ACME CHOPPERS

SocNet Switch-Up

2011-07-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

There's a perfectly good explanation why we're been slacking on the Acme blog:

We've launched our new fan site at Facebook.com/AcmeChoppers.

Stuff around the shop has been mental since we returned from Born Free 3 last month, and social media is one thing we've let slip through the cracks. Well now that we've got a proper spot on Facebook, you can count on us to keep the news and info flowing.

Plans are in the works for updating our website later this summer, and when that happens the Acme wall on Facebook will appear on our home page. Bam! no more blog. Facebook does a better job than blogs of keeping people up to the minute on what's going on around here anyway, so it's a change we believe will make everyone a whole lot happier.

WANTED: Local Talent for In-House Social Media Management

2011-05-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

We'll be the first to admit it: Acme's presence on Facebook and our blog has been a little lax. There's an honest reason for our slackness, but it's not our style to make excuses for jobs poorly done.

Instead, consider this our plea for help. We're looking for a 20- or 30-something chopper guy who loves motorcycles and the Internet to help us do a better job with blog posting, FB status updates, viral videos, and all the other stuff that's important for making cool brands tick in the 21st century.

It would be ideal if this man (or woman!) lived near our shop, which is Laconia, NH.

What's in it for us? A more honest and dependable two-way dialogue between Acme and all our friends and customers.

What's in it for the person we choose to be the Acme Social Media Guru?

• Access to our shop, our tools and our talents for bike building

• Free t-shirts and apparel

• Free or really cheap parts for your bike

• Great deals on any donor bikes and parts you find laying around our shop

Eventually this position could turn into a paying gig, but right now we're just looking for someone who can manage our profiles on Facebook and ChopCult, shoot photos of the hundreds of projects we start and finish every month, write some basic blog and status updates on our blog and FB wall, and answer emails we get about catalogs, t-shirts, sticker and a dozen other little things that fill our work day.

It's a no-paying job right now, but if you've got the talent and the interest to use our resources and to share our passion for custom motorcycles with the rest of the world, it could turn into something that makes money for everyone.

If you're interested, send me an email. I'd ask you to PM me on Facebook, but the truth is, I rarely have time to check my profile!

Thanks in advance for all your support.

Wayne Ahlquist

Limpnickie Lot Fork Swap

2011-03-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

Roadside Marty from Flat Broke Customs in Pensacola, Florida, swapped the Sportster forks on his Purple Haze pan to entertain the crowd at last week's Limpnickie Lot Bike Show in Daytona Beach.

When he and Tim from Papa Clutch Customs were finished with the 60-minute project, Purple Haze was rocking a brand-new Acme Wishbone Springer.

Tim from Papa Clutch Customs lends a hand

Thanks to Chris Callen at Cycle Source magazine for setting up the program, and to Marty, Tim and our friend McGoo at ChopCult for entertaining the audience at the Limpnickie Bike Show.

The project begins

Buttoning down some details

Chris Callen and friends take the finished project off the stage

Ride 2 Skate 5

2011-02-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

The guys from True East M/C and FOTS are hosting their fifth annual Ride 2 Skate Jam. The chopper ride goes from Philly to Baltimore, at which point everyone will unload their sticks and skate to hell. It's a good time for a good cause, so load up your Logan Earth Ski and get ready to ride May 22-22, 2011. For more info, click the flyer or visit the events page in the Acme Gallery.

Acme Loop Tail Frame on Cyril Huze Blog

2011-02-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Cyril Huze's blog is a must-read for many bike nuts, which is why we include the French master builder in our monthly press releases. Not all the facts Cyril rehashed from our most recent PR are correct (we've been building Acme loop tail frames for well over a year), but the man's heart is in the right place.

The "debut event" Cyril refers to in his post is actually a fork install at the Limpnickie Lot—not a "frame intro" as Cyril suggests. In any case, we appreciate the juice, and thanks to the all the positive comments shared by CH readers.

Thanks, Motorcycle Product News

2011-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Motorcycle Product News hosts a decent website for the trade, and this week they featured our Acme Oil Bag on their site. Tanks for the support, MPN!

For Sale: Three Great Acme Forks on eBay

2011-02-02T13:45:00.001-08:00

There's still a couple days left on the auction for Springer Forks we posted on eBay this week.

We listed two Wideglide springers, one chrome, one black, and one chrome Narrowglide. Details for all three forks can be seen on the individual listings. Bids for these beauties start at $750, with no reserve!

Thanks Cycle Source!

2011-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

Chris Callen is the head honcho at Cycle Source magazine, and he's shooting a video how-to at the Limpnickie Lot during Daytona Bike Week next March. We're supplying the springer fork for the Limpnickie bike build, and we can't wait to see the finished machine. Thanks for including Acme on this great project!

