![]() ![]() “I like a good amount of positive flex ,” Jesse told us, “and the bikes I have been building as of late fit the bill nicely. And it is no secret the lighter a chopper is, the better it rides, and if the tubing and design of the frame can absorb some of those high-frequency road vibrations, it makes it even more fun to ride. This is done with much success among many sportbike frame manufacturers as well as being employed by a myriad of aerospace and automotive applications. Jesse has found through trial and error that by slimming down and heat-treating his frames he can make a very light, yet strong, frame. He is taking West Coast Choppers to its next evolutionary step by using stainless steel tubing Yes, you can also add some major computer skills to the Vanilla Gorilla’s long list of manufacturing and fabrication talents. And he is doing so with the help of CNC machines controlled by Solidworks to create a sleek and slim frame. Jesse is also redesigning all of the old and formerly chunky frame components as well. Jesse stated that he is not trying to reinvent the wheel, but he is taking West Coast Choppers to its next evolutionary step by using stainless steel tubing. ![]() Yes, it is made out of stainless steel-a material with some pretty amazing tensile and yield strengths that possesses a corrosion resistance, far bettering the mild or chromoly steel used in most frame builds. Now Jesse is back with yet another incarnation of the CFL, and it’s one hunk of sweet stainless machinery. With its futuristic monocoque-looking triple box gusset sun frame, three-piece oil bag, integrated battery tray, and adjustable seat pan, that version of the CFL was very ahead of its time. In 2008, Jesse James also blew the two-wheeled public’s mind with the über-limited-edition CFL II. With its patented drop seat design, spiderweb gussets, and beautiful oil tank, the CFL turned the motorcycle industry on its ear. Nobody really thought about striking up a TIG welder, using quality materials, and building something that was a bit more performance-driven art until West Coast Choppers did it. Most aftermarket frame suppliers were building bikes in the vein of battleships using thick tubes, which were slagged together with high-heat arc welders. When the first West Coast Choppers CFL hit the street in 1997, it was a total game changer. ![]()
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