The custom motorcycle world knows Paul Yaffe as one of the elite creators of motorized masterpieces. That’s because Paul is more than a builder or fabricator, he is truly a designer. He started his first custom shop in 1991. It was called American Legend Motorcycle Company and soon became Paul Yaffe Originals. Over the years, Paul has been honored with three “World’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle” awards from the famous Oakland Roadster Show. Paisano Publications, publisher of Easyriders Magazine was proud to give Paul two “Builder of the Year” and three “Trendsetter of the Year” awards over the span of Paul’s career. In 2015 Paul was honored to be inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame. Yaffe’s gorgeous custom creations have been the subject of over 300 magazine articles and profiles around the world.
Paul Yaffe Originals went beyond just building high end custom bikes, Paul designs, manufactures and distributes hundreds of truly unique products meant to inspire a generation of customizers of Harley-Davidsons. His world renowned “Monkey Bars”, Billet accessories, custom gas tanks, stretched fenders and radical frames have been the favorites of builders for decades. He even created “roller kits” for complete do it yourself choppers and Pro Streets. Paul’s products are distributed worldwide by a network of distribution partners in 6 countries.
When reality TV discovered custom bikes, they naturally came knocking on Paul’s door. He has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s Great Biker Build-Off series where he built a stunning bike called “The Phantom” that shot 30- foot flames from its custom exhaust. He also starred in 10 episodes of Biker Battleground for The History Channel as well as dozens of other nationally televised shows for NBC, Travel Channel, and SPEED TV.
When the chopper craze waned, Paul quickly reinvented his company, creating Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation which builds amazing custom touring bikes and produces parts, products, and accessories to allow you to transform your stock HD touring bike into a street scorching radical custom. Many credit Paul for creating the “Big Wheel” Bagger craze that has captured the imaginations of builders around world!
Always first to volunteer to help with charity causes, Paul has built custom bikes to be auctioned off at the VQ Biker’s Ball in Daytona to support the Broward County Boys & Girls Club and the Children’s Ride supporting the Seattle Children’s Hospital. In his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, he created and continues to sponsor the annual Hamsters Charity “Dry Heat Run” supporting Lifescape Children’s care Hospital. Recently he built a custom motorcycle for the High Seas Rally Dialysis Fund Charity Motorcycle Raffle and is just starting a build with veteran participation for Motorcycle Missions, a foundation benefiting America’s first responders.
As Paul and his companies quickly close in on their 35 Anniversary in business (2026) he’s still up at 4am most days and in the shop by 6. That way he can end his workday at 2 and save afternoons for quality time with Nash, his son. Paul is still designing beautiful custom bikes for his customers every day, most who have become dear friends over the years. He still builds a custom bike and rides it to Sturgis every year with his friends (36 consecutive to date) and now Nash has started riding with him on the annual Sturgis adventure! At 60, Paul is still completely hands on in every aspect of his business. Whether it’s new product development, marketing, production and even wrenching you can be sure that Paul’s DNA is involved. Suzy-Q (Paul’s Wife) has now retired from her promotions business and has joined Paul to assist with Marketing, Web Development as well as general business health.
Most recently Paul just completed a fantastic concept build based on BMW’s R-18 Touring Platform and is super excited to unveil it alongside his family for BMW at the MBE Show in Verona Italy! Right after that the family travels to Qatar to host the Batabit Custom Motorcycle Show. I guess you can say that Paul Yaffe Originals has truly become an international brand.
