James works workwear during bikes, blues rally

FAYETTEVILLE — This weekend was much work and little play for Jesse James, in town during the Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally to promote Jesse James Industrial Workwear.

James arrived in Northwest Arkansas on Thursday to promote his clothes at Wal-Mart Supercenters. He signed autographs for hundreds of people standing in long lines outside stores in Siloam Springs and on Sixth Street in Fayetteville.

James also delivered a new gold Dominator West Coast Chopper to a customer here and worked on another of his custom bikes that needed repair.

Two of his customers crashed their Choppers on the way to Eureka Springs Friday, he said. They were riding together in a curve, hit gravel and both slid into a ditch.

James didn't make it to Dickson Street for the rally, saying it was "too crowded," and his only riding was too and from those store appearances. He rode a bright blue custom Harley Davidson, which was delivered here on a semi-truck as he flew to Arkansas with assistant Hildie Katibah.

James and his crew stayed at the Aloft Hotel in Rogers, which he said is his favorite spot to overnight in the area. He has friends from around the country who joined him in Northwest Arkansas for the weekend, but his wife, Sandra Bullock, didn't come along this year. Katibah said people hung out around the trailer and enjoyed some good meals together.

Granting a short interview in his trailer while on break from signing autographs Sunday, James said he observed about seven of his bikes in the area while here.

Most of his customers "are really into riding them. There aren't too many show bikes," he said.

Does buying a customer Chopper secure an opportunity to ride with James?

"If they can catch me. I ride pretty fast," he said.

James said he's not appearing on television this season. He's been involved with several programs such as "Motorcycle Mania," "Jesse James is a Dead Man," "Monster Garage" and the second season of "Celebrity Apprentice."

"I've got some great projects going in the shop. I still work at the shop everyday," he said. "No TV during the next six to eight months so I get some real work done."

The Northwest Arkansas stop was the last of 10 scheduled this year at various Supercenters to promote the workwear, which features long-wearing, affordable work clothes for men. He displayed some items from his new durable kids clothing line and said a women's line of work clothes is being developed.