By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LIBERTY ISLAND — The Statue of Liberty turned 124 on Thursday, and her birthday present was a custom-made motorcycle from Orange County Choppers.
The Liberty Bike, which was featured on an early episode of "American Chopper," is covered in shiny copper that was left over during the statue’s centennial restoration in 1986.
Thursday marked the first time that the bike has traveled to Liberty Island to be united with the statue.
Paul Teutul Sr., founder of the Orange County Choppers, was on hand to ride the bike from the ferry over to a display case for a brief ceremony.
"Presenting the Liberty Bike to display…near the Statue of Liberty is a huge honor for us," Teutul said in a statement. "We couldn’t imagine a better place for the bike."
The motorcycle was commissioned by the Gold Leaf Corporation in 2004 and took four and a half weeks to complete.
In addition to the copper plating, the Liberty Bike includes several other features inspired by Lady Liberty. The bike's shift lever comes from a cable that once carried electricity to the statue’s torch, and in another reference to the torch, the bike’s carburetor lights up when the engine is running. Also, the detailing includes spiky designs similar to Lady Liberty’s crown.
"It’s very awesome up close," said Peg Zitko, a vice president of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. "It’s a beautiful piece."
This isn’t the Orange County Choppers’ only New York-themed bike. The shop has also created a New York Jets Bike and a Fire Bike, which was modeled on a fire engine and dedicated to the memory of the 343 FDNY members killed on 9/11.
The Liberty Bike will be on display on Liberty Island for the next two years, and then it will go on a national tour, Zitko said.
