Big Bear Choppers creating skeleton bike for illusionist Criss Angel

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Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BIG BEAR LAKE - A custom motorcycle is being crafted for a famous "mind freak" and magic man.
And the bike is literally bad to the bone.
Big Bear Choppers is putting the finishing touches on its seventh custom-made bike for illusionist Criss Angel, one that its maker says uses a real human skeleton dipped in stainless steel as part of its frame.
"(Angel) told me he wanted to build a skeleton bike made out of scraps of sheet metal," said Kevin Alsop, who owns and operates Big Bear Choppers along with his wife, Mona. "I told him, `Why don't we use a real skeleton?"'
Kevin said he knows the operator of a foundry in Georgia. He said the operator was able to get hold of a real human skeleton that he then cast
Big Bear Choppers in Big Bear Lake is building its seventh custom bike for magician Criss Angel, a vehicle dubbed the "Skeleton Bike." Kevin Alsop, pictured, owns the shop with his wife, Mona. (Al Cuizon/Staff Photographer)in metal. Kevin says human bones can be purchased and often are used for medical purposes.
Angel is the host of "Criss Angel Mindfreak" on the A&E cable TV channel and the star of "Criss Angel Believe," a Cirque du Soleil stage production at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
A Luxor statement describes the show as: "A haunting exploration deep inside the inventive mind of mystifier Criss Angel as he hovers between the land of the living and a surreal world uniquely woven together by the distinctive imaginations of Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil."
"We've seen some of his tricks up front, and I don't know how he does it," said Mona.
Big Bear Choppers has been featured on an episode of "Mindfreak," when Angel traveled to its facility to pick up a new chopper. Angel has wowed the Alsops' daughter, Maddy, with magic tricks many times, the couple said.
"He's good at making things disappear," Kevin said.
Mona says many of the bikes built for Angel are on display at Luxor, where the casino has restaurants and bars with Criss Angel themes. Angel plans to garage the skeleton bike at his Las Vegas mansion, she said.
The skeleton bike will be delivered to Angel on Saturday in Las Vegas. Kevin says the final price tag is about $100,000.
"All of our bikes are pretty reasonable," said Mona. "It's just when you start doing all this crazy stuff on it that the price goes up. It's because of builds like this we've been able to stay in business. It's really helpful when you get a custom build like this. It keeps you through the slow times."
Big Bear Choppers opened 12 years ago. It has grown from just the Alsops working in a small building to about 100 employees and a 20,000-square-foot facility. The Alsops say the recession has slowed business, though.


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