On the Media: Street Chopper Online

2011-01-10T15:12:00.000-08:00

Eagle-eyed readers of Jeff Holt's blog feed at Street Chopper may have seen the Acme banner on the top right corner of the page. We've been supporters of this mag's web presence from the get-go because Street Chopper continues to contribute to today's scene in a meaningful way. Thanks to Jeff and the rest of the guys at Street Chopper and Hot Bike for all their support. Our invitation to visit Acme HQ still stands. If you're coming to Laconia Bike Week this spring, please stop on by!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

At least one guy we know will have an awesome new year: Billdozer at ChopCult and Biltwell. This is the frame we finished for him before Christmas, and it's shipping next week. Bill's frame deviates from our normal Acme aesthetic, but he told us what he was gunning for, and after seeing the photos he says we nailed it.

We're really stoked on the BMX/Triumph style axle dropouts. The loops are one-piece CNC'ed billet steel just like our customer frames, but we reduced the radius and their scale to complement the proportions of Bill's 650 Brit mill.

The axle adjusters are Pangea Speed's stainless steel cams, which is a design that was popular on MX machines in the '60s and '70s. You can see these gizmos zip-tied to the motor mount in the photo below:

Thanks for letting us pitch in on your 2011 show bike, Bill. Let us know if you need any more custom stuff.

And to everyone else…

16 Pages of Bikes, Parts & Goodness

2010-12-14T17:16:00.000-08:00

In the age of the Internet it's easy to forget how awesome the printed word can feel in your hands. When you make custom motorcycle parts for a living, a tangible catalog featuring these parts, bikes and accessories feels especially real… much more satisfying than even the endless info you can find online. Google has spoiled us by doing just about everything better, but nothing loads faster or looks richer than a printed 8.5" x 11" 16-page catalog printed in glorious 300 d.p.i. full-color!

This is the cover of our 2011 Acme Choppers catalog. In it you'll find photos of some recent bikes we've built, including our current favorite, the chrome shovel with the etched motor and the green and blue flame tank. Frames, forks, bars and parts are also featured in our new catalog, plus some bolt-ons and builder tidbits. In short, everything you can see on our website, but in a faster loading format you can throw in your backpack or take to the bathroom during your morning constitutional.

We offered 100 copies of our new catalog to the first 100 people on Facebook who PM'ed us their address, and there are still plenty left for this offer. Visit us on Facebook and drop us a line.

Of course, every order we receive for Acme parts and accessories will include a catalog with the shipment, and Acme dealers can contact us directly to request a supply for their shop.

If you aren't on Facebook, drop us an email and we'll hook you up.

Make Someone Happy This Christmas!

2010-12-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

We've listed one of our favorite little T-100's on eBay this season. Check it out here.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-01T08:00:00.001-08:00

We took some time off to be with friends and family over Thanksgiving, but it's back to the grindstone this week. There's still time to buy stocking stuffers for any Acme believers on your gift list, so visit our online store or give us a call. From everyone at Acme, Merry Christmas!

Hot Bike Cover Shot!

2010-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Eric Ellis at Hot Bike magazine for featuring our Flying Dutchman shovel on the 02/11 cover of his slick rag. Thanks also to Dino Petrocelli for taking the photos.

Slab City Riot II

2010-11-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

We couldn't make it to ChopCult's Slab City Riot last week, but we were stoked to sponsor what looks like another great event in this California wasteland. Congrats to our friends Bill and McGoo for hosting another doozy, and thanks for sharing the love for Acme Choppers in our absence. Definitely next year!

Christmas Wish List

2010-11-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

ChopCult featured our wishbone springer in their 2010 holiday gift guide. Imagining finding one of these babies beneath the tree on December 25! Thanks for the love, guys.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-10-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Art for Art's Sake

2010-10-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Iron Horse Mag Halloween Fun

2010-10-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

Todd Ingram at Iron Horse magazine is throwing a hoedown that's getting good support from the chopper universe. If you're in Brooklyn, NYC this weekend, check it out. For more info, click here.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-10-20T18:44:00.001-07:00

Acme Trees on Cyril Huze Blog

2010-10-11T08:17:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Cyril Huze for recognizing the clean aesthetic of Acme parts on his blog. There was nothing confusing about Cyril's writing, but several readers admitted to not understanding it even after reading five times. So much for no child being left behind! Anyway, Cyril clearly stated what we've been saying for years: the best motorcycle parts are designed, not decorated. Thanks again to the French master builder for giving us our props!

It's Just Brown Leaves, People!

2010-10-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

Listen up, New England: with the leaves turning, it's time to throw some cool bike events before snowmobile season! If you know about a swap meet, bar crawl or fall ride, please tell us about it on Facebook, or add your event to ChopCult's events calendar. If you need help with raffle merch, we're always willing to lend a hand. Just send is a flyer and include our logo on your flyer. Show us the flyer before you publish it so we can decide if yours is the kind of event that makes good sense for Acme to sponsor. Thanks to all the locals who are working hard for our scene.

