDE **
TITAN MOTORCYCLES WEB SITE AND N.A.D.A. GUIDE(2007) ±
AMERICAN IRONHORSE WEB SITE AND N.A.D.A. GUIDE(2007)
CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS VS. MORE COOKIE
CUTTER "CUSTOMS"
IN THIS ROUND WE TAKE ON TWO MORE OF THE
SO-CALLED "CUSTOM" MANUFACTURERS
| ITEM |
CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS |
HELLBOUND STEEL* |
SWIFT MOTORCYCLES** |
| BUILT BIKE MODELS |
26 |
6 |
7 |
| UNASSEMBLED KIT MODELS |
24 |
0 |
0 |
| FRAME STYLES |
3- RIGID, SOFTAIL OR
RUBBER MOUNT |
2- RIGID OR SOFTAIL |
2- RIGID OR SOFTAIL |
| BASE MOTOR¹ |
S&S V96, V107,
V113, V124, T124V OR SH93H |
93" SHOVEL |
H-D 80" |
| BASE TRANSMISSION |
6 SPEED |
5 SPEED |
6 SPEED |
| MANUFACTURER'S LICENSE? |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| BUILT TO YOUR SPECS? |
YES |
NOPE |
NOPE |
| BASE SUSPENSION(SOFTAILS) |
LEGEND AIR RIDE |
SHOCKS WE THINK |
SHOCKS WE THINK |
| WARRANTY? |
YES |
NOT SURE |
NOT SURE |
| WHEEL OPTIONS |
OVER 70 |
NONE WE KNOW OF |
NONE WE KNOW OF |
| REAR TIRE OPTIONS |
200, 250 OR 300 |
WHO KNOWS? |
WHO KNOWS? |
| POLISHED DRIVETRAIN
STANDARD? |
YES |
DON'T THINK SO |
MAYBE |
| SHEETMETAL OPTIONS |
UNLIMITED |
NONE |
NONE |
| BUILD TIME |
10-12 WEEKS |
NONE, COOKIE CUTTER |
ALSO COOKIE CUTTER AND
THEY HAVE A BUNCH IN STOCK WAITING TO SELL |
| BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE |
1991 |
2003 |
2001 |
| BASE PRICE RANGE |
$19,250- $36,000 |
$21,499- $38,999 |
$16,900- $32,900 |
WE KEEP FINDING NEW TARGETS FOR THIS
COMPARISON CHART BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY AMAZED AT HOW THESE BIKE MAKERS SEEM
TO CHARGE THROUGH THE NOSE FOR A PRODUCTION BIKE THEY CHURN OUT ONE AFTER THE
NEXT. WAKE UP PEOPLE, THERE'S NOTHING "CUSTOM" ABOUT A BIKE THAT LOOKS
AND FEELS LIKE THE OTHER ZILLION BIKES THEY STAMPED OUT. THEY'RE CHARGING HIGH
BUCKS FOR MEDIOCRE QUALITY AND NOTHING CUSTOM BUILT TO YOUR SPECS. *SOURCE:
N.A.D.A. GUIDE(2007). I USUALLY SAY THEIR WEB SITE BUT THE HBS WEB SITE HAS NO
INFORMATION ON IT AT ALL ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS. **
SOURCE: N.A.D.A. GUIDE(2007) AND SOME INFO FROM THE SWIFT WEB SITE BUT AGAIN, THEIR
IDEA OF INFORMATION IS PRETTY SLOPPY. THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THEIR CURRENT MODEL
LINE UP LISTED. ¹WE DO NOT
CHARGE MORE FOR ANY OF OUR MOTOR OPTIONS LISTED, ALL OF THE S&S MOTORS
LISTED ARE PART OF OUR BASE PRICE ON CUSTOM BUILT MOTORCYCLES.
©CALIFORNIA CUSTOMS 1995-2008 |
