Homer OCC SR machined their frame from a slab of aluminum, they originally were going to ditch having it anodized but fortunately (for the bikes sake) they had time to get it anodized.
Alan I really doubt there is any real investment in their ability to find gold, I think its all an investment in entertainment only. The real story up there is mining that gold is not going to make anyone filfthy rich, its difficult gold to mine and not profitable like in the old gold rush days. People are up their making a living off of it but not breaking the bank. Some major plot owners do get rich simply by volume of leased mines.
If Todd and those other crews were running them mines like they should run it would be boring and yep no good for TV.