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8

8comm13

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Dec 31, 2010
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SoCal
Cool looking shop. This guy has a great attitude and I hope he does well. Thanks Ryan for posting.
 
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shoggoth80

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Feb 28, 2013
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Seattle
Good looking bikes. I like the vintage board tracker like feel of the twin you see a lot of in the video. Very minimalist and old school... just what a motorbike should be.
 
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J Persons

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Louisiana
I've always liked the look of that type of bike, but otherwise I don't know much about them, never having owned one but was wondering what make it that V twin? I thought all HD V's had the back carb at the front of the cylinder, so that both intake ports were together at the center of the V.
 
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crab

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OK, I'll play devils advocate. What this guy is doing is really cool, he's producing motorcycle based art. I'm sure there is a market and I hope he does well. I'm afraid what he's building wouldn't be very good to actually ride a lot. One of his builds would really be cool to have in your den or office or even in the garage for short rides. I guess a motorcycle that you wouldn't want to go put a couple hundred miles on in one day just doesn't appeal to me a lot. I do appreciate his skill and talent and his bikes are beautiful.
 
Z

Zeke

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Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
crab said:
OK, I'll play devils advocate. What this guy is doing is really cool, he's producing motorcycle based art. I'm sure there is a market and I hope he does well. I'm afraid what he's building wouldn't be very good to actually ride a lot. One of his builds would really be cool to have in your den or office or even in the garage for short rides. I guess a motorcycle that you wouldn't want to go put a couple hundred miles on in one day just doesn't appeal to me a lot. I do appreciate his skill and talent and his bikes are beautiful.
Click to expand...

Oh, don't be crabby. :lol_hitti
He's not the only one:
https://www.pinterest.com/cowpunkleather/chicara-nigata-motorcycle-builder/
 
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Banjorear

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Jul 22, 2013
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Essex Co., NJ
Awesome. Good for him. If you haven't already, I highly suggest reading the book Shop Craft As Soulcraft. Once you do, you'll totally get where this guy is coming from
 
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C

chruler

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Oct 31, 2014
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Vermont
His bikes have a bit of a board track style to them and seem to have their roots in the early 1900's. When I was Staff Photographer for American iron Magazine a few years ago, I got to see and photograph all sorts of bikes and shops where guys were building incredible machines. good times. Nice bikes!
 
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softailgarage

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Apr 20, 2011
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Bullhead City, Az.
Yeah, this guy is gonna go a long way. Beautiful bikes and a perfect attitude. That V twin behind him looks like a Sportster engine on a flat track bike, vintage/retro but modern, a nice combination. I expect to see him and his shop in many articles to come. BTW, anybody notice the wood floors?
 
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Fender1325

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Dec 30, 2014
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I'll play another devils advocate. This felt phony. I'll rephrase that. It actually felt good to watch, and that main bike that was featured was beautiful, but a few things kind of had me wondering...

The white T-shirt and chucks, "look at me I'm a custom fabricator". The fact that he was holding an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel or grinder at face level with some kind of stylish hipster small eyewear was an immediate failure. Thats asking for a face injury.

The comment "Oh I used to travel into manhattan everyday for work......you know that old grind" This guy worked for wallstreet or some financial institution and made a big chunk of change and left, I'll bet my right nut.

The fact that he just nonchallantly builds what he wants and then sells it, and is able to pay rent for a shop as well as life expenses. I dont buy it for a minute.

BUT HEY! Thats just my opinion.
 
J

Jefe

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OH-IO
Fender1325 said:
I dont buy it for a minute.

BUT HEY! Thats just my opinion.
Click to expand...

HA! You mean you don't think this person exists, walks around in shoes, breathes air, and happens to build bikes? Or you don't believe he used to work in NYC? I'm confused.

Here's more evidence he is real: My friend sold him an engine, shipped it to him, then flew out to meet him and see the progress on the bike he's building *from scratch* around it:

http://www.musketvtwin.com/news/a-musket-motor-to-the-max

Aniket is also real, as can be seen here:


(sorry for the second shameless plug for Aniket, but it was relevant ;))
 
V

valentine

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Oct 27, 2008
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Seems like a nice guy and I wish him well. Anyone have any idea how much his bikes sell for?