Acme Ink: The Green Hornet

2010-10-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

It isn't the name we gave this bike, but now that we see our little green Triumph on ChopCult, we get the reference. It does look like a damned superhero, doesn't it? Thanks McGoo for taking the photos of our green screamer during his visit to Acme HQ. For the full write up, go here.

For Sale

2010-10-05T21:58:00.000-07:00

We're relisting a couple show bikes on eBay this week. Action was hot, but bids were low, so we've adjusted prices and reserves accordingly. If you live in New England and want to check out the bikes up close, send us an email and we'll gladly make an appointment. To check out the specs, click here.

Acme News: Jay Fortin's Scorpionica

2010-10-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

ChopCult did this feature on our friend Jay's bike a while back. We did the hardtail and provided some of the brass bits on "Dixon's" bike, and it turned out cool. Jay has done leatherwork on several Acme builds in recent years, and the dude is a standup guy. Thanks for all your help, Jay, and congratulations on the write up.

Acme Apparel Now Available

2010-09-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

Regular site visitors may have noticed the new apparel in our online store. We've got ball caps, tees, long-sleeved shirts and trucker hats in stock and ready to ship. Click the images below for details and ordering.

Acme Eagle t-shirt

FlexFit ball cap with oval Acme logo

Long-sleeved Acme logo T-shirt

Short-sleeved Acme logo T-shirts

Acme Wings logo ball cap

Acme work shirt with embroidered patch

Born Free III

2010-09-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Put the third installment of Grant Peterson and Co's. Born Free bike show on your radar, Acme fans, because next year's event is going to be amazing. Count on seeing a few new Acme-built bikes at next year's event, and more than a few Acme parts and accessories on bikes built by our SoCal friends. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes at "Born Three" for doing the heavy lifting on this great event.

Acme BMX Grips

2010-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

We just shipped a set of our billet BMX grips to Eric at Hot Bike magazine. Look for an installation how-to on this product in an upcoming issue of our favorite magazine for show bikes and tech. Thanks for the love, Eric!

Street Chopper Mag Online

2010-09-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

Every new issue of Street Chopper magazine entertains us more and more. Jeff, Chris and Toph do a great job covering the bikes we love, and nobody in the chopper media squeezes more juice for Acme parts than they do. To show our appreciation, we're sponsoring the Street Choppers blog. Thanks to Chris for giving us the opportunity to support his scene, and thanks to Jeff and Eric for using our parts!

Media Spotlight: XLForums

2010-09-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

We're stoked to announce Acme Choppers is a presenting forum sponsor on XLForums.net. Bert at XLForums does an awesome job promoting the XL scene, and we look at his website for trends and inspiration all the time. Thanks for letting be a part of XLForums, and thanks to XLForums members for considering Acme for their next custom project.

An Oldie, but a Goodie

2010-09-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

If you missed the feature ChopCult.com did on our Loop Tail Frames last spring, here's a link to that story. CC doesn't do product fluff pieces, so we were flattered when they featured our rigid frames. Thanks for the juice, gentlemen.

It's Labor Day Weekend: Do Something Fun!

2010-09-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

Fireworks at Weirs Beach, Laconia, NH

Primer Nationals Car and Motorcycle Show, Ventura, CA

Old Garage Co. Open House, Ventura, CA

Off to The Painter

2010-08-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Has the Lobster Pound Triumph been painted? Stay tuned to this blog for the answer…

Art for Art's Sake

2010-08-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Acme and the SoCal Scene

2010-08-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

When it comes to choppers and the guys who ride and build them, nobody at Acme is a hater. We support the New England scene, the SoCal scene, and damn near every scene in between. We say if you're crazy enough to invest time and treasure in the underground bike scene, you deserve our support.

The guys at ChopCult are famous for throwing cool underground chopper events, and the Slab City Riot II this November will be no exception. Acme was among the first to sponsor this great event, and we're looking forward to going to Temecula, CA, November 5th to ride with the gang and check out the crazy stuff that goes down in Salton Sea.

If you live within a day's ride of Salton Sea, try to attend this event.

And if you are promoting an event of a similar nature in your own area, hit us up for free merch for raffles and giveaways. All we ask in return for event sponsorship is that you include our logo on your flyer.

From everyone at Acme Choppers, thanks for supporting the grassroots scene.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-08-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

The Green Hornet?

2010-08-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

We didn't name this bike the Green Hornet, but I'm afraid the handle might stick after ChopCult featured our little Trumpet last week. We built this bike last year, so details are kind of sketchy. It's a Triumph, and that makes it one of our favorite shop bikes. Everyone who sees "the Green Hornet" loves its Invaders, and who can blame them? What a cool wheel from the golden age of hand-built deathtraps! Anyway, thanks, McGoo, for the quickie feature on 33.

Acme to The Rescue

2010-08-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Our friend Mike D at Biltwell asked us to tweak the mounts and fitment on our oil bag to work with his super-narrow hardtail Sportster.

