The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Build or Bust

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Isn’t it about time to call an end to the reality shows? I stumbled onto this show, “Build or Bust,” the other night and decided to watch a bit since there’s been a lot of hype for it. Once again my question is, who watches this stuff? A bunch of staged action that’s supposed to be “real” where some (un)lucky guy gets to try his hand at building a chopper while being verbally abused by the crew at Exile Cycles. I gave it about 10 or 15 minutes and I was gone. This isn’t a criticism of the chopper guys, it doesn’t matter whether you like choppers or hate them, this show has nothing to do with choppers, it’s a cartoon. The networks evidently have lots of money to throw around and this is their creative way to spend it. The guys at Exile Cycles have to be laughing all the way to the bank, ditto Orange County Choppers and everyone else in similar programs.

The problem with trying to put this sort of thing on TV is that real life isn’t that way. Days are less visually exciting. If anyone really acted like the people in these reality shows, nothing would ever get done. Maybe in the TV world, this is more the norm where everyone is acting out and trying to be the alpha male. In the rest of the world, we get down to business and work on the task at hand. A true “reality” show would be boring TV. But, maybe it’s just me…

See also: Building a Chopper Chassis

Comments

  1. I been watching the show and it’s nothing more then a set up for failure on national TV. They screw with you constantly and mess with the build just to have you fail. Not reality by no means. Then again just filming somebody putting to together a BIKE IN A BOX (what they are really doing) would be boring as hell.

  2. Ive worked at bike shops that would make better reality tv than what all of you watch…and yes we still got down to business.

  3. fasteddie, you are wrong to assume that all the parts are given to the person wanting to build the bike…some parts are given but others need to be fabricated and that means they have to be manufactured such as the brackets for the gas tank , oiltank, and fenders.

    I like the concept of te show but do have one gripe……they people runnig the show should stop distracting the person trying to build the bike.

    The last show I seen today had some spoilt brat Jessie Rook hovering over the builder’s back cponstantly and he criticized every move.
    Then he told the guy to leave after only the second day because the guy didn’t work like he does…He expected the guy to build the bike as he,Jessie, would build it not like it was explained a Jessie ‘style’ bike…if he wanted the guy to build it exacty like Jessie he should have shown the guy what a Jessie bike looked like and explained some tings to him.
    Then Jessie said he could build the bike with the help of the owner of Exile cycle.
    He didn’t do any work, he only watched the other guy do the work, and after the bike came back from the painters Jessie wanted to change te terms and wanted to be PAID to build the bike or wanted the finished bike.

    Such a drama queen that Jessie Rooke is, and his choice of paint was exactly as was described by the Exile owner..it was gay.

  4. I agree with you on the hole stay out of the way and let somebody build situation.But I was wondering how to get on the show to build a bike. If you could get me any info it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
    Casey Reeves

  5. Jessie Rook is all of what you say and more — seems he set the show up to meet his needs — have them build a bike that he can sell or already sold — seems set up — look at video close nothng happen with lathe when he hit it

  6. I agree with everyone this show SUCKS. They had a guy on a couple of weeks ago, that looked like he could lift the building, and just verbally abused him. I kept waiting for him to kick some ass and tell them to shove their bike. Especially the shop foreman and the mouth behind the camera. I guess the camera in his face made him think. Maybe he will make a special appearance.

  7. This show is a joke. The owner of Exile is a douchebag. They sit and verbally abuse the guy building the bike instead of letting the builder do what he’s there to do. They barely show any work being done on the actual bike. Ninety percent of the show is the owner and the guy behind the camera talking about what shows he’s going to and his plans in real life. No one gives a crap, build the damn bike.

  8. Scamp2 any guy with basic knowledge of tools can make brackets for the tins, thats not really a difficult thing to do. They do build essentially a bike in a box.

  9. i agree and disagree, not many people are building comepletely “custom” bikes in the true meaning of the word. Almost every bike builder uses some pre-fab parts. Exile is a lot more out of the box than some but again, show me a so-called “custom” bike maker that actually custom makes every part. I’m sure people have done it but i’d still like to see it.

    anyway that chick alex was pretty hot but annoying as hell, it was fun to see her fail though. she didn’t deserve it.

  10. I also agree and disagree with the comments on this show. Yes it is quite a setup, with the producers, not the owners of Exile, ridiculing these “Wrenches” as they are called to the point of breakdown and eventual failure, but all the parts required are provided as needed to complete the build. If you look, Exile Cycles is an out of the box, kit bike distributer, with everything and all you need supplied by them, including the phone in help of Russell Mitchell himself. These Wrenches failures come in things like inability to machine, weld, or lace a wire rim. Yes, dont get me wrong, the guys behind the camera are a bunch of a*holes that keep claiming to have the ability to do the job, but the stress of losing a $50,000 bike coupled with their ridicule is enough to drive anyone to the gun shop.

  11. I think the show is good i watch it whenever i get the chance.
    yes i agree they do abuse the builders that try to win the bikes.
    But hey, if there going to cry cuz they can’t handle the name calling then don’t go on the show.
    For the price of the bikes that are getting built you could call me alot of things.
    it would be worth it in the end.
    I would love to get the chance to build one!!!!

  12. My son (one of the pro builders) is going to be on in a couple of weeks. Obviously some parts have to come out of the box in order to build a custom in such a short time frame but I know for a fact he fabricates his parts from scratch (i.e. gas tanks, fenders, pegs, etc.) Watch and learn.

  13. I have watched the show for the last couple of seasons, and yes there is drama. Without it there would probably not be a show, such is the bane of televison. This is for entertainment, it is not a documentary. However I have learned quite a bit by picking up bits of information from the show to apply to my own experiences. If you are not exposed to different experiences you will not progress. How do you define custom building? I don’t believe anyone makes every part of every piece from raw materials. Give me a break. Watch the show for what it is. GT

  14. OK, I’m a backyard bike modifier and hotrodder, I saw the show advertised and IMMEDIATELY found out how to apply.
    Not only do you get towork with some real chopper heads (not always a good thing) but if you win, you get to keep something I wouldn’t be able to afford ina month of Sundays.
    These guys built their business on blood sweat and gears and they bring in some rookie jack who goes on about building a bike in 7 days? I’ be rather disrespectful too!!!!
    Show’s website (with a feedback form) http://www.buildorbust.com

    There’s a link there to sign up, I have – if I get on you’l get to see if I’m as good as I THINK I am lol.

  15. hello i dont think the show is a set up i think they give back yarders a chance to win something that they could aford nore could I these guys that come on the show are all very skilled and know what they are getting into it is no different than
    t going on the price is right i think the show is aweson and I would give my right nut to be beside Russ mitchell or Gard Hollinger my favorite Jonny goodson just to get their pro tips that they give these guys I have built 4 bikes and they all took over a year to build so if you think it is so easy lets see the picture of the bike you built in one month

  16. you guys are all wrong! My cousin was on this show he went there not knowing much and the guys from build or bust taught him lots and he left with a bike now he has his own shop and makes awsome bikes, has been in a few mags and is doing great and he mainly fabricates his owns bike parts ( he learned to do a lot on the show. so you shouldn’t talk s*** if you don’t know what you talking about this show is really great and sorry guys but you all act like as****** and you all want to be the alpha male