Harley Test Ride and Nickel Plating - Rodsmith Motorcycles

Описание: Harley Test Ride and Nickel Plating. Rodsmith Motorcycles. Most people think Craig Rodsmith is an overnight success in the Custom Motorcycle scene. He came out of the shadows and impressed attendees of Austin’s Handbuilt Motorcycle Show in 2016 with his “dustbin” Moto Guzzi racer, a turbocharged testament to the ’50s, when manufacturers were pushing the outside of the performance envelope. The bike’s hand-formed, full-fairing, mirror-finish body looked stunning in person, and Rodsmith found a buyer for the bike before he left Texas.
Suddenly, he found himself at the forefront of the “neu custom” bike scene. But Rodsmith has been building custom motorcycles for over 40 years, wrenching away in a vacuum far from general acclaim. He started in his father’s shed in Australia, then continued working on bikes as he bounced between odd jobs and punk rock gigs. He’s a student of history, and each of his builds hearkens back to the very end of pre-war performance and the very beginning of post-war hooliganism. Each of his builds — from Goldwings to VFR Hondas and everything between — pull inspiration from a common vision, glistening with a look that is organic, retro, and purposeful.
For over 20 years he’s worked out of a no-nonsense shop north of Chicago, his personal cathedral littered with bikes and absolutely devoid of latté art or selvedge denim lifestyle accessories. His machining and polishing work is peerless, and he uses ingenuity to appropriate what he can’t make by hand, like a headlight bucket from the bottom of a fire extinguisher. Craig builds bikes with a commitment that defies his hourly rate; it borders on religious fanaticism. Rodsmith is what self-important marketers refer to as “authentic.” His craggy face has a stone-cold glare, and his ironic sense of humor relies heavily on the word “c$%.” Rodsmith isn’t even his last name, but everyone just sort of assumes it is.
As I’m getting older, I doubt I can always work like I do now, so I want to get in a position of relative financial security and just continue what I’m doing. One thing that I’ve recently realized is I have something I enjoy sharing, so I’d love to have the means to have open houses at my shop where younger builders can come and learn from me and each other – and so I can learn something from them. I just want to keep doing what I love. As I said, I don’t really have a job.
The key to Craig's success seems to be his obsession with pushing himself and his visions to the next level every time. Some of his past work can be found in the gallery below. There is really too much to mention.

Rodsmith Motorcycles has turned into a social media monster followed by enthusiasts across the planet. Gathering over 2 Million Viewers in only first 9 months. Craig's personality in his video creations have drawn in not only motorcycle fans but he is rebranding what the culture is all about. He has no fear or censorship with his builds and encourages and even inspires thousands to "do something different". Say what you want about Mr. Rodsmith but when it comes to building motorcycles he is second to none. We all look forward to what is next.