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Caterpillar and Orange County Choppers build custom ‘Cat’ bike

March 10, 2005 |

The latest Caterpillar product is big, rugged, loud and yellow. But it’s not a piece of construction equipment – it’s a motorcycle.

The Cat custom chopper, as it’s properly called, was unveiled March 4 to more than 1,200 employees and guests – including U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) – in tandem with the company’s new Clayton, N.C., visitor and training center. The chopper was built by Orange County Choppers of Rock Tavern, N.Y., and will be featured on the Discovery Channel series “American Chopper” April 4 and 11 at 10 p.m. EST.

“It’s definitely the biggest, toughest and most rugged bike we’ve ever done,” said Paul Teutul Jr., OCC’s chief designer and fabricator, who completed the chopper in February.

Teutul said Cat’s reputation of quality, strength and toughness in the construction industry mirrored qualities OCC carries for its products. He said this similar build philosophy made the collaboration an exciting venture.

Paul Teutul Jr. (on bike) was the chief designer and fabricator of the Cat custom chopper. His father, Paul Sr., owns the Rock Tavern, N.Y.-based custom motorcycle business.
Photo by Tom Jackson

The custom chopper designer drew inspiration for the Cat chopper from visiting the company’s East Peoria, Ill., plant and a demonstration facility near Edwards, Ill., with his father Paul Sr. and brother Mikey. The Teutuls were allowed to operate a 124-ton D11R Carrydozer and view other Cat equipment for design cues used in the chopper’s construction.

One glance at the Cat chopper reveals just how similar the bike is to other pieces of the company’s equipment – huge wheels, beaded welds, a smokestack exhaust, an elevated-sprocket design for the transmission belt cover and Cat’s signature yellow paint are present.

“The bike from front to back screams Cat,” said Benjamin Cordani, spokesman for Cat. “This isn’t a sleek, elegant bike. It’s an incredible depiction of the Cat equipment.”