As these screen grabs off ChopCult reveal, we added a tunnel to the alloy oil bag and moved the CNC'ed brackets inward a couple inches so the bag could bolt beneath the triangle brace behind the backbone.

Of course, Mike's using our smooth black alloy oil cap on his Sex Panther to complement the rest of his slick first build.

Mike Frisco'ed his tank, and he's using our tank mounts up front and a set of our machined alloy spacers and rubber isolators on the stock tank mounts in back to keep things clean.

Everyone knows we're freaks for clean around here, so Mike's bike is doing us proud. Keep up the good work.

New Frame Photos & Specs in Acme Store

2010-08-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

We're cranking on frame production this summer, and these photos show three of our most popular.

The Hinckley Triumph frame shown above is engineered around the modern Brit mill in Bonnevilles, Thruxtons and Scramblers. Tired of scooting around town in ton-up style? Chop that Thruxton and make it a rigid on our Acme Loop Tail frame.

Building a modern chopper with Big Twin power? Our Loop Tail frame with 34° neck angle and 5 inches of up stretch has the perfect angles for old school purists. We make it for 4-, 5- and 6-speed tranny options, and all versions of this frame include our battery box and oil bag for easier building.

Our most popular frame is the Acme Loop Tail "bobber." We hate to say "bobber," but the word paints a picture that speaks volumes to everyone who hears it. The neck angle on our basic Loop Tail frame is 30°, and there's no stretch. Like our raked and stretched chopper frame, the big twin bobber frame comes with our oil bag and battery tray installed and ready for building.

Not shown here but also ready for prime time is our 30° Loop Tail frame for '86-'03 Sportsters, unit Triumphs and Yamaha XS650's. Full details on every version of our frames can be seen here.

Wicked Pisser

2010-08-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

When you love building and riding motorcycles as much as we do, it's hard to call spending 15 hours a day at the shop "work." Nevertheless, we do bust our asses around here, so it's nice to see our friends and their motorcycles get they props they deserve.

If you missed their stories on ChopCult this summer, click here to see Zack's Shovel and click here to see our friend Dixon Tufar's (aka Jay Fortin) Scorpionica.

BTW, that's Zack on my left in the red hat and Dixon standing next to my brother Jason in the grey t-shirt.

Thanks for supporting Acme, guys. Your friendship and involvement means a lot.

Oil Bag of The Gods

2010-08-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a clean, rugged and easy-to-mount oil bag, you can't do much better than this:

Our oil bag is as bulletproof and stylish as any alloy oil tank can get. We use 6061 T-6 alloy in its construction, and the end caps are 1/2-inch thick disks for durability and dent resistance. The matching brass cap and mounting inserts are a nice touch, and we also offer them in polished or black anodized alloy.

To learn more about this great part for garage and pro builders, go here.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-08-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

For Fabricators Only

2010-08-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

More and more bike builders are using Acme fab parts for their projects these days, and we're stoked to be part of their process.

Mike D. at Biltwell recently asked us to customize an oil bag for his Sportster build, and he's using our tank brackets to hold the tank. He used our oil bag/gas tank cap and bung assembly to relocate the filler hole on his Sporty tank, and it turned out great.

Our caps are available in three styles (smooth, knurled or pike nut with cog detailing), and all three are vented with a tiny hole for clean, easy breathing. The steel bung welds flush or raised depending on your preference, and the whole assembly is super clean.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-07-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

Art for Art's Sake

2010-07-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Street Chopper Juice

2010-07-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Man, we love Jeff and the crew at Street Chopper magazine. Every time we show them our new stuff they dream up something cool to do with it. First it was our springer fork for the new Street Chopper project bike. Next it was our handlebars on Jeff's personal bike. Now it's our battery tray on the SC blog. We're flattered, JGH, and we appreciate it. If you ever need more stuff for your projects, give us a call!

Step Up, New England!

2010-07-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Gypsy Run 4 will be here sooner than you think. Who's in?

Lowbrow Customs

2010-07-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Lowbrow Customs in Ohio is one of the coolest, fastest-growing companies in today's scene. In addition to their own line of parts and accessories, Lowbrow stocks high-performance P&A from a wide variety of brands and manufacturers, Acme included. That right: Lowbrow Customs is now an Acme stockist. We're manufacturing Lowbrow's Acme inventory immediately, and when it's finished you can order from Lowbrow by clicking here.

Thanks to Kyle and Tyler for their support. We're excited to be part of the Lowbrow family!

Our Little Blue Triumph

2010-07-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

The little blue Triumph that sits in our showroom is being featured on ChopCult this month. Here's a sneak peek. Thanks, guys! Click the image to see the slightly weird story.

It's Never Too Early to Plan Ahead…

2010-07-10T04:35:00.000-07:00

The guys at ChopCult.com are throwing another one of their crazy desert rides and live music festivals at Salton Sea, CA, November 6. If you survive Halloween this year and want to do something even creepier, we hear this one's worth seeing. We're donating some cool Acme t-shirts and hard parts for the free raffle, and we hear the Coctagon is going to be insane. For more info, click the flyer.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-07-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

The Electric Buzzard

2010-07-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Our friend Zack Taylor's shovel is a featured bike on ChopCult this morning. Congratulations, brother.

