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NE Mesa selected as chrome home

Publication: The Arizona Republic; Date: 09/04/2004

By Christine L. Romero

Sleek and shiny chrome adorns increasingly popular chopper motorcycles. Too cool!

And supplying this chrome candy for choppers has been a savvy business move for a family business relocating to northeast Mesa to accommodate the booming business.

The Anderson family, owners of south Phoenix-based Standard Bolt, also doing business as Chrome Hardware Supply, recognized a need for handmade chrome parts for custom choppers. But as the family business rides the wave of motorcycle mania, it also continues to supply parts to aerospace firms.

Choppers are custom-made bikes with stretched out forks, ripping engines, flashy paint jobs and lots of sparkling chrome. They can cost $25,000 to $100,000. Owners of factory bikes, such as Harley-Davidson, also buy chrome parts as upgrade kits.

"It's like jewelry for your bike," said Seth Anderson, vice president of operations.

Motorcycles are hot thanks to reality television shows such as Orange County Choppers and Monster Garage. For the 11th consecutive year, new unit sales of two-wheelers increased compared with the previous year, according to the latest Motorcycle Industry Council estimates for all brands.

And market growth means money for the Andersons.

Twenty-eight years ago, the family started Standard Bolt in Tempe to supp