Orange County Choppers Are My Life

Paul Teutul Jr. , USA

Date Posted: 06/19/08

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Paul Teutul Jr. says he was born with steel in his blood. He's is a custom bike builder who co-founded Orange County Choppers with his father Paul Teutul Sr. in 1999. He was made famous by the smashing success of the TV show American Chopper on TLC.

Unlike his father, Paul Jr. isn't a biker per se, but his theme bike designs and fabrications turn heads on asphalt around the world. Here's the story of how the metal traveled through his blood, out of his head and onto the open road.

Why bikes and not a desk job? I was never super interested in school, so the whole sitting down all day thing never really worked for me. I grew up in the steel business, so I’ve worked with my hands from an early age. My father was always into motorcycles. He always had a bike or two that he was tinkering around with when I was young, so it was just natural for me to be mechanically inclined.

All In The Family

I share my dad’s name and we share a lot of the same characteristics. Genetically we’re built pretty much the same. The challenge of working with my father is that I have to work with my father...

The rewards are obvious; we’ve been real successful. The TV show wouldn’t be what it is without the family dynamic – it gives that genuine quality that people love. And I like to think we build some unique bikes. It’s not easy working with family in general. We spend more time together than married couples do!

You gotta remember my mother weighs in heavy too. She’s just a different person – more reserved – just the complete opposite of my father, so I had that influence as well. I’m a calmer person than my dad. He likes to scream and throw things around, while I like to rationalize things.

Mikey

Me and Michael get along really good. He’s the youngest boy, and I’m the oldest, so he’s my little brother. The way Mikey is, is the way everyone wants to be. He’s just really carefree and laid back…maybe too laid back at times. He’s a funny guy and very intelligent. That’s part of the combination that makes us all work well together.