Acme Bars on Hot Bike Blog

2010-07-06T20:43:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Hot Bike editor and friend Eric Ellis for featuring our handlebar line on the Hot Bike blog. For more info, click here and here.

If You Live in SoCal…

2010-07-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

Our friends Jeff Holt and Eric Ellis at Street Choppers & Hot Bike in SoCal are throwing another magazine release party in Signal Hill, CA, on July 10. If you live in the area, check it out.

Lobster Pound Biker Build-Off

2010-07-04T16:19:00.001-07:00

Our little Triumph didn't garner the votes we thought it would at last month's Laconia Biker Build-off at Weirs Beach, but coverage following the event was good, and some evidence of the scene can be found on this link. Here's Wayne and Jason chilling with old #6 at the Lobster Pound Build-Off tent. Thanks to everyone who voted for our little British screamer, and congratulations to Steve at SDS Cycles for taking the five-grand prize!

Stay tuned for more photos of our Lobster Pound bike after we get it back from the painter…

Thanks, Mates!

2010-07-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

Matt and Dean at DicE magazine showed us some love on their blog this week. Hey Dean—let us know if you need cool guy bars for your freedom machine!

Acme in Print

2010-06-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Guy at Greasy Kulture for sending us a copy of his new rag. If you've never read GKM, pop for a 1-year sub—you won't regret it. Guy focuses on the hand-built choppers we love, and his eye for graphic design and good writing is evident in every story.

The Cycle Source

2010-06-30T13:25:00.001-07:00

When it comes to stoking readers and contributing to the chopper ecosystem, Chris Callen and Lisa Ballard at Cycle Source throw a mean one-two punch. Their blog posts and print features are consistent faves with the Acme crew, so when we showed up on the CS blog this week, we were really stoked. Thanks for the love, gang. Let us know when you're cruising through New England—we'd love to give you a tour of the shop.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-06-29T17:06:00.000-07:00

Vintage BMX

2010-06-28T17:11:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I'm into vintage BMX. I follow the scene on a couple different websites, and I collect old parts and build old bikes that float around the shop whenever I can.

There was a big vintage bike event at Rockford BMX last weekend. I didn't go, but I followed it on VintageBMX.com.

Check out the classes and winners on the thread by clicking the photo. I'll shoot some of my bikes soon and share them with you on our blog and Facebook galleries.

OK—back to the choppers…

Happy Birthday, Horse

2010-06-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

The rag many chopper freaks call their favorite turned 100 this month. If you haven't seen the new issue, pick up a copy—it's not a bad read. If you want to see an Acme bike in The Horse, send Hammer an email. Our invitation to visit the shop still stands…

Local Boy Makes Good!

2010-06-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Our friend Bud Trahan's '78 shovelhead is featured on ChopCult. We're stoked for you, brother. Nice work on the bike, and thanks for the props!

Acme in Cycle Source

2010-06-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

There's an open invitation to the editors and friends at all the chopper mags to visit us at Acme HQ. Chris Callen's Cycle Source is particularly popular in the Acme reading room, and we hope C2 will make the trek from PA to NH soon. Here's a sneak peek at one of the print ads you'll be seeing on the pages of Cycle Source in the weeks and months to come. Thanks again for all your support, Chris!

Acme Choppers Feature on ChopCult

2010-06-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to McGoo at ChopCult for visiting our shop over Memorial Day weekend. Wayne and the guys spent two days showing the old BMXer-turned-web'zine-editor around our town, and he followed up with a ChopCult feature on how we build bikes parts and accessories east of the Mississippi. Click the screen grab to check it out.

Cycle Source "Made in America" Buyer's Guide

2010-06-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Cycle Source featured our triple trees, risers and T-bars in their July 2010 "American Made Buyer's Guide" issue. Thanks for the press, guys!

If You're Coming to Bike Week

2010-06-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

If you're in town for Laconia Bike Week, please visit our shop. We're offering tune and service for riders who need help with their bikes, and we'll have some custom builds around for your viewing pleasure. Of course, there's always cool new and hard-to-find used parts available in our showroom, and our new t-shirts will also be available.

For a link to directions, click the map:

Dirty Little Secret

2010-06-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

The cat's going to be out of the bag sooner or later, so we might as well tell you now:

Wayne is addicted to old-school BMX. When he's not designing chopper parts and building show bikes, he searches the Innerweb for clean, hard-to-find, and NOS BMX frames, forks and components from BMX's glory days in the early 1980's.

