Killer Custom Motorcycles

Owning a bespoke custom motorcycle is a dream for a lot of riders. It’s also not for everyone.

If you’re a new rider, still figuring out the style you want and the kind of riding you actually enjoy, you’re probably not ready to start. You’ll spend more than the price of a good used bike on something you might drop, crash, or neglect into an early grave — and end up with a machine that gathers dust because it intimidates you.

A custom also asks more of its owner. Off-the-shelf parts aren’t always an option. I document everything and stand behind my work, but I’m one guy, and I can’t promise to be on call forever.

It takes a long time.

A ground-up build runs north of 100 hours of actual shop labor, plus the stretches where I’m waiting on parts to arrive or be fabricated by other craftsmen. I run a one-man shop and take on one build at a time, and only projects I think will turn out genuinely great. Plan on 6–12 months from commitment to delivery.

Keep a daily rider in the meantime so you don’t catch spring fever and start calling me every three days. If you’re working against a hard deadline, tell me before we start and I’ll figure out whether it’s doable.

How a build works.

1. You send me inspiration and a description. A handful of pictures of bikes you love and a few sentences on what you want. If you already have a donor, I’ll inspect it and tell you what it needs to be roadworthy.
2. We talk it through. Riding style, design constraints, goals, budget, timeline. When we agree on a plan, I ask for one-third up front to begin.
3. Second draw at the rolling stage. Once the mechanicals are sorted and the bike is a running roller ready for fitment and finish selection.
4. Balance on delivery. It comes apart for paint, final assembly, tuning, and testing. You pay the rest when you ride it off into the sunset.

Ready to talk?

Email me a few inspiration pics, a short description of the bike you want, and your donor situation (or say you need one) at clay@streetspiritcycles.com — or use the form below and I’ll get back to you.

Tell me your rough budget and timeline up front. It saves us both time and it’s the fastest way to find out whether we’re a fit.