The intent here is to caution anyone looking for a custom motorcycle builder to be cautious of doing business with Darkside Chariots.

It is known that 3 active duty Marines, 2 prior Navy and another individual have had serious problems with this builder. It is suspected that others have also had difficulties. These difficulties include not getting bikes as contracted and paid for or bikes being dangerous due to substandard welding and construction. In two cases, forward controls broke off. People have been waiting far more than a year for products that were paid for. Legal action is being taken and an investigation is underway.

This builder has moved from Georgia to North Carolina to Florida.

More than 47 pages of threads regarding this builder can be read at http://www.clubchopper.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=39629

Please listen and be smart. Bikers and Marines look out for each other.  

Active Duty Coast Guard here. I have found the best way to know exactly whats done to my bike... is to do it myself. I know that being active duty military, we don't have alot of time to work on our own stuff and paying someone to do it is much quicker and finding someone we can trust to do it is pretty tough, especially now since there are so many more bike builders and shops to choose from. I don't think there used to be this many when I started riding in 1990. I know a few mechanics from past experience I know I can trust to do what I don't have the tools to do. This system hasn't done me wrong in the past 17 years! It's about finding the right people and word of mouth works best coming from someone you know and trust to begin with. It sure beats all the legal stuff in the above posting.  

While at the Bike Builder Invitational in Clearwater this last weekend I ran into Mike Palleto and the Darkside Chariots crew.  They've changed their name to Chariots of Kings.  Thought everyone should know so they don't get conned by this con artist.  He's now based out of Naples FL and he's already taken $17,000 from a friend of mine.  

As a bike builder/mechanic it is unfortunate about what can happen.  It is always good to try an see the entire body of work by a builder.  What previous experience he had or prior shop worked for.  I am a proud veteran and we promote our shop as a UNITED STATES VETERAN CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE BUILDER.  We service all Harleys and customs and that is something to lookout for.  Anyone thinks they can put together a bike, but a true bike shop should service their bikes and others, as well.  I personally build every bike I sell and build it to my sometimes extreme high standards for workmanship.  I would rather build 3-4 bikes a year at my standards than 15-20 where I can't keep with my standards.  That is how I am, their are others who live this also.

We build customs from the 20's and up and each bike is guaranteed in 3 months or less or we will take $50-100 off per day it is past that!!

Thanks
www.luXcustomchoppers.com  

Did you friend get anything yet?  

If you want to know more about this, go over to www.clubchopper.com and look thru the Consumer Alert/Praise forum.  Think you'll need to register, but it's a huge database on dirtbag builders and guys that do great jobs.  

Ferrari F1 Chopper : http://www.videonezo.hu/members.harry_callahan/Formula_Chopper. avi/viewer.html  

I have the same experience but with "wild" Bill Underground Choppers in Nashville. I have a post here as well. He used to be called Pro Street Customs.  

i had about the same experience with big easy choppers. i guess it comes down to character, when there was plenty of customs to build and money was easy, doing the right thing wasnt that hard but now that work and money are not flowing as freely there true character comes to the top.  

not always about character. sometimes companies fail. american ironhorse anyone???