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The polished, 90HP Generac Engine. (left) The frame mock-up. (right)
It all started in late September of 2003 when we at Dixie Chopper found out Paul Sr. of Orange County Choppers was interested in a Dixie Chopper he had seen at Chamber’s Dixie Chopper in New York.
This was fascinating for us to hear considering the popularity of the television show that Orange County Choppers participates in every Monday night. Therefore, we decided to pursue the issue and began conversing back and forth over different ideas and thoughts.
This impart with us trying to think of ways to make Dixie Chopper a household name made this a natural fit. Art, Warren and Wes Evans took off for New York that same week and began talking with Paul Sr. and his sons.
There was an immediate connection made right from the start; two family owned and operated companies, both families being a dad and their two sons, not to mention that both families built “American Made Choppers.”
Our marketing research proved this to be a perfect fit and we decided to have this bunch from New York build us a Dixie Chopper ‘Chopper‘ for our 25 year anniversary and so it began.
The hole patterns on the trim were modeled after the OCDC mower accessory.
Even during the first visit, ideas were flowing on what patented features of a Dixie Chopper could be incorporated into the final design of the “Chopper.”
The first and most obvious feature was the Dixie Chopper exclusive, OCDC or Operator Controlled Discharge Chute.
The Orange County folks tied this in as you can see from the picture to the floor boards and frame design. Then came the X-Blade Technology came to the fore front, which Orange County tied into the rims of the bike. Making what is called “spinners” on the front and rear rims (as pictured). These spinning blades continue to move even when the bike is not in motion. It just gets better from there, while the Orange County folks were out at the Dixie Chopper factory they had heard about our “X-treme Mowchine” and wanted to see just what it was, and did they ever! If you watched the show you saw them taking the “X-treme Challenge” of a Dixie Chopper.
The tank, showing off the Pagan Gold metallic paint and pinstriping.
As they got to looking closer at the machine afterwards they noticed that the engine happened to be a V-Twin and their eyes just light up. They turned our 32 horsepower Generac Engine into a fire breathing V-Twin for a Chopper bike. They made a few changes including a new carburetor and the original 32 horsepower Generac was pulling a massive 90 horsepower.
This Generac engine is a modified version of the powerplants used on our mowers.
As you can tell from the picture that engine looks pretty familiar to what is on our mower. The biggest surprise at the unveiling of the bike at the 2004 Daytona Bike Week was the paint job. Everyone expected it to match our stainless steel body. However, Orange County had another idea in mind and boy were we impressed. The gas tank was painted in a gold sparkle to symbolize the gold standard we take in every machine we produce, along with flames coming up to the green painted grass above to create the metaphor for a lawnmower company on fire.
In short this was one of the most impressive works of art we had ever seen and one of the best anniversary presents the Dixie Chopper Family could have received.
Thanks to the Orange County Family!
Paul Jr. tells Warren Evans about the bike.
 
Art Evans ready to ride. (left) Thanks for a job well done! (right)
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