1. How did you get started in the Bike building industry?
First let me say I’ve been a biker since my early teens with my first Honda moto-cross bike then migrated onto the street with a series of crotch rockets and cruisers. Only when I grew up and got into my 30s did I come to appreciate the v-twin market and the styling. Overall I’ve probably designed and built (with the help of countless friends) 15-20 bikes for myself. I jumped into the industry by merging two companies together…which is now Guilty Customs. My background is more business and design, while Jason Gray’s is paint and design and Mike Drum is mechanical portion…so it’s a good match for us all. Prior to Guilty, I have held executive corporate positions with Fortune 50 companies, small non-profits and consulting companies in the US.
2. Does Guilty Custom have a unique style of fabrication? If so, how would you characterized or define it?
At first glance you will see that we lean towards a very classic, retro style. But we don’t feel the need to strictly hold ourselves to the purist ideas of the“Old school” either. For instance, you will often see us incorporate modern styling cues like a wider rear tire on billet wheels or very clean internal wiring that looks more streamlined and less clunky and raw than what many people envision as “retro” style.
If I had to define it, I would put it this way: Whereas a few builders are known for being influenced by, and even incorporating classic Hot-rod automobile parts in their bikes, Say, Hank Young or Cole Foster. We are big fan’s of the resto-mods. Resto-Mods are old cars that have been restored but in a way that stays true to the original, or period-correct shape. So you would instantly recognize the car to be based on a classic ‘69 Mustang, or ‘57 Chevy for instance, but it would have a thoroughly re-worked motor, modern interior with all the creature comforts, riding on updated suspension, big wheels, wide tires, and insane paint. In other words, not just an old car, but one with modern twists like the rides built by guys like Foose or Coddington.
So we like our bikes to look very classic, not like some of these fully molded spaceship looking designs, we’re seeing a lot of lately. And we design them to work reliably and be comfortable to ride.
3. The Guilty Crew.
We’re a small and effective crew here at Guilty…..besides myself we have….
Jason Gray
Partner, designer/painter.
Over the last 10 years Jason has developed a strong reputation all over Florida and beyond with his own custom paint and body shop, but for the last few years he specialized exclusively in Motorcycles. Being a rider himself, and after tearing down and rebuilding countless bikes, it was a foregone conclusion that he would eventually start building ground-up customs for his clients. In early 2006 we (Cj and Jason) partnered to create Guilty Customs. Jason’s involvement in the design process from start to finish means that the whole bike, from choosing which components, to sheet metal fabrication to paint remains cohesive.
Mike Drum
Lead Tech, Shop Foreman.
Mike became the backbone of the shop. He is an MMI Trained Technician with a love for the old Harleys. (You know he must be good… He rides a '74 Ironhead and it always runs like new!) He handles the building and mechanical duties, and also shares in fabrication and bodywork when needed. He's worked with Jason long enough to become a decent painter. It's great to have an all-around talent like him at the shop, who can be counted on to take care of just about anything.
Derrick Addis
Inmate/Worker Bee
Derrick is the kind of young, willing worker every shop needs. A sports-bike enthusiast, at only 19 years old, he's already way ahead of the curve mechanically. He helps out in the paint shop, and even puts his computer skills to good use in the office. But don't think he's just a gopher… He's currently attending MMI, and hopes to, one day, put all this experience to work building custom sportbikes.
Jason O'Rand
Inmate/Worker Bee
This is another young guy working with us while attending MMI. He's almost finished, and is making plans to attend welding school. We like guys like Jason who know how to do just about everything. It's easier to work alongside people who understand your job also. Jason has somehow owned about 20 motorcycles and a few classic cars too which, I believe is the criteria for actual 'Gearhead' status.
4. When it comes to designing and fabricating bikes, what are the main priorities and objective of Guilty Customs?
Our design philosophy is simply: To make clean looking, retro styled motorcycles that fit the rider and can be ridden long distances. This means everything has to be in comfortable reach of the rider, so the profiles are hot rod inspired, but not too radical or extreme.
5. What kind of fabrication, design and build skills did you guys have prior to this venture?Jason- worked at and eventually owned his own body shop. Years of working with metal, fiberglass, urethane, plastics, etc… this type of experience taught him to mold various materials to his needs. Cj’s experience has been mostly working with design and fabrication of raw metal (welding mostly). Thank goodness for high school metal class!
