Custom Revolution

by Paul d'Orleans, BikeExif Forward: Bryan Stevens Introduction: Chris Hunter (Foreword), Bryan Stevens (Editor)

Custom Revolution documents the first major museum exhibition of the contemporary custom motorcycle ('Alternative Custom') scene. The book includes an introduction by Chris Hunter of BikeExif, text by Paul d'Orléans (The Vintagent), plus photography and essays about the 23 outstanding machines included in the exhibit, built by artisans from 7 countries, who used 17 different makes of motorcycle as the basis for their creations. The machines modified range from Shinya Kimura's 1914 Excelsior ('Sleeper') to Alta Motorcycles' 2018 electric dragster ('Crapshoot'), mixing vintage and contemporary machines, for street or exhibition or racing. The Custom Revolution exhibition was held at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles April 2018-March 2019, and presented in one location for the first time, the most significant custom motorcycle builders of the previous decade, all international stars, Ian Barry (Falcon Motorcycles - USA), Shinya Kimura (Chabott Engineering - Japan/USA), Roland Sands (RSD - USA), Max Hazan (USA), Revival Cycles (USA), El Solitario MC (Spain), Alp Sungertekin Racing and Design (USA), Bandit9 (Vietnam), Ehinger Kraftrad (Germany), Medaza Cycles (Ireland), Kingston Custom (Germany), Ronin Motorworks (USA), Deus Ex Machina (USA), NYC Norton (USA), Heiwa Motorcycle (Japan), Krautmotors (Germany), Mission Motors (USA), Speed Shop Design (USA), Sosa Metalworks (USA), and Thrive Motorcycles (Indonesia). An introductory essay by Paul d'Orléans explores the long history of custom motorcycles from the 1920s forward, the origins of the contemporary custom scene in Japan in the mid-2000s, and its spread around the world through Internet sites like BikeExif. A Foreword by Bryan Stevens of the Petersen Museum notes the Petersen Museum's interest in this globally important subject, and why the Museum chose to include contemporary customs in its exhibition calendar.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2018