President Trump, it’s fair to say, doesn’t do understatement. And his keenness to see Detroit re-establish itself as a manufacturing centre for wheeled road transport is well known.
This new bike from a luxury sporting goods firm based in the Motor City may lack an internal combustion engine, but when it comes to bling, it ticks all the boxes – and a price tag of $35,000 means only the super-wealthy (and supremely lacking in taste) can afford one.
Called the Wheelmen, it’s made by Williamson Goods, and is copper- or chrome-plated and wrapped in python skin, together with a crocodile skin Brooks saddle.

Here’s what the company – which also produces a $6,250 crocodile skin football that thankfully conforms to NFL size and weight standards – says about the bike on its website:
Each Wheelmen bicycle is a custom-built masterpiece. The lavish finishings and details of this exceptional bicycle ensure that The Wheelmen is both work of art and mode of transportation like no other.
Williamson bicycles are hand brazed in Detroit using highest quality chromoly tubing. The frame, fork, lugs, and stem are all handmade by Williamson, with individual copper details and subtle logos brazed in place. Each component is wrapped with python or crocodile and hand sewn. Brake levers, gear system, pedals, and cranks are then assembled to your exact specifications.

According to the company, only 10 examples of each colourway on offer – black/copper, navy/copper, tan/copper and navy/chrome – will be made, although it adds that custom options such as white/copper and bespoke frame sizes are also available besides the standard small, medium and large varieties.
Here’s the full spec; don’t all rush at once .
– Custom copperplated frame, bars, stem, fork and posts handmade in Detroit, Michigan
– Frame, fork and posts hand– wrapped and sewn in 100% Genuine Python
– Saddle and bars hand– wrapped and sewn in 100% Genuine Crocodile
– Frame: Columbus chromoly steel
– Lugs: Nova, Python skin wrapped and Copper plated
– Stem: Modified Nitto / Copper plated
– Bars: Nitto / Copper plated
– Grips: Custom Brooks snake skin wrapped
– Wheels: Front– Velocity hub/rim
Rear Sturmey Archer 5 speed
Hub Velocity rim
– Cranks: Paul components
– Pedal: MKS with Brooks toe straps
– Saddle: Modified Brooks and some snake skin wrapped
– Fenders: Velo orange hammered fenders
– Nitto seat post copper plated
– Front/back lights: Vintage Schwinn/Union
– Lights: Modified and copper plated
– Tyres: Continental Supersport.
Accessories
– Velo Orange Copper Plated Front Carrier Rack
– Copper Plated Adult Beverage Canister
– Black Leather Saddle Tool Bag
– Centre Kickstand.





























16 thoughts on “The $35,000 copper-plated, python skin-wrapped bicycle … made in ‘Motor City’ Detroit”
“Smithers, bring me the
“Smithers, bring me the telegraphic apparatus!”
I’ve never seen the fun in a
I’ve never seen the fun in a bike which you daren’t lock up outside.
Or in the shed.
Or in the garage.
Or next to your bed.
Or, possibly, in a special bike stand somewhere inside Fort Knox…
(It is quite gorgeous, though. Where did I keep my bowler and my goggles…?)
Very distasteful
Very distasteful
I love the copper bidon, but
I love the copper bidon, but not sure about the flimsy black holder (or most of the rest of the bike for that matter. Doesn’t seem to be the most high spec considering the price tag.
What do you use for cleaning
What do you use for cleaning python skin? Does Muc-Off work or do I need some snake oil?
😉
Surely needs gatorskins as
Surely needs gatorskins as factory tyres
Python skin? Pathetic – I
Python skin? Pathetic – I assume it’s aimed at people like this…
The screws on that badge show
The screws on that badge show exactly why US production doesn’t mean quality. You’re paying $35K for a bike that’s essentially make to look flash rather than ride well and they can’t even get the badge straight on the head tube with the screws in straight, in the middle of the holes or with the heads finished flush.
I’ll bet that under all the snake skin guff it’s little more than a cheap shopper bike that weighs a ton.
DrG82 wrote:
I’ve had a couple of American bikes and also a US designed and built boat and I reckon you are spot on. My assessment of these products is that they are solid, perhaps even over-engineered but that assembly appears rushed and a little unfinished. It’s a pity ’cause it puts me off buying again.
DrG82 wrote:
If it’s displayed in the lobby of a flash Corp. it doesn’t matter that it doesn’t perform on the road. It might be hard to dust & polish, but the staff do that.
I’ve just bought a Lynskey frame (hand made in Tennessee), and though it’s at the bottom of their range, it’s superbly welded & finished (with screwed on head badge).
I for one will miss Python.
I for one will miss Python. Though not often in agreement, I always enjoyed his posts. I cannot say that I think that he would approve of having his hide wrapped around a bicycle frame but at least it doesn’t have disc brakes.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Could you imagine if it came with a copper plated helmet?
As a bike it’s pretty rubbish
As a bike it’s pretty rubbish, so really what’s the point?
And they wonder why Detroit
And they wonder why Detroit went down the pan?
Heap of overpriced, uncoordinated, poor handling garbage with loads of tacky, shiny bling added on to fool punters.
Is steam punk still going?
Is steam punk still going?
This will be a great bike for
This will be a great bike for people who enjoy polishing copper regularly.
Given the price tag, buyers will probably employ someone to do this, which will create jobs.
All good.