Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Seeing that corporations have ordered "novelty" motorcycles in the past... the kind of thing you see on Orange County choppers, has there been any instances of a custom ordered Rick to represent a corporation?

I remember seeing football teams Epiphones (I think) a few years back.

Yes, Chris. There were some instruments manufactured for RCA. A few examples are seen in the following thread.

Neat, thanks. Logo is pretty small, though. Has anyone done anything more "out there" like freaky colours or custom pictures?

There was the Shadow bass made for Guitar Center back in 1986.

Here's more info:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=387177

ccollette wrote:Seeing that corporations have ordered "novelty" motorcycles in the past... the kind of thing you see on Orange County choppers, has there been any instances of a custom ordered Rick to represent a corporation?

I remember seeing football teams Epiphones (I think) a few years back.

OC Choppers has zero brand identity of its own --- Rickenbacker has 80 year's worth.

Cranking out "one-offs" for corporations is what OC Choppers does. That IS their brand identiy --- Rickenbacker is doing just fine.

collin wrote:

ccollette wrote:Seeing that corporations have ordered "novelty" motorcycles in the past... the kind of thing you see on Orange County choppers, has there been any instances of a custom ordered Rick to represent a corporation?

I remember seeing football teams Epiphones (I think) a few years back.

OC Choppers has zero brand identity of its own --- Rickenbacker has 80 year's worth.

Cranking out "one-offs" for corporations is what OC Choppers does. That IS their brand identiy --- Rickenbacker is doing just fine.

Actually OCC builds bikes that are not theme bikes for the everyday customer.
Edit: I just read that Paul Teutul Sr. just passed away from pancreatic cancer. So who knows what will happen with OCC.

OC Choppers has zero brand identity of its own --- Rickenbacker has 80 year's worth.

Cranking out "one-offs" for corporations is what OC Choppers does. That IS their brand identiy --- Rickenbacker is doing just fine.[/quote]


I hope my post didn't come off as though I was "dissing" Ricks - was just a curiosity of mine. It really is related to how some companies commemorate milestones...like 50th anniversary. I just let myself imagine for a second that my company could do something like have a commemorative Rick to mark a milestone. Of course, I know that there would be no appetite for this where I work, but I can dream.

ken_j wrote: Edit: I just read that Paul Teutul Sr. just passed away from pancreatic cancer. So who knows what will happen with OCC.

As noted on a thread devoted to this subject, I cannot confirm the veracity of this statement, so unless we get news from other sources to corroborate the caption that is on a Fox News video I would have to conclude for now that Paul Sr. is still alive.

There is evidence of this on the news this morning Brian and I have removed the thread.

Chris: I saw nothing in your post that was critical of RIC. It was a good question and the Factory may be able to remind us of other examples of which we may be unaware.

winston wrote:

ken_j wrote: Edit: I just read that Paul Teutul Sr. just passed away from pancreatic cancer. So who knows what will happen with OCC.

As noted on a thread devoted to this subject, I cannot confirm the veracity of this statement, so unless we get news from other sources to corroborate the caption that is on a Fox News video I would have to conclude for now that Paul Sr. is still alive.

I found this on Discovery's American Chopper website. The links seemed odd though. Maybe a possible prank due to the auction/competition with the Cadillac bikes.

My history shows the links to "Bloodshows.com" and Fox News is no longer in the URL. Also the links aren't active. Surely a prank, Sorry for the mis-info.

ken_j wrote:

collin wrote:

ccollette wrote:Seeing that corporations have ordered "novelty" motorcycles in the past... the kind of thing you see on Orange County choppers, has there been any instances of a custom ordered Rick to represent a corporation?

I remember seeing football teams Epiphones (I think) a few years back.

OC Choppers has zero brand identity of its own --- Rickenbacker has 80 year's worth.

Cranking out "one-offs" for corporations is what OC Choppers does. That IS their brand identiy --- Rickenbacker is doing just fine.

Actually OCC builds bikes that are not theme bikes for the everyday customer.
Edit: I just read that Paul Teutul Sr. just passed away from pancreatic cancer. So who knows what will happen with OCC.

"builds" is a pretty generous term. They assemble parts from a catalog, and bolt in a crate motor off the shelf....but I digress.

They still don't have a distinctly "OCC-look" about the bikes, and certainly don't own dozens of trademarks for their unique designs, like Ric. Why on earth would Ric feel the need to treat their finished art like a blank canvas for some corporation with too much money?

Colin: I don't think that anyone in this thread was suggesting that RIC feels the need to make instruments for another business. The question was asked if they have ever done this sort of custom work and the most straightfoward answer would be yes. Of couse, one instance does not a pattern make. Historically, the RCA instruments are a bit of a RIC rarity and of interest to some.

Ken: Not at all. The Internet is a tricky place sometimes. In addition to your comments, the clue to a hoax for me was the poorly edited news piece.