6. Where do you get the inspiration to fabricate the way you do?
Combined, both Cj and Jason have, over the years, looked at thousands of motorcycles which has helped us develop an acute sense of what we like and what we hate. We have strong opinions about what a classic motorcycle shape should look like. Of course, we have our influences: Johnny Chop (r.i.p.) Hank Young, Scott Long and others have inspired us… But we feel confident that the stuff we are thinking up is pretty fresh on it's own.
7. What are those things you always try to implement or express when fabricating a new bike?
Cleanliness is paramount. Stream lined wiring, controls, simple lines, and a lack of tacky ornamentation and fluff. And we stay away from trends, especially in our paint. We don't ever want to build a “fashionable” bike, that two years from now, you'll be hesitant to ride because the fad has come and gone.
8. What were your main goals with fabrication of Lucille?
We pretty much stuck to our overall philosophy here. This is an unmistakably classic profile, with the gooseneck frame, Springer front end, and the peanut tank mounted high on the backbone. Also, the external fender struts and the satin wheels, that recall the torque thrust Cragers of the sixties, really stand out. But we included some modern elements, like a wide rear tire, and the modern drivetrain with electric start.
9. What are the main characteristics of this fabrication?
Well there’s not a lot of sheet metal on the bike, and of course that’s by design. But the Sportster tank, mounted high on the backbone, the short rear fender with the clean external struts, and the classic Moon Eyes oil bag mounted down low to create a lot of empty space under the seat, are all points of interest.
13. To what extent did you have to design, modify or relocate components in order to get the final result? Can you give us examples?
The Moon Eyes Oil tank always presents a challenge, how to use the Mooneyes mounts which are so recognizable, but integrate it into the flow of the frame.
Mike came up with the ingenious setup welded right into the down tubes that still allows the oil tank to be removed easily for service. The fender struts are our own design, created in cad and cut on a waterjet to fit perfectly. We fabbed up a clean little electrical box under the tranny to hold circuit breakers, relays, etc. the coil and regulator mounts are also custom made to fit down in the nooks and crannies of the drivetrain, but still remain accessible for cleaning and service.
14. What is the fabrication process for Lucille?
We set the Santee gooseneck frame on the lift, took the die grinder to every bracket, mount and tab, and then rebuilt her to be clean and functional with no fluff. This allowed us to integrate the sheet metal into the bike so it doesn’t look like an afterthought.
15. Based on the knowledge your team has as designers and fabricators of Lucille; which are the things (components, parts and/or forms) you consider are truly unique about this bike and about the way you do things?
We know there is nothing new under the sun. There isn’t really anything revolutionary about this bike, but with all the overdone complicated “choppers” out there, it almost feels like a fresh idea to strip a bike down and keep it real. For instance the oil bag mounted on the lower down tubes has been done before… but we felt like we hit on a way of doing it that we’ve never seen. Also we found a relatively new product out there, the NAMZ braided copper oil and fuel lines. When we saw them, we knew we had to put them on this bike, but the copper leafing in the paint really compliments those and brings the whole scheme together. It’s details like those that make you look twice or three times at the bike.
16. How long did it take to design and fabricate Lucille?
A lot of these ideas had been bouncing around in our heads for the last year or more, but we don’t usually completely design a bike on paper. Often you have to get it up on the lift and kind of let it design itself. In other words, put up the main components and then just watch it evolve. That’s what happened here. This bike really came together over about a 3-week period, from start to finish, and as usual, we were making it up as we went along. (At least aesthetically)
17. It is clear that engineering simplicity, functionality and retro styling are present in Lucille, What else, do you believe distinguishes this fabrication?
We are firm believers in the old idea KISS “Keep it Simple Stupid!” That pretty much sums it up. Clean looks, great paint, and total ride-ability governed our thinking here.
18. Why the name “Lucille”?
One of Jason’s favorite old movies is the Paul Newman Classic from 1967, “Cool Hand Luke.”
There is this great scene in the movie where the chain gang is working on the side of the road and this hot little thing comes outside her house and starts washing her car in a seductive way to tease the inmates. You know, all soapy and wet… the whole thing! One of the guys wonders aloud what her name is, and Dragline, this cool old guy played by George Kennedy utters this classic line in a way that only a desperate inmate could.
And that pretty much sums up this bike, innocent, well built, and seductive. Kind of a tease! So we went with the name Lucille.
19. As it is portrayed in Lucille, your fabricating skills are definitely clean, simple and