Las Vegas Weekly

June 16, 2009 · 11:04 AM

Criss Angel conjures motorcycles as Mindfreak kicks off in Big Bear

By Robin Leach

Illusionist Criss Angel straddles his new everyday ride at Big Bear Choppers in California on June 16, 2009.

Photo: Robin Haldane/Motorcycle USA

Magician Criss Angel has a brand new magnificent motorbike for Season 5 of his A&E series Mindfreak, and when he went over to Big Bear Lake to test it out, he picked up two others! When Criss first saw the jet-black bike as the covers were pulled back, he was stunned, and all he could say was “wow, wow, wow,” according to Motorcycle USA Cruiser Editor Bryan Harley.

One of Criss’s team told me: “He unveils a new bike at the beginning of each new season, and it gets used in several of the illusions. Criss also had a custom-designed bike to reflect his Believe show at the Luxor and a third, which was more of a classic. The official Mindfreak bike will be on display at the Luxor throughout the Season 5 filming.”

Photo: Robin Haldane/Motorcycle USA

Criss Angel at Big Bear Choppers.

Here’s how Bryan described the Mindfreak ride: It’s a 10 1/2 feet marvel with air-ride suspension lowered to the ground. A ridge runs down the gas tank. The spear-tipped Dyna-style billet front spoiler at the bottom of the down tube is offset on the rear by the fine tapered tip of the back fender and the point of the modified Devil’s Tail swing-arm. The huge 23-inch billet wheel upfront is balanced out by a 300 mm meat out back with the shiny twin stack of cylinders in the form of a BBC-S&S engine sandwiched in between. Short chromed-out open pipes shoot down the left side just below a forward-facing Heavy Breather-style intake. It’s got the Mindfreak touch with a Criss Angel logo on the side cover and MF 13 in gold inlay on the front spoiler to go with blood red demons on the rear fender.

“If the Batmobile was a chopper, this is what it’d look like right here,” Criss told Big Bear Choppers owners Mona and Kevin Alsop. “You are the only name in custom choppers. They are magnificent -- a piece of art. All of his motorcycles are just amazing pieces, and they’ve really captured the essence of the shows.” ”

Photo: Robin Haldane/Motorcycle USA

Criss Angel with Big Bear Choppers owners Mona and Kevin Alsop.

The Believe motorbike is custom painted and includes white magic rabbits on the tank and fenders and flying doves and black top hats. The front fender shows Criss and his feet dangling below the red Luxor stage curtain as he levitates. Believe characters are painted on the rear fender. It, too, will go on display at the Luxor.

Meantime, the third bike becomes the daily ride. It comes with a high tank with orange flames streaking down the sides to match the fenders and a low seat height to just see clearly over the bars! Criss said: “I wanted each chopper to be completely different. My personal ride bike is really radical and extreme.”

Thousands of Mindfreak fans lined up for hours to get autographs from Criss as he tested the three machines. Cameras from the show rolled on all the action, and Criss is at work this week developing the illusions for the official bike!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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