The Hot Seat | 11 Questions With Paul Yaffe
Describe yourself in three words?
Workaholic, passionate, lucky.
**Why the motorcycle industry?****** I didn’t like the shoe industry I was in, so I turned my motorcycle hobby into a profession. I’m still not sure if I should have done that, but it’s too late now.
What do you see in the industry’s crystal ball?
If I told you I’d have to kill you. We are already taking steps towards what we feel is a new upcoming trend. Maybe we’ll get lucky again and start another one!
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Staying out of jail…
Favorite all-time motorcycle?
That I built? Probably “Prodigy” my 2000 Oakland Roadster Show Champion. After that would be my 2009 Road Glide that we were the first to have a 26-inch front wheel on. ** Who inspires you?**
In our industry…Tom Rudd of Kürakyn pops right into my head, Roland Sands is doing a great job too in my opinion. In my personal life it would be my daughter, Sarah. She›s badass!
What’s your biggest regret?
Not legally protecting my designs. I’ve learned my lesson though.
What is your proudest moment?
My daughter recently getting accepted to college is way up there. I also just received the V-Twin Trendsetter of the Year Award for creating Bagger Nation. I’m really proud of that.
Favorite place on Earth?
Sturgis, South Dakota, Telluride, Colorado, Verona or Positano, Italy, are on the top of that list, too. I travel a lot so home in bed watching TV with my wife is pretty awesome too!
Biggest pet peeve?
Lack of attention to detail! There’s only one way to do it… Correctly!
What are you currently working on?
We are slammed with projects right now! Two that stand out are my new Sturgis Road Glide; it’s pretty bitchin! I’ve been creating stuff for it for a year and a half! We are also inventing a new (correct) way to run a 30-inch front wheel. We’ll be debuting it and a very exciting Road King platform project that I’ve been commissioned to do very soon. We are working with some of the top companies in the industry, which I’m enjoying. I have a good team!