Editor's Note:
If you have been into the chopper scene more than overnight, the name Jason Jesse rings pretty damn true as one of the guys who has made the post-billet chopper scene what it is today. Despite his idiosyncrasies, the guy seems to always be out front with his bike builds and outspoken with his words. Love him or hate him, Jason Jesse's got a style and class all his own. Adam Wright tracked Jason down, shot him and his Knucklehead with his trusty Leica, and got a few choice words about his beloved bike and some other random shit as well.
Is this your favorite bike to ride?
Yes. It's not so gay. It's not so "Big Hog" and it's fun. I've captured a lot of men's gazes with it and got a lot of knowing nods. When did you get the Gaze Catcher? It's all '47, right?
Yeah, it's all made from pieces found at swap meets. I started on it when I was 22 and took maybe four or five years to build, then I rode it a little bit. Then it sat for like nine years.
When we shot the photos for this, you almost totaled the bike. What was going through your mind when Rick and I saw you get bucked 2 1/2 feet in the air into oncoming traffic?
It was slow motion and I thought, "I hope that truck doesn't have heads of lettuce." Actually, I was just thinking about how handsome Jasin Phares is now that he shaved his beard. His stage name is Jasin.
You landed in a foot plant sideways on the other side of the road!
It was loud, it tweaked some stuff. I was thinking that was the way my first baby came out, sideways, and it didn't cry or nothing. Who would win in a fight? Skinny jean-wearing hipsters or greasy jean-wearing hipsters?
The world is a runway, bro.
What inspires you?
Fashion magazines, sandwiches, the Cinco urinal and Jesse James crying 'cause he can't beat up his dad. You know what else inspires me is baby Louie.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I haven't figured it out yet, but I know I wanted to be popular, I love popularity.
What's your favorite music right now?
Corky.
What's it like living on the cliff?
The cliffs of insanity... (silence)
What do you find most difficult?
Fracking. What is fracking?
Underground hydraulic natural gas extraction.
Have you heard about fraying?
Let me do some deep thinking and get back to you at a later date.
What's your strongest memory?
Petey Green; how to eat a watermelon.
Have you ever ridden a motorcycle in another country?
Yes, I don't want to talk about it.
What's the farthest you have ever ridden?
I don't like to leave my zip code, why? Where should I go? I like to sit in luxurious cars.
Would you rather get a massage by a gay dude or die?
Either would be extremely embarrassing if my friends walked in.
Is it true you got a facial the other day?
Yes. It was an amazing facial by Andi, my friend Roy's wife.
Can't you exfoliate yourself by getting slapped with bugs on your bike?
Pass, next question. So you have anything to drink while riding bikes?
Yes I do, there are spots all over the coast you can pull over and drink. I heard you can pull over in Long Beach and watch Sons of Anarchy at Dustin's house.
Where are custom motorcycles headed?
Dark Kustoms.
Is the future of motorcycling going to be like the Hamsters?
Did you know gerbils are illegal in California?
With everybody looking like full-fledged criminals on bikes, how come no one gets in fights anymore?
Umm, these are my brothers you're talking about, and I don't want to see anybody getting frisked.
Where are choppers going to go after all this '60s flake and flat trackers?
The dump.