‘American Chopper’ endorses local gas-saver device
August 13th, 2008, 5:00 am · 10 Comments · posted by Jan Norman, small-business columnist
Reality TV series, “American Chopper” will custom build a motorcycle for O.C.-born McCuff Industries on the Aug. 21 show, which will launch the show’s three-year 
endorsement of McCuff’s no-spill gasoline device for motorcycles (pictured right).
The show will be on at 9 p.m. local time on The Learning Channel.
Any motorcycle owner will tell you that they often spill gasoline when they refuel. The McCuff prevents that. And with gas prices over $4 a gallon, the McCuff has been selling like McDonald’s hamburgers — no connection.
McCuff recently moved from Brea to Rancho Dominguez as part of an investment and licensing agreement with International Rubber Products, a group of companies that make a variety of plastic and rubber parts.
“I was standing in the lobby at McCuff when the inventor of the motorcycle cuff, Al Castro, said ‘we have this great product but no money to market it,’” says IRP Chief Executive Rod Trujillo.
IRP has invested $1 million for the exclusive licensing agreement and option on 40% of the company.
With IRP financial backing, McCuff sales have gone from virtually zero to $750,000 at $19.95 retail per unit, Trujillo said. The product has attracted most distributors of motorcycle parts including Harley Davidson.
That’s good news for IRP because a slumping economy has cut revenues for its other products 10% — 15%.
“The cuff has done extraordinarily well; it could eclipse the entire company,” Trujillo says.
McCuff will soon introduce a cuff for diesel big rigs which have a similar fuel overflow problem. A typical big-rig spills enough fuel to drive a small car 58 minutes, besides harming the environment, Trujillo says. The cuff for trucks will sell in the $89 to $129 range.
OTHER STORIES:
- Luxury O.C. dune buggies boom
- Tori Spelling chooses glam hospital gown by O.C. firm
- Sir Speedy turns 40
- O.C. teen sells Zune Web site for $62,000
- O.C. business sales rebound
- What’s your workplace’s grade?
- O.C. business sales rebound
- Unpaid payroll taxes total $58 billion
- Funding for start-up firms in crisis, venture capitalists say
- Bad year for young companies, O.C. investor says
August 13th, 2008 at 11:00 am
“Any motorcycle owner will tell you that they often spill gasoline when they refuel.”
Really? Maybe the first few times but I haven’t spilled gas in years on my bike, and I haven’t seen any of my riding friends either.
But really attempting to make motorcycle riders look like idiots is one thing.. this is another.
“A typical big-rig spills enough fuel to drive a small car 58 minutes, besides harming the environment, Trujillo says.”
First of all, spilling a little bit of diesel on a gas stations cement ground is not, in any way going to be bad for the immediate area, ecology, air or otherwise. Other then adding to the already massive array of oil and gas spots at gas stations anyway.
But wow, that statement is astounding. A big-rig spills enough gas to run a small car for an hour?!
Well the average small car burns 1-2 gallons an hour traveling at 60 mph, being the most effective. And perhaps 3+ gallons an hour with city driving.
So the “TYPICAL” big rig spills 1-3 GALLONS of gas on the deck when filling up.
And that little funnel is somehow going to stop that? That funnel looks like it could handle a few ounces of spill. Not gallons.
Besides that, to state that Big Rigs spill 1-3 gallons of gas when filling up is, an absolutely asinine statement. Void of ANY truth what so ever.
It is a disgusting testament to the pathetic quality and (lack of)truth in material OCR insists on publishing and it’s never ending quest to advertise for companies, particuarly really lame ones.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Snake Oil! Barnum was right. After you get gas all over this, where are you going to store it? Use a paper towel, then throw it away at the station.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
To Naptown and John Doe - My daddy always taught me to not judge something or someone until I have all the facts. Not all bikes have this issue, but some do, particularly customs.
If you get out of the OC/LA arera, there’s some pretty crappy gas-pump nozzles out there (especially in the older parts of the South) that will either make a mess if you space out for a second or not let you fill ‘er up to the top. And as far as storage–it comes with a little pouch that you can velcro to your bike… it’s on their website’s front page. I ran into these fellas at the 2007 IMS show in Cali and was skeptical, but now I am a believer. I have never put gas in a truck bigger than a Dodge Big Horn, but next time I am fueling up at a truckstop, I am going to ask about this problem. Thanks… Michelle
August 13th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I have one of these that I purchased at the Long Beach Show and it works great. It isn’t just the spilling or overlows as “John Doe” says…(even though John Doe agrees that fuel does spill on occassion)… as I was saying it isn’t just the spilling, it’s the clicking nozzle that keeps going off because of the auto shutoff system made for automobiles.
You have to manually override the nozzle system (the black thing) by holding it up and constantly peering into your dark tank to guess where the fuel level is.
Since I’ve been using this on my two motorcycles (2008 HD fxstc & Ducati) I get about 10-15 miles more distance on my rides because of the extra tidbit of gas I can fit in my tank cleanly by using this amazing little tool.
Where to carry it? It came with a very high quality canvas bag that has a special lining. Although the rubber this thing is made out of doesn’t hold or absorb fuel anyway. The bag is attached to my handlbars on my HD and I have it on my passenger strap on the other.
I recommend it for such a cheap price of $19 for the two pieces. Pretty good. I can’t get a pizza for that nowadays.
Safe riding everyone!
Jason R.
Badland Phantoms Club
August 13th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Yeah, I’ll admit it, not all of the gas I pump goes into my tank.
I’d say I splash several drops each time. How long for that to pay for itself?
However; if it eliminates what Jason Rigby says - the holding and peering - then this product would actually do something.
What Jan Norman wrote on this prodict is worthless, even damaging.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Looks like a useful product.
OC Chopper is a great show too.
The California State legistature should ban the helmet law & set the speed to 45
August 19th, 2008 at 5:20 am
[...] raises $14.2 millionAliso Viejo company sued for patent infringementIrvine manufacturer is sold‘American Chopper’ endorses local gas-saver deviceRF Nano raises $8 million venture capitalO.C. firm wins global Little League dealTip of the Day: [...]
August 20th, 2008 at 11:59 am
[...] raises $14.2 millionAliso Viejo company sued for patent infringementIrvine manufacturer is sold‘American Chopper’ endorses local gas-saver deviceRF Nano raises $8 million venture capitalO.C. firm wins global Little League dealTip of the Day: [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 6:02 am
[...] raises $14.2 millionAliso Viejo company sued for patent infringementIrvine manufacturer is sold‘American Chopper’ endorses local gas-saver deviceRF Nano raises $8 million venture capitalO.C. firm wins global Little League dealTip of the Day: [...]
September 19th, 2008 at 9:45 am
I bought one of the Mc Cuff products. ($21 and change)
I used it a few times as far as I’m concerned,
It’s a peace of trash that looks very nice, with a nice little bag to keep it in.
If I spill a few drops of gas on my bike (Roadliner) I use a paper towel to clean it off, that can be had for free at most gas stations.
I used it in California where the gas reclaiming pumps may be different than the state you might ride in.
I saw how well they worked when (American Chopper) Orange County Chopper’s Mickey used it on the show and it didn’t seem to work for them either. (Gas all over the place)
Thanks
Bruce Norton
San Diego Ca.