Customer Reviews

Billy Lane: Chop Fiction: It's Not A Motorcycle Baby, It's A Chopper

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book mostly for the great photography, never expecting such an interesting story. I thought it would be another celebrity talking about how great he is. Instead I find one of the most candid, honest self reflections I've ever read. Billy lays it all right out there for the entire world to see. He doesn't hold anything back, the good, the bad, or the ugly. Reading this book, I felt like I really understood what a television celebrity goes through. Great job, Billy!

The first thing that struck me about Billy Lane when I saw him on TV the first time was that he looked like a normal bloke, doing what he loved to do...party and build choppers. Billy's book confirms my initial impression.

It's a fascinating read, learning how he arrived at the place he's in today; learning about his family, friends, his business and his choppers. The style is very laid back and honest, it's not like some other biographies where you struggle to `get into' the book and find yourself just reading it to pass time. When I started reading this book, I didn't have huge expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by how well the book was structured and written. After finishing the book, you are still left with a few questions, but at the end of the day, if you're thinking about a book after you've read it then it must have been a pretty good book to read in the first place.

Aside from what's been written, the photography is also excellent, and captures all the small details of Billy's bikes that set them apart from all the other builders at the moment. I've made space for this book - which I like to get out fairly often and look at the pictures and read a chapter here and there -next to `Art of the Chopper' which is also an excellent book on a similar topic.

If you enjoy watching choppers take shape on TV and learning more about one of the more distinctive builders then this honest, well written biography is definitely worth purchasing.

Billy Lane is an ICON in the world of Choppers. His bikes have been featured in Motorcycle publications around the world. This book gives us an inside look at the man behind those custom built Choppers; his friends, his family, his work ethic, and his party till you drop attitude. You'll like the photo's, and His idea of the perfect ride is one I agree with; 500 lbs of good Milwaukee steel, me, and a hundred pounder on the back.
Good job Billy

Who's this longhair, you ask? Well, this is an alternative to Jesse James, who's currently riding the wave as being the most recognised chopper builder in the world, taking over where Arlen Ness and the rest left off. Billy Lane's autobiography is an interesting read, an insight into a guy who loves what he does, and builds interesting, artistic bikes.

The hubless rear wheel he pioneered is probably his greatest achievements, and it appears that he allowed Jesse James to use his six-gun design too. I guess behind the scenes certain ideas are shared freely between friends.

Overall a nice book to have if you're into Choppers. Nice to read and with all full colour photos on high quality paper.

Kinda disapointed with this book. His views, a few short stories and alot of pics. Nothing really deep.

I do not read many autobiographies. Those I have read seemed way too polished to be true and accurate. Chop Fiction, thankfully, comes across as a sincere and honest account. I truly enjoyed reading it and looking at the photos and parking tickets.
I would recommend it to anyone just starting out or at a crossroad in life.

This was a great book if your a fan of Billy Lane and the custom chopper scene of the early decade. Billy was pretty candid about this lifestyle and attitudes, and was suprizingly entertaining. The pictures were great although many were re-collected from old magazine shoots and/or the discovery channel.

I have been a biker and raised by bikers since I was knee high to a coke bottle, I can say that out of the whole crowd of puffed up halfwit wannabe bandwagon ridin talentless hacks, billy, and inidian larry were some of the only real people. People you can party with, people that respect our code. I like billy as a person and his book is damn good to. If you want to know about joe everyman biker who made it big this is the book for you. Two big thumbs up.
-jdh

Cool book to flip through for great photos of bikes, Billy, his wild times, his shop, etc...but also a great story. He talks about his childhood, his business, his love of riding and building, his respect for other builders and their influence, etc. Interesting life and an interesting book. Stylin' design too.

Thanx for putting out the book.It was THE christmas present for my hubby ;}
It's great to ride by the "shop". Always a head jerker...Billy, at 2 am, do our Melb. cops harass y'all? I'm just really curious...