Paul poses with his SuperTrapp “Super Bike”, which is the centerpiece of the “SuperTrapp, Super Bike, Super Prize” dealer promotion. For more information, see the SuperTrapp story starting on page 26.

aul Yaffe is a true artist. Certainly original in many of his custom motorcycle designs. Absolutely inspired to create beautiful motorcycles and innovative products. His creations have been compared to sculptures that have function. Function, in that Yaffe’s sculptures require gas and oil and can be ridden. He is an inventor, an engineer, a builder, and an artist, all in one.
     When asked how he continues to better himself with each creation, Paul simply smiles and replies, “I see motorcycles in everything. I think I have a natural gift for looking at things, and seeing how they can work better. Sometimes my engineering challenges even work themselves out in my dreams. And I have to give credit to my crew. Everything I do here is enhanced by my incredibly talented crew.”
     Since 1984, Paul Yaffe has been designing some of the world’s most exquisite, custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles. His vision and unique style have been setting industry standards for over a decade. You might remember Paul’s custom shop, “American Legend Motorcycle Company,” located in the desert of Phoenix, Arizona. Or maybe the name, “Beyond Bolt-On” Billet Products, rings a more familiar bell. The bottom line is, however the images of Paul’s work have reached your eyes, they are sure to leave a lasting impression.
     Paul began working with motorcycles in a similar way to many other builders; he customized his own machine first. “I’ve always been around bikes and I did my own in the garage,” he says. “It turned out pretty good for a first effort, and I started doing my buddies bikes. Soon I had a bunch of bikes in my garage and I was always hanging out in the local shops trying to learn more. Then in 1988 I decided I wanted to do this for a living. So I went to MMI (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute) to see what I could learn there and then I got rolling.”
     Like a lot of builders, Paul loves motorcycles and in many ways that love has become an obsession. “I eat, drink, and sleep motorcycles,” he says. “Every night that I have a dream or I’m inspired by an image my style changes. I am constantly evolving. If the day ever comes when my bikes can be categorized because they all look the same, I am sure that is the same day I will have to leave this business for a new challenge.”
     A glimpse at just a few of his custom creations shows an ever-evolving look and style. Take Paul’s 2003 Sturgis ride. It’s a nostalgic “Bobber” Project that took Paul over three years to complete. It’s based on a Paughco knuckle head chassis that has had its chassis stretched five inches forward, its backbone arched and center tube recreated to accommodate the increased head height which is a result of stroking this normally 74 cubic-inch motor to a whopping 93 cubic-inch displacement. This Pan-Head powered creation features a five-speed tranny put into a four-speed case, and a one-of-a-kind 1.5” belt drive with a modified Rivera “Pro-Clutch.” Basically that means that this “Old School has a New Teacher.” Paul has grafted everything he knows about reliability and performance into a truly antique looking bike that is as much fun to ride as it is to look at. Paul has over six hundred hours invested in creating this version of a chopped Pan-Head that has since graced the cover of several magazines. Compare this “antique” look and style to one of Paul’s other creations, “Prodigy”, the winner of numerous shows. This beautifully crafted custom street rod looks like it’s doing 150 MPH while sitting still. It is a totally different work of art in every possible way, but both are Paul Yaffe creations. Then consider something as simple as a kickstand. One of the many products Paul Yaffe Originals markets is a Bolt-On Springless Kickstand. This beautiful piece of hardware is completely smooth in design, clean and fluid and will bolt right on. From whole customs to a single product, everything Paul makes is eye-catching.

Fire it up, baby! Paul wows the crowd in Sturgis with a little firepower.
Photo: Michael Lichter


Another beautiful Paul Yaffe Original. Truly a work of art. Photo: Michael Lichter

     Paul’s custom creations are a natural extension of his dreams, both waking and sleeping. Before any project even begins, he mentally starts with an aerial view of all the possible components to be considered. He creates a mental vision of the final outcome and then envisions the way the collection of elements need to blend and work together. His skillful technique sounds simple; choose the best combination of elements, then blend and build them until you’ve achieved the ultimate in both function and beauty. Simple for an engineer/artist like Paul, but not so easy for the rest of us.
     Paul and his custom creations have graced the pages of countless magazines in recent years, both in the United States and internationally. His show bikes have claimed “Best of Show” Honors at the most prestigious competitions in the country, including The International Show Car Association Events, The Rat’s Hole Shows, Daytona, Laughlin, Del Mar, and, The Oakland Roadster Show, just to name a few.
Even with the success of his business and show record, Paul shies away from any concept of building bikes on an assembly line. That’s fine for products, but custom bikes remain individually hand built. Paul is commissioned to create about 12 custom project bikes each year. Each completed custom project can claim as many as seven hundred hours of his personal time. Why only 12? Because each project is unique, receiving dozens of one-of-kind, billet aluminum parts and original sheet metal, building more than 12 custom motorcycles a year would be impossible.

Yaffe creates about 12 custom projects a year, spending up to 700 hours on each one! Each custom is totally unique, constructed from one-of-a-kind billet parts and original sheet metal.
Photo: Michael Lichter
     But it is from these custom projects that Paul develops new products for his company, Paul Yaffe Originals. “When you build true custom motorcycles,” says Paul, “You have to fabricate parts yourself. I started because I wanted to make stuff for the bikes I was customizing. People would see the parts and ask for them, so I started making a few small quantities. Soon I had 10 different parts we were making and selling, then 50 parts, then 100. And it all grew out of the need for the parts I wanted and needed for my own bikes, the bikes I was making. Soon other shops wanted our frames and tanks. And now we make everything you could want for a custom except the engine, tranny, and tires.”
     When Paul unveils a new custom project to the public, that bike becomes a showcase for the newly created products he built for that bike. Paul must then develop these special parts for production, and make them available to the public through Paul Yaffe Originals and Drag Specialties. This is the aspect of Paul’s product line that separates him from most others. There is a demand for his new products, before the products are even in production.
     Paul’s personal vision keeps him busy enough with creating his own products, but he enjoys seeing what other builders come up with as well. “I respect most other builders,” says Paul. “I like Russell from Exile Cycles. He has a distinct look and style that I enjoy. There are a lot of great guys out there and their work enhances the whole industry. And I have to pay homage to the great one, Arlen Ness. Arlen Ness is definitely one of my heroes.”

Paul Yaffe’s “Snake Eyes” project. Photo: Hadyn Lassiter

     Paul Yaffe Originals are offered through Drag Specialties and have been part of the Drag Specialties family for years. “I hooked up with Drag through (Drag Specialties guru) Tom Motzko,” says Paul. “We kind of both wanted to be part of each other’s business. Tom felt we (Paul Yaffe Originals) were something that was missing from the Drag catalog. And we wanted to be part of Drag because they’re the best.”
Paul has a saying that is part of his personal philosophy and has become the watchword around his business. “If you don’t change directions you’ll wind up where you’re going,” he says. If you think about it, this explains Paul’s consistently changing style and possibly the drive to be different in a field that is already very different from any other.
     This is why Paul Yaffe Originals products consistently set new standards for the industry. Paul’s reputation for building some of the finest custom Harley-Davidsons and components for those customs is stellar. As a creator of new and innovative products, Paul’s engineering skills, together with his eye for design, natural mechanical aptitude, and in-depth understanding of custom motorcycles, are perfect tools to stay at the leading edge. Contact your Drag Specialties rep for more information on all the great products that Paul Yaffe Originals has to offer.