-Valentine
 
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Fender1325

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@Jefe oh no I totally believe he exists. I know people like him. Their whole "business" is built around **** marketing - videos, instagram photos with iphone doctoring, and thousands of "followers". ANYBODY can look like a pro in today's world.

What I'm saying is he felt amateur, and backed by either his parents bank account, or previous (my guess) financial job in NY.

I do not disagree for a second that the work I see of his is beautiful and exciting. I just got a vibe off the video is all. I also dont know how somebody just builds what THEY want, at their pace, and then AFTERWARDS finds a buyer and sells it - making a living to support the shop, tools, home, food, insurance etc, in NYC, and now LA. Smells like tuna to me

I could be wham-bam-thankyou-mam-plain-jane WRONG! But I calls em like I sees em!
 
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E

ed_v

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Kentucky
Fender1325 said:
@Jefe oh no I totally believe he exists. I know people like him. Their whole "business" is built around **** marketing - videos, instagram photos with iphone doctoring, and thousands of "followers". ANYBODY can look like a pro in today's world.

What I'm saying is he felt amateur, and backed by either his parents bank account, or previous (my guess) financial job in NY.

I do not disagree for a second that the work I see of his is beautiful and exciting. I just got a vibe off the video is all. I also dont know how somebody just builds what THEY want, at their pace, and then AFTERWARDS finds a buyer and sells it - making a living to support the shop, tools, home, food, insurance etc, in NYC, and now LA. Smells like tuna to me

I could be wham-bam-thankyou-mam-plain-jane WRONG! But I calls em like I sees em!
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There always has to be a Negative Nancy or a Debbie Downer in the group.

Seriously, I see what you are saying to a degree.... but who cares? I wish that everyone in the world could do something they enjoy and are a success. If he is being backed by his parents, that is fine. Nothing wrong with helping out your children if they have the talent and passion to become a success. If he left a high paying job to pursue something he loves, good for him. That takes balls.

Seems like a talented guy who enjoys what he does. I wish him well.

Ed
 
W

workhurts

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VA
I agree with all points ... cuz I'm just in an agreeable mood today. You have to have a brand these days. Everyone does. I've seen a lot of bikes that look great in photos but in person the workmanship leaves a lot to be desired.

This person's bikes do look very nice and original. It's the style of bike that I'm most attracted to as they are still very mechanical looking and yet organic at the same time.

I'd buy one if the price wasn't through the roof.

Of course this person has money to begin with but how much do you really need to build one bike at a time and buy equipment? 50k .. 100k? It's not like he's invested a Bugatti Veyron repair facility.

All in all, they look beautiful and I really don't care what the story is behind it.
 
F

Fender1325

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Fair enough......I'LL LET HAZAN SLIDE THIS TIME!!!! BUT IVE GOT MY EYE ON YOU!!!! (Evil laugh)
 
K

kazlx

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Tustin, CA
I dig it. I'm (one of many on here I'm sure) that wishes I could support myself and my family doing something like this instead of my typical grind every day...

Side gravy is good icing, but your own health care isn't cheap...
 
J

Jefe

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OH-IO
Fender1325 said:
Fair enough......I'LL LET HAZAN SLIDE THIS TIME!!!! BUT IVE GOT MY EYE ON YOU!!!! (Evil laugh)
Click to expand...

Ha! In all seriousness though, I think he's a rare combination of being actually good at design and fabrication, and good maintaining the proper image and marketing. It's that combination that lets him sell one bike a year at $100k or whatever to stay in business.
My understanding is the Musket V-twin bike he's working on now is a customer commission.
 
J

Jefe

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OH-IO
Yeah, those guys are clearly selling "lifestyle" products. Hazan is making amazing looking bikes (how they ride is clearly questionable). He is making every single part on those things, doing wacky stuff like transmission brakes and chain driven superchargers. The Jane dudes are dressing up XS650s with USD forks and leather saddles; no shortage of that these days...
 
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