Big Bear Choppers Files Chap. 7 Bankruptcy

Although custom cruiser builder Big Bear Choppers ceased crafting its high-end choppers in November 2011, the company voluntarily filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Friday, May 4, in California Central Bankruptcy Court (Riverside, Calif.).

Big Bear Choppers (Big Bear American Made Choppers, Inc.) is represented by David Philipson of Law Offices of David Philipson, PO Box 2950, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315,
909-878-0055.

As V-Twin blogger Cyril Huze noted, BBC listed a ream of creditors and lenders in its bankruptcy filing. The list, 325 names long, even includes BBC customers that received partially completed motorcycles, or no bike at all. Among the long list of creditors and lenders are Kevin and Mona Alsop, former owners of Big Bear American Made Choppers, Inc.

In the Federal Court system a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows debtors (in this case, the company Big Bear Choppers) relief from most collection actions against the debtor or the debtor’s property under 11 U.S.C. § 362. This is the filing most people pursue when filing bankruptcy, and essentially allows the debtor to “walk away” from most of their debts.

Chapter 7 differs from Chapter 11 which allows for “reorganization” and is the type of bankruptcy petition commonly filed by large businesses.

The Alsops appeared on Bloomberg TV’s “The Mentor” last fall to seek advice that would help keep the company producing custom choppers with price tags ranging as high as $35,000. But as CBS 13 (a Sacramento, Calif. CBS affiliate) reported on its website, the Alsop’s apparent doggedness wasn’t enough to keep BBC’s doors from closing soon after the couple appeared on the Bloomberg program.

Kevin Alsop, former owner of Big Bear Choppers, is among those listed as creditors and lenders in the bankruptcy filing.

Despite what would seem like the end of BBC, the name and the motorcycles remain part of the motorcycle industry.

Ragehard Choppers, Inc., of San Bernardino, Calif., was formed in November 2011 (around the same time BBC stopped production) and acquired BBC. Ragehard lists Big Bear Choppers as part of the Ragehard product line. Kevin and Mona Alsop are listed as contacts for Ragehard Choppers. Huze states in his blog post that Kevin Alsop was retained as a freelance designer.

According to its website, Ragehard is in the process of designing a number of new motorcycles that it intends to release at the 2012 Sturgis Motorcycle event and rally.

Simon Scott, owner of PT Ragehard Choppers Indonesia and owner/president of Ragehard Choppers, Inc., is among the 325 creditors and lenders listed in the bankruptcy.

[Source: Cyril Huze, sacramento.cbslocal.com]