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What Happened to Jesse James From West Coast Choppers—and Where Is He Now?

Jesse James closed West Coast Choppers’ Long Beach shop in 2010, but continued building after moving to Texas. A 2026 profile places him in Dripping Springs, where he says he now builds just three or four motorcycles a year alongside other fabrication work.
Entry615 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Jesse James did not disappear after the original West Coast Choppers shop in Long Beach closed in 2010. A 2026 profile places him at his workshop in Dripping Springs, Texas, where he still builds custom motorcycles and also works on firearms and knives. James says he now takes on only three or four motorcycle builds a year.

What happened to West Coast Choppers?

James closed the Long Beach shop in 2010. That same period brought intense tabloid attention after his marriage to Sandra Bullock ended, but the available reporting does not establish the personal controversy as the sole cause of the shop closure.

James continued working after leaving California. In a 2011 ABC News interview, he discussed moving to the Austin area and working with Austin Speed Shop. Discovery’s Jesse James: Outlaw Garage documented that earlier chapter, following his work on vintage vehicles at the shop; its show page does not establish current streaming availability.

A 2026 LegalClarity article reports that West Coast Choppers reopened in Austin in 2013. Autostrada Magazine’s 2026 profile places the current West Coast Choppers operation on James’s Texas property, alongside Jesse James Firearms Unlimited and Jesse James Culinary. The profile does not establish the company’s corporate ownership details.

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#1 Best Overall
West Coast Choppers OG Classic Tee - Black L
  • Where It Started – Long Beach, CA - This isn’t a design. It’s history. The original Iron Cross logo from Long Beach — worn by those who never asked for permission and never needed approval.
  • Not Just for Riders - West Coast Choppers isn’t about motorcycles. It’s about rebellion. Whether you ride, build, skate, or just don’t fit the mold — this is part of that same mindset.
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Where is Jesse James now?

Autostrada Magazine’s March 2026 profile places James’s workshop in Dripping Springs, Texas. It describes work there on custom vehicles, firearms, and knives. James says his shop builds three or four motorcycles a year and that he does not want to increase that volume. He explained that he prefers working directly on a smaller number of projects rather than managing a much larger operation.

The same profile reports that the California shop once had 200 employees at one time, a figure attributed to James rather than independently audited. James said the business had grown to the point where he was managing instead of doing the work himself.

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How the spotlight changed

James became widely known as a custom motorcycle builder and host of Discovery’s Monster Garage. After the Long Beach shop closed, the 2010–2011 period brought heavy public attention to his divorce and personal life. In a 2011 ABC News interview, James discussed the divorce and his move to Texas. A December 2011 Los Angeles Times profile described his return to motorcycle fabrication and quoted him saying he hoped people would see him work again. Those accounts describe that period, not his private life today.

Is Jesse James still building motorcycles?

Yes. In the 2026 Autostrada profile, James says his shop takes on three or four motorcycle builds a year. That is a much smaller scale than the California operation, but the Long Beach closure did not end his custom-building work.

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Rank #3
West Coast Choppers OG Classic Tee - Black M
  • Where It Started – Long Beach, CA - This isn’t a design. It’s history. The original Iron Cross logo from Long Beach — worn by those who never asked for permission and never needed approval.
  • Not Just for Riders - West Coast Choppers isn’t about motorcycles. It’s about rebellion. Whether you ride, build, skate, or just don’t fit the mold — this is part of that same mindset.
  • Heavyweight Cotton – No Weak Stuff - Made from solid 100% cotton. Not thin, not disposable. Built to take a beating and keep its shape.
  • Fit That Actually Works - No gimmicks. No weird cuts. Just a straight, true-to-size fit that fits right and moves with you.
  • Built to Last – Just Like It Should Be - Durable screen print that doesn’t crack or fade. Wear it hard, wash it often — it holds up.
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FAQ

Why did West Coast Choppers close in Long Beach?

Jesse James closed the Long Beach shop in 2010. The available sources document the closure and the personal controversy surrounding him at the time, but do not show that the controversy alone caused the business decision.

Where does Jesse James work now?

A March 2026 Autostrada Magazine profile places his workshop in Dripping Springs, Texas, on a property shared by West Coast Choppers, Jesse James Firearms Unlimited, and Jesse James Culinary.

Rank #4
West Coast Choppers OG Classic Tee - Black XL
  • Where It Started – Long Beach, CA - This isn’t a design. It’s history. The original Iron Cross logo from Long Beach — worn by those who never asked for permission and never needed approval.
  • Not Just for Riders - West Coast Choppers isn’t about motorcycles. It’s about rebellion. Whether you ride, build, skate, or just don’t fit the mold — this is part of that same mindset.
  • Heavyweight Cotton – No Weak Stuff - Made from solid 100% cotton. Not thin, not disposable. Built to take a beating and keep its shape.
  • Fit That Actually Works - No gimmicks. No weird cuts. Just a straight, true-to-size fit that fits right and moves with you.
  • Built to Last – Just Like It Should Be - Durable screen print that doesn’t crack or fade. Wear it hard, wash it often — it holds up.

Is Jesse James still making motorcycles?

Yes. James told Autostrada Magazine in 2026 that his shop builds three or four motorcycles a year, and that he prefers to keep the workload small.

What did Jesse James do after leaving Long Beach?

In 2011, ABC News reported that he had moved to the Austin area and was working with Austin Speed Shop. Discovery’s Jesse James: Outlaw Garage covered that earlier period of work on vintage vehicles.

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Is Jesse James still married to Sandra Bullock?

No. They divorced in 2010. James discussed the separation in a 2011 ABC News interview; that historical coverage does not establish details about his current private life.

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