McGoo from ChopCult.com recently visited our shop to do a feature, and when he saw Wayne's stash he flipped. You see, McGoo is an old-school BMXer with DEEP roots in the scene, and he personally knew or worked for many of the companies that made the BMX stuff Wayne loves the most. Stuff like Hutch cranks, Skyway TA Aero race frames, SE Landing Gear forks, and practically everything from Araya, Dia-Compe and Suntour.

Here are some photos of Wayne's BMX room. As you can see, bike frames outnumber choppers 10 to 1!

Thanks to ChopCult for visiting our factory, and thanks to all the old-school BMXers out there who feed Wayne's addiction.

Greasebag Rumblings?

2010-06-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

We know it's too early to be talking about this, but rumblings between Knucklebuster Grail and McGoo on Facebook seem to confirm what Wayne and the rest of us talked about on Memorial Day. Just to make it official, some time in July 2011 there WILL be another Greasebag Jamboree, and we WILL host the event at Acme HQ. This will come as good news to anyone who shared their frustration about our fair city's strict no-free-fun policy in a recent story on ChopCult. Keep your eyes peeled on the Knucklebuster news feed and this blog for more news as it develops. Grail is making noises about a swap meet, some bands, a BBQ, and a camping at a cool local campground the weekend of the event. Stay tuned, New Hampshire, because this one is going to be sick…

Acme in The Horse

2010-06-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

The Horse BSC is one of the most popular chopper rags on American newsstands, and we're pleased and proud to give them our support. Acme ads will begin appearing in issue #100, which should be in subscribers' mailboxes later this month. If Hammer or Englishman are are reading our blog, consider this your official invitation to visit our shop and check out our new bikes and parts…

Welcome to Laconia!

2010-06-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

Next week the grandaddy of American bike rallies will kick start right here in our own back yard. 2010 marks the 87th running of Laconia Bike Week, and it's the first time Acme Choppers will be a featured builder at the Lobster Pound restaurant's biker build-off. We're putting together an old Triumph for this event, which should throw everyone at Weirs Beach for a loop. Here's a sneak peak at the bike we're building, which will be re-built in front of a live audience at the famous Weirs Beach landmark. If you're going to be in Laconia next week, please stop by our shop—someone will be here all week to show bikes, answer tech questions and offer tune-and-service for visiting riders.

Thanks for the Love, Jeff

2010-06-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

Jeff Holt at Street Choppers threw us a bone on his mag's blog this week. His feature touched on our Loop Tail frames. Click the screen grab for more info. Thanks for the props, JGH

Art for Art's Sake

2010-05-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Art for Art's Sake

2010-05-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Art for Art's Sake

2010-05-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Acme in Hot Bike

2010-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

Eric Ellis from Hot Bike magazine was visiting our friends McGoo and Bill at ChopCult.com last month, and he saw some of our parts in their studio/warehouse. Some of those parts were the Wideglide Wishbone Springer and Acme risers with Gullwing bars seen here. This ad will break on the pages of Hot Bike magazine next month, and their sister publication Street Chopper is building a show bike with our super narrow fork even as we speak.

We admire Eric's passion and dedication to the chopper scene, and we're glad we can support his magazine. Thanks for the props on our parts, Eric.

Acme Choppers In Cycle Source

2010-05-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

Our super narrow springer and matching powdercoated black T-bar are featured in the next issue of Cycle Source. Chris Callen has been the founder, publisher, editor, graphic designer and driving force behind Cycle Source magazine for 13 years, and his chopper rag continues to get better and better. Hey Chris—when you're ready to do a product how-to, talk to us. We've got a bunch of new parts and accessories we think your readers will enjoy.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-05-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Rollin' The DicE

2010-05-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

This is the first new Acme ad scheduled to break in DicE magazine this summer. Speaking of DicE, f you live in Iowa, hit Matt and Dean's premiere party at Kung Fu Tap & Taco in Des Moines on May 15. For more info, click here.

Freedom of Press

2010-05-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

At Acme, we understand the importance free press plays in the growth and prosperity of the American custom motorcycle industry. For this reason, we take the obligation of supporting the chopper media with advertising seriously, and we try hard to build ads that are as clean and fun to look at as the bikes and parts that bear our name.

We're proud of our 2010 advertising campaign, and we hope you'll support the magazines that have promised to support us. In the coming months, look for Acme Chopper ads like this in The Horse, Hot Bike, Cycle Source, Street Chopper, DicE and Greasy Kulture. These are the books we enjoy reading, and we hope you do, too.

Of course, Acme's online presence will continue to grow, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone who has shared our vision of today's chopper scene with their motorcycle-lovin' FB, CC and Myspace friends.

To the friends and magazine editors who have helped us share our passion with the masses, thanks for your support!

New Shop Shots in Acme Gallery

2010-05-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Things have been cooking at Acme HQ lately, and we've got some behind-the-scenes photos to prove it. Click the image above to visit our gallery. And if you own a motorcycle that features Acme products, we want to see it! To share your photos with other Acme builders and riders, email the image here. We'll post the best images to our customer's bikes gallery. Thanks for taking the time to share your scene with us.

