1. Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel (October 17, 1938 – November 30, 2007)

2. Bob Duffey
Another motorcycle jumper, Bob is better known as being “The Fastest Man on Two Wheels Backwards”. His record speed of 122 mph on a motorcycle BACKWARDS is more than impressive…it’s badass. Nobody is even close…well, not too many have really tried. His record was done on a 1979 stock Kawasaki Z1R-TC, his favorite bike, at an IDBA (International Drag Bike Association) sanctioned event.  Here’s some video footage of Mr Duffey doing his thing:

3. William S. Harley, William A. Davidson, Walter Davidson, Sr., & Arthur Davidson
If you have to ask who these guys are, you shouldn’t really be reading this post…unless it’s to learn. The founders of Harley-Davidson deserve a LOT of respect. They certainly aren’t the most intimidating people to ride motorcycles, but let’s face it…without them, we’d all be crouching over our handlebars and constantly feel the need to prove how badass we are by doing a wheelie at 100mph on the highway. Thank Harley that’s not the case.

4. Debbie Evans
The “Queen of Trials” is the first woman to successfully ride in the US Trials during the late 1970s and is generally considered the best female rider in the history of the sport. I bet you didn’t think I’d put a woman on this list did you?  Well Debbie currently teaches (yes teaches) stunt riding including how to crash your bike without hurting yourself.  Truth is, she’s more badass than a most of the others on this list…so BACK OFF!

5. Robbie Maddison
The current world record holder for longest motorcycle jump. On January 1, 2008 at an exhibition event at a Las Vegas hotel, he leapt 322 feet, 7 inches (98.34 meters) destroying the previous record of 277 feet, 6 inches (84.58 meters) set in 2005 by Trigger Gumm. Records are made to be broken, but for now, Robbie seems to have a riders grip on this one. For your viewing pleasure, here’s the jump:

6. Ricky Carmichael
Nicknamed the “GOAT” (greatest of all time), Ricky is a Motocross and Supercross icon. While many may argue with his “GOAT” status for dirt bike racing, it’s hard to argue with his impressive 27 titles in his short 12 year career.   In 2007, he was seriously injured and even made a comeback to the sport to continue his winning ways. Ricky is currently retired from racing anything with only 2 wheels…instead, he’s moved on to stock cars eyeing NASCAR as his next conquest. That’s pretty badass.

7. Wolverine
OK, I realize he’s a fictional character, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t include a guy who has a skeleton covered by an indestructible metal (yes, I realize that’s fictional too).  Oh and by the way, he can’t be killed. If you really want to argue with me on this choice, make sure you do so after watching the below video where he takes out 2 military Hummers and Helicopter with nothing but a motorcycle and his adamantium claws. At least I didn’t include the Ghostrider…

8. Ralph ‘Sonny’ Barger
Sonny is the founder of the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels, (many credit this as the first and original chapter) the most badass bike “gang” EVER.  OK perhaps not EVER, but certainly the most well known.  Honestly, though, anyone in the Hell’s Angels deserves to be on this list (in my book), but If I had to choose one, it’d be what many consider the “founder” and at 71, still an active member.  Adding to his “badass” credentials, Sonny also survived a bout with throat cancer caused by years of smoking, and was sentenced (in 1988) to 4 years in prison for conspiring to blow up the clubhouse of the Outlaws, a rival motorcycle club.  How badass is that?

9. Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr.
The co-founders of Orange County Choppers, these guys design and manufacture some of the most sought after custom bikes in the industry. The father/son duo started their company in 1999 and later got picked up by TLC as the reality show American Chopper in September of 2002. Among their lengthy resume, they’ve made bikes for the likes of: Will Smith, Jay Leno, and who can forget the 9-11 Fire Truck Bike?

10. Jesse James
Founder and CEO of west coast Choppers, Jesse is one of the most well known celebrity Icons of the motorcycle world. Before he built bikes for a living, he was the bodyguard of heavy metal bands Danzig, Slayer, and Soundgarden. Much like his east coast competition at Orange County Choppers, Jesse has been on a number of reality TV shows, most notibly the Discovery Channel show Monster Garage.  Jesse’s resume includes bikes for: Shaq, Keanu Reeves, James Hetfield (of Metallica) and, the Undertaker.

