Bagger Nation-Paul Yaffe

Hey,

  I get a bunch of the motorcycle magazines and some of the trade stuff every month. I have piles of magazines that are growing into a mountain. I always feel like I will want to check something out so: I keep this “library” I got the stuff before we started the beachcruiser and now I simply get more of it.

  I last saw Paul Yaffe at Sturgis 07. Train and I didn’t make it last year for various reasons. The big one was a torn retina in my eye. Bummer. Bagger Nation was just beginning at the time and now it’s a serious business Paul has been a master builder in the industry for awhile now but, he is also a visionary and a good business man. He recognized that Baggers were about to become a trend and he took action. He builds them from scratch, upgrades them, sells parts for them and they are very cool.

  Paul has been recognized by other builders and enthusiasts as a very talented guy. He is that and the big deal is that to survive one must adjust, see the future and act. Paul has done that. You can spend around 35k and walk away with  a kick ass bagger. If you have the game and mechanical skills to do the work you can buy his parts and do it yourself. I have noticed over the past couple of years that the bikes get better and better both to look at and mechanically. Paul created what he calls “monkey bars” which are very cool. He has a number of parts that are his alone.

  I saw a bagger he built in either American Iron, V-Twin or Easyriders. I am too lazy to go see which one but, you should read them all anyway. It’s in the current month.Paul’s website is www.baggernation.com where you can check out his work online. He still builds customs bikes under the name of Yaffe origionals as well. Paul is also a nice guy. He is charitable and easy to talk to(listen to). If he builds a bike for you he will sit down and discuss everything you want and give his opinion. When there is a meeting of the minds, he builds it. He also will keep you up to date via emails and pictures no matter where you live.

  I have to mention Brian Klock  and www.klockworks.com when I speak about Baggers. Brian is a master and his work is superior. His bikes are beautiful, fast, mechanically superior and he too is always coming up with proprietary products like the “flare” windshield which is gorgeous and functional. Baggers are here and should be here for awhile. A lot of riders are baby boomers and as we age our wants and needs change. Choppers are cool, I love the board tracks and I have personally been into cruisers for a long time, I now find that I am looking at baggers, trikes, even ramped up scooters like the Suzuki Burgman.

  My dad used to say that getting older isn’t for sissies. My father was a very smart man.

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