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Exclusive interview with Bobby Appleton world famous motorcycle builder Interview Date : 01/12/09 bike builder Bobby Appleton Bike show Old Hickory, TN Web site : bobbyappleton.com Forget all the stupid television shows, Bobby Appleton is the real deal. An old school bike builder from way back when, this man was building motorcycles when I was trying to puzzle out potty training. Eight time winner of the world famous Rat's Hole Bike Show in Daytona... including the very first one they ever had back in 1973. Two time bike show winner in Sturgis, SD. One of Eight bikes chosen to showcase Germany's largest car show. And that's just the tip of his iceberg of accomplishments. Did I mention builder of celebrity motorcycles? Famous people as Brooks & Dunn, Wade Hayes, Wynonna, Anita Cochran, Rick O'Shay, Gretchen Wilson and many more. He's also done several corporate bikes such as the world famous Gibson bike, the Hooter Scooter and the Nascar Cafe motorcycles. The man is truly a legend in his own time. After talking with some of the other celebrity bike builders interviewing Bobby Appleton was a real pleasure. You've never met a kinder, more down to earth straight talking guy in your life. He not looking for fame and glory, he just likes to build motorcycles. I believe that actions speak louder than words...and in my book that makes Bobby Appleton well over a thousand feet tall. |
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from Bobby Appleton My family was always into motorcycles for as far back as 1941. I raised on bikes, working on them, fixing them up, improving them... it all just kind of happened naturally. I won my first motorcycle show in 1971 for a custom bike that I had built and I still remember how proud I was when I saw it featured in Street Choppers Magazine. I enjoy building bikes for celebrities because the challenge. They usually have a very clear idea of what they want before I even meet them, and the real job is getting their vision transposed into a motorcycle and making it work. Of course every bike I work on is an original design but creating a something on two wheels that they'll be proud to drive down the street is the real goal. Most of the corporate bikes are easier as they usually ask you to come up with something cool and simply make a few changes to what is basically what I had envisioned for them. This is my 18th year doing a bike show, but only the fifth year indoors. We used to host the event outside but it's always rather iffy because you're at the mercy of the weather. Back in 1996 the president of Gibson guitars appreciated what we're trying to accomplish and agreed to sponsor us, which is how we're able to give away a free guitar along with a trophy for all our class winners at our show. We just signed a deal to keep the Bobby Appleton bike show at the same location more or less on the same dates for the next few years. Of course everyone's invited, it's a family type event and kids get in free. A special thanks to some of our sponsors, including Gibson/Epiphone guitars, Hooters and Budweiser. | ||