Art for Art's Sake

2010-04-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Art for Art's Sake

2010-04-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

Art for Art's Sake

2010-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

More Builder's Parts: Acme Tank Mounting Kit

2010-04-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Another great pere-fabbed part for the garage and home bike builder. Each Acme tank mount features a drilled piece of 1/4-inch thick steel fitted with machined alloy spacers.

These spacers are isolated from the steel bracket with a rubber insert, and each one accepts a 5/16"-18 12-point chrome bolt (not shown). Finishes include polished alloy, black anodized, or polished brass with chrome-plated hardware. The price for a set of two brackets is 55 bucks, and you can order them online by clicking here.

Parts for Builders: Acme Oil Caps

2010-04-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

If you're building a bike from scratch, there's two ways to do it: make everything, or make everything better. We prefer the latter, and to help you in that regard, we've created these great threaded caps with pre-fabbed bungs. Sure, you might be able to make something like these yourself, but why? We did the detail work so you don't have to.

We offer our caps in three finishes (brass, black ano, polished) and three styles: smooth (above),

knurled (above),

and spiked cog style (above)

All three versions feature clean internal venting, shown here on the bottom and side of the black threaded cap. A machined recess with O-ring provides leak-free function and performance.

Each cap comes with a matching threaded steel bung for welding into whatever oil bag you're building. When finished, our caps give your hand-made oil bag or gas tank a clean, pro appearance that says, "Check me out—I know what I'm doing." For more info, click here.

If You Live in SoCal…

2010-04-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

You should be hitting the Hippy Killer Hoedown on April 17. For more info, click the flyer.

Acme Springer Forks Ready to Roll

2010-04-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

We're proud of every product that bears the Acme brand, but our wishbone forks deserve special recognition for their quality and performance. We offer our forks in three widths and a wide range of under- and over-stock lengths from 4" under to 18" over.

Pictured above are our WideGlide springers. If fat's not your things, we've also got…

Narrowglide springers…

… and super narrow springers for spool hubs and no front brakes. All three widths feature CNC'ed steel leg supports, axle rockers and spring bases with bullnose edges for a smooth, sleek appearance.

The polished alloy plate in this detail shot is CNC'ed from 6061 T-6 aluminum, and is available in two styles for different handlebar-mounting applications.

This detail shows our smooth rockers and our polished and chrome plated pivot hardware.

Acme wishbone springers are available in chrome or black powdercoat with polished stainless-steel hardware and springs. For more info, visit our online catalog.

New Galleries and Photos on Facebook

2010-04-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who's waited patiently while we got our Facebook page up to speed. We're slammed at the shop these days, so there isn't always time for cyber networking. We apologize, and we'll try not to leave you hanging any longer than necessary. In other FB news, today we uploaded nearly 50 new photos of bikes, frames and Acme forks on our wall, so there's plenty to plow through while you're waiting for us to approve your friend request! Thanks again for all your support.

Ready for Primetime: Acme Loop Tail Frame for Late-Model Triumph

2010-04-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

When John Bloor resurrected the Triumph marque, chopper fans knew it would only be a matter of time before the custom motorcycle industry picked up where it left off with this iconic brand. Since its resurgence, Hinckley Triumphs have enjoyed a rapid recovery in the minds of motorcycle customizers, with dozens of companies offering specialized parts and accessories for these fast, reliable machines.

Like everyone else who loves these fun and affordable parallel twins, we couldn't leave well enough alone, either. Our Acme Loop Tail frame is engineered specifically for late-model Triumphs, and as you can see, it's a stunner.

Like every Acme hard tail, our Hinckley Triumph frame features our exclusive billet CNC-machined one-piece steel rear axle blocks with recessed brass paint protectors and integrated axle adjusters. Also included is our billet alloy battery tray and our one-piece machined frame neck with integrated bearing races and fork stops. If you have a Hinckley Triumph you're ready to breathe new life into, you can't do any better than our custom American-made chassis for your British scooter. For more information on this or any other Acme frame, click here.

Pure Smoking Satisfaction

2010-03-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

I mustache you a question: If you live in California and you're not going to the DicE release party in Oakland this weekend, why not?

Random Access: Acme Fab Shop

2010-03-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

A couple quickies from the Acme project files:

This is an aluminum seat pan/pillion unit we cooked up a while back for a customer's bike. Stay tuned for more details.

Ever wonder how we align our frame's rear stays so precisely with the back bone? Now you know. We take pride in the quality of our finished products, so sweating details like tooling and jigging always yields great results. This fixture is movable so we can customize the length and angle of our frames without compromising their alignment. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it…

Acme Choppers on Myspace

2010-03-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

We have to be honest: things have been so busy around here with all our bike projects and other Internet responsibilities, we shoved the Acme Myspace page in the back saddlebag. We're caught up with the new website, online store, ChopCult and Facebook profiles, so it's time to freshen things up here.

Facebook has trumped MS's card on the whole social network scene, and ChopCult is even better for sharing insight and opinions with like-minded motorcycle fans. We spend most of our time at FB and CC, and we're encouraging our Myspace friends to do the same. Myspace is great if you're a stand-up comedian or in a band, but if you build and ride custom motorcycles, there are better places to stay in touch with the scene. Thanks for looking out, and don't be afraid to stay in touch. We enjoy answering your tech questions about motorcycles.

Under the Microscope: Acme Loop Tail Frames

2010-03-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

This is the frame EVERYONE who's seen one has been talking about. Our Acme Loop Tail frame is custom crafted in our own shop in Laconia, NH, to be the best and last chopper chassis you'll ever need.

The frame in these photos is built for Shovel and Evo motors with a 4-speed kicker transmission, but we offer our Loop Tail frame for Unit and Hinkley Triumphs, Yamaha XS650's and Evo Sportster motors, too.

The level of construction quality and attention to detail on Acme frames is unprecedented. Take for example our one-piece CNC-turned head tube with integrated steering stop and built-in bearing race seats. Every Acme frame comes with a lower stop that bolts to your fork tree and a matching stainless steel bearing cover on top to create a super-clean finished assembly. No more unsightly fork stops or weld-on tabs.

Our one-piece tranny plate is CNC machined from billet steel and precision TIG welded for beauty and strength. We offer both 4-speed kicker and 5-speed electric start plate configurations, so you can build your Acme chopper with any power train you desire.

The front motor mounts feature threaded bungs for forward controls, and the cross member is CNC machined for added precision. Raised engine mounting points can be sanded down after paint to allow perfect grounding between the cases and the frame.

The loop style axle blocks are CNC machined from a single piece of billet steel, and feature removable brass or stainless steel axle plates to protect the paint finish. The frame is wide enough to accept up to a 140 rear tire, and the rear triangle features our distinctive symmetrical design—no more offset tubes for belt clearance.

Every Acme Loop Tail frame comes with our precision-crafted alloy oil tank and battery tray (not shown). Our 6061 T-6 alloy oil bag features CNC machined mounting brackets and rubber isolation grommets with alloy inserts and 12-point chrome-plated mounting hardware. We think our Acme Oil Tank is the most beautiful and finely crafted aluminum oil bag for choppers and bobbers money can buy.

The MSRP on our all-new Acme Loop Tail frame starts at $2,400. When you add up all the style, function, quality and construction that goes into these American-made frames, we think the price is a value.

Everything New is Old Again

2010-03-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

Anyone who says you can't make a cool bike out of an H-D Evo or its equivalent just isn't trying. A Triumph tank on a late-model Big Twin bobber? Why not. Hey, it's your motorcycle—do what you want with it. See more photos of this and other early Acme builds here.

Greasebag Jamboree: RIP

2010-03-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

It is with heavy heart we join Grail at Knucklebuster in announcing there will be no Greasebag Jamboree in 2010. Acme's had the pleasure of hosting Grail's underground hoedown in years past, so it breaks our heart to share this news. However, our fair city was attempting to impose so many new rules and regulations on Grail's event, it just wasn't worth the headache. The Greasebag Jamboree will ride again in one form or another, and Acme will surely be there in full force. Thanks to Grail and Knucklebuster for keeping the dream alive, and thanks to everyone who attended the event in the past.

Acme Loop Tail Frames on ChopCult

2010-03-05T09:48:00.001-08:00

The guys at ChopCult did a great write-up on our Loop Tail rigid frame for Big Twins. As you may know, our Loop Tail frame is also available for Triumphs, Sportsters and XS650s. Of course, every Acme frame is precision crafted in our own shop right here in New Hampshire. Thanks for sharing some info on our products, ChopCult, and thanks to CC readers for the great response!

We're Doin' This… Are You?

2010-03-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

2010 marks the 4th running of our friend Jersey Walt Gemeinhardt's Gypsy Run, and this year is gonna be a doozie. For the latest details on the route, the party, the camping and the fun, go here. Thanks to Walt for letting us be a part of the good times. See you this summer.

The Flying Limey

2010-03-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

Another stylish ride from the Acme arsenal of custom builds. This unit Trumpet features early versions of several current Acme products like our grips and jockey shifter handle. When we built this bike in 2007, doing so helped us figure out what we wanted in a Triumph frame of our own. Our unit Triumph frames will debut later this spring, and when they do you'll see them here first. In the mean time, check out our updated photo gallery for more pics of this and other Acme choppers in our quiver.

Check This Out

2010-03-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

Five new albums have been added to the photo galleries on our website. In addition to our own shop bikes, we've added Events, Customer Bikes, The Shop and Projects to the visual mix. The Events gallery is especially cool… here you'll find flyers of upcoming events around the country with links to each ride, campout, bike show or chopper hoedown. If you have an event you want us to feature in the Acme Events gallery, please email it here.