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Off the Chain
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Big Dog Bulldog
David Morris
08/01/2007
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Photography by Cordero Studios/corderostudios.com
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The
chopper brings out the animal in us. No matter how
self-effacing or demure we may claim to be, the presence and defiance of these
machines stirs the renegade within. With their elongated
crouches, they are like Dobermans ready to pounce, packages of barely controlled
violence balanced on the edge of beauty and lethality.
Baring their teeth, their engines growl the challenge to us: command them, or
live forever in fear of them.
So it is with Big Dog Motorcycles. Out in the heartland that is
Kansas, the new canine kings of the road are bred. Founded in Wichita in 1994 by
Sheldon Coleman Jr., whose family’s century-old line of outdoor and camping
equipment remains a global benchmark, and whose success has facilitated the
indulgence of his two-wheeled passion, the enterprise is rooted in stout stock.
Coleman Sr., son of founder W.C. Coleman, personified the
character of the engaged clan. Described as "a blend of superlative sportsman
and masterful businessman," Coleman Sr.’s accomplishments included creating
athletic scholarships at Wichita State University and paddling some 5,000 miles
and. "Don’t let life put you back on your heels," he declared. "Lean into it." A
prescient statement most assuredly, for the values of his legacy imbue the
motorcycles built by his son.
Cruising the Hollywood Hills, the Big Dog
Bulldog is a
strident presence. Photography by Don Williams. (Click images to
enlarge)
Big Dog Motorcycles, or BDM as they are often known, has produced some 20,000 examples. With 250 employees, BDM stakes its claim as the
world’s leading manufacturer of street-pro customs and choppers and number two
among America’s V-Twin companies. "Like many enthusiasts, Mr. Coleman started
out customizing his own ride. As friends saw what he did, and friends told
friends, a business was born. Seeing the growing niche for custom bikes, and a
need for an alternative to mass-market production, he set out to build the best
custom motorcycle in America," explains Paul Hansen, the firm’s Public Relations
Director. "So, he dictated that not only would Big Dog motorcycles look
dramatic, they would also incorporate the best in technology and functionality.
Our objective is to satisfy the client who wants to make an intense and
definitive personal statement and appreciates our combination of meticulous
finish, aircraft quality materials, and top-drawer engineering and performance."
I reflect upon these statements as I meet the Big Dogs at
Carl’s Speed Shop in Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona is misrepresented by the
narrow perceptions that result from the annual invasion of half a million bikers
and the publicity that pretends they are mostly of outlaw stripe. In fact,
Volusia County and surrounding areas offer a quality of life increasingly
appreciated for its balance of seaside and sylvan beauty with energetic urban
spaces.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: Shoei J-Wing
Leathers: Icon Bombshell
Footwear: Alpinestars Stroke Shoe. Photograph by Don Williams. (Click image to enlarge)
From Orlando to Ocala, up to St. Augustine and down to Cape
Canaveral, the motorcyclist will find that an empty stretch of satisfying
blacktop is never more than just a thought away. On any given day, one will be
saluted on multiple occasions by fellow riders on cruisers, choppers, dual
sports, tourers, and sportbikes, whose mounts are more often than not daily drivers. No one looks at you strangely if you show up at the office in your
leathers and lid. Even the local constabulary is properly munificent, for most
of them are motorcyclists, too.
In this setting, a motorcycle such as the Big Dog becomes more
than simply a fashion statement destined to putter from garage to hangout and
back again. Here, these hounds can hunt. Loosed off the chain, they can run at
the head of the pack and vindicate the inspiration that has given them life.
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