Honorable Mention: “Indian” Larry Desmedt (April 28, 1949 – August 30, 2004)
Indian Larry was an innovator in the world of custom built bikes and a motorcycle stuntman. While he was convicted of bank robbery and struggled with drugs early in his life, Larry later devoted himself to the craft of motorcycles. He lived by the (badass) creed tattooed on his neck “In God We Trust – Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord – No Fear.” Larry was killed in August of 2004 while performing a motorcycle stunt where he was standing on the bike when it lost control.

If you think I missed anyone, please feel free to list them in the comments!

The Motorcycle sub-culture is one that is replete with bad-assery.  From the clothing wore by bikers to the bikers themselves to the bikes that they ride there is little that could not be classified as boss.  It’s a very plain and simple fact that motorcycles are simply cool.

Depending on your own particular taste, some may be cooler than others.  For some it’s the speed and sleek lines of Japanese bikes that define cool. For  others is the old fashioned girth and throaty engine of Harley’s that make one a bad ass.  And then there are those who don’t think much of standard motorcycles, those who need the dropped and dangerous look and feel of a chopper. But no matter what your personal preference one is forced to admit that the newest creation from the folks over at Amen Design and Engineering is something to behold.  The perfect amalgam of both coolness and bad-assery.

Mike Brown, founder of Amen, has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Great Biker Build Off.”  He has created a great number of custom chopper chassis and even offers fabrication classes to aspiring chopper builders.  More recently, he’s begun work on a reality t.v.. program called “What Would Mike Do?” which features him creating monstrous creations such as chopper powered VW bus in which the chopper is removable once parked.  But among all of Amen’s creations the most far out has to be the hubless wheeled motorcycle.

Yes, you read that right… a hubless wheeled motorcycle.   I embedded a nice video for you to enjoy up top in the event that you don’t believe me.  In truth, there is a hub.  It’s could more appropriately be called a spokeless motorcycle.  The hub in fact is nearly the size of the entire wheel.  It exists on the inside circumference of the bikes wheel providing the propulsion on the inside surface of the wheel as opposed to the standard chain belt system that most current bikes employ.

To describe this motorcycle as revolutionary would be an understatement.  What would be more apropos would be to say that it is an evolutionary leap forward in design.  It doesn’t just look cool either.  The design itself has a number of benefits with its employ.  The lower placement of the connection between the swing arm and the wheel allows for a lower center of gravity as well as a greater brake leverage.  The loss of the full internal components of the wheel and rim mean that a significant loss of weight for the bike as well meaning a leaner ride.  To take a look at the bike one can see the imagination and inginuity of it’s designer.  It looks like something out of late 90′s sci-fi movie.  Something that a director envisioned that the future of motorcycles would look like.  What Mike Brown has done is make that future a reality today.  He’s laid the groundwork for the future of Chopper design.  And let me tell you, the future looks bad ass!

West Coast Choppers is the brainchild and company designed and built from the ground up by acclaimed builder Jesse James.

James has led an interesting life, from living with his girlfriends family at the age of 15, to being a body guard for under Rick Rubin for celebrities and bands such as Slayer, Danzig and Soundgarden.

In 1992, James created West Coast Choppers, operating out of his mothers garage.  It didn’t take long for success to find him.  Shortly after its inception, West Coast Choppers moved to its  final home, a much larger facility where James could create custom bikes for enthusiasts and celebrity clients.

Unlike his east  coast counterparts, OCC, James’ bikes are more built for performance and feel.  His bikes tend to have an old fashioned feel and performance.

CLIENTEL

West Coast Choppers has created bikes for celebrites such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kid Rock, The Undertaker and Kid Rock.  The Discovery Channel featured the build of Kid Rock’s bike with its documentary “Motorcycle Mania III” in 2004.  The feature showcased the build of the bike and culminated with a cross country ride with James and Rock.

POP CULTURE

Jesse James has been featured throughout the media in a number of different venues.

He was featured  in all three Discovery Channel “Motorcycle Mania” documentaries and was eventually tapped to host “Monster Garage” from 2002 until the shows end in 2006.

Previously married to adult star/producer Janine Lindemulder, his most recent marriage in 2006 to Sandra Bullock has increased his (often undesired) fame.

James was also a contenstant on the 2^nd season of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” ultimately placing 3^rd in the contest after being fired for failing to leverage his celebrity contacts for charity contributions.  James patently rejected the idea of utilizing his wife’s friends and contacts to further his place on the show.