| Deep in America’s heartland, amidst the cornfields and shocks of wheat, is a new rumble of thunder in the form of Mid-West Choppers. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, Mid-West Choppers is taking the country by storm with its unique one-off customs and now with its full line of production bikes. Recently, Brian Jackson and the crew from Corbin’s Ride On had an opportunity to talk with Chip Miyler, the founder of the company, about its products and its successes. First, here is a little bit of history about Mid-West Choppers. According to the company’s website, “Founder, Chip Miyler, started customizing Harley Davidson motorcycles in 1989. He started building full-blown customs in 1995 and opened Mid-West Choppers, Inc. in 2000 in the heart of the Midwest. Chip and his crew have turned out over 100 custom cycles since the inception of MWC. A few of these bikes have graced the pages of the hottest magazines in the industry, such as Easyriders, V-Twin, Hot Bike, Street Chopper, American Iron, Biker, and In The Wind.” In addition, “Mid-West Choppers has become the first motorcycle manufacturer ever in the state of Illinois. We are DOT certified and NADA and Kelley Blue Book listed. We offer financing up to 96 months and warranty programs up to seven years.” Pretty impressive, huh?
When Brian sat down to talk with Chip, we quickly discovered why the company has taken off like it has. It’s all about attitude! Chip told Brian, “We build people’s dreams,” and in fact, our company motto is, “Dream it, Build it, Ride it!” Chip went on to tell Brian that his inspiration comes from the best builders and designers in the business, including Arlen Ness and Kendall Johnson. He also noted that customer input is essential in the design process. Chip told Brian that one reason for the company’s success is that they take all the work out of owning a custom motorcycle. “The only things that can hold someone back are their pocketbook or their imagination,” Chip told us. Chip went on to say that there are basically two ways to buy a bike from them: one is to buy a one-of-a-kind custom, and the other is to purchase one of their production bikes. Currently, they offer five different production models. Those numbers are limited to keep down the cost. Choices for the owners also give the bike a personalized touch. “We have 33 different wheel designs, and there are unlimited paint schemes that people can choose,” Chip told us. Another reason for the tremendous success that Mid-West Choppers is experiencing is simply the quality of their motorcycles. Chip stated that they only use the best of what is available in building their bikes, such as S & S motors, Baker right-side-drive trannys, and Avon and Metzler tires.
So, what’s next for Mid-West Choppers? Well, Chip told us to look for a new bike on the production line that will have the fattest rear tire that you have ever seen—even bigger than a 300 series! He also said they are looking to capture the attention of female riders with a new series of production bikes. Soon there will also be a line of custom trikes in the works! It’s easy to see why Mid-West Choppers is making its mark in the motorcycle industry. If you would like to know more about the bikes available from Midwest Choppers, give them a call at 309-DI-2-RIDE.
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