'American Chopper' star sues to get his bike back

By Eriq Gardner

Cody Connelly, who appeared on 93 episodes of TLC's "American Chopper," wants his bike back.

Rather than storm into the offices at Orange County Choppers — which, we admit, would be must-see TV — Connelly has gone the more, um, American route of filing a lawsuit.

In this complaint, filed in New York Supreme Court, Connelly claims he's due $250,000 for appearances on the popular reality show as the "young fabricating prodigy." Connelly says he's only been paid for 31 episodes of the 93 on which he appeared.

And, oh yeah, he wants the "Old School Chopper" he helped design too. In a 2003 episode, the star of the show and the defendant in the lawsuit, Paul Teutul, Sr., gifted the motorcycle to Connelly, who now says he never received it. Never look a gift chopper in the mouth.