The Jesse James scandal and its effect on the motorcycle world
Monday, 05 April 2010 | Written by Asia | Print | E-mail

Claiming to be a broken man, celebrity motorcycle builder Jesse James is running the gamut of public opinion with the popular press publishing one expose after another.

Seemingly throwing out a mea culpa the bad boy biker checked himself into the Sierra Tucson facility for rehabilitation where he sought help to "deal with personal issues," according to the New York Post. This came after further revelations over his alleged steamy affair with tattoo model Michelle McGee which involved a single sexual encounter of numerous proportions.

While James reportedly left rehab, or stormed out according to the gossip publications, after Bullock supposedly refused to take his phone call the celebrity motorcycle enthusiast is left facing not only the music but a vandalism charge.

He was cited for vandalism after an incident with a paparazzo who claimed James damaged his car March 25, 2010. Celebrity photographer Ulises Rios was also cited for stalking James, Long Beach Police Sgt. Dina Zapalski said. A citation is equivalent to an arrest, but it will be at the city prosecutors' discretion to press charges, Zapalski said.

Finally, a picture of James has made it’s media rounds of the former Celebrity Apprentice wear a World War 2 Nazi cap in a ‘Hitler-type’ salute.

To help balance the media’s reporting, allegedly his staff and some followers on the West Coast Choppers forums were discussing ride to show support.

The question at this point for the motorcycle loving world is firstly, how much of this situation is reflecting on bikers and how far should the riding community go to show support for a man that represented the industry for so many years?

In a recent Clutch and Chrome survey, half the respondents felt the media should leave James alone while the other half had empathy for his wife, Sandra Bullock.

How has the Jesse James scandal affected everyday riders? Have you noticed a change in people’s attitudes towards you when you go out on your motorcycle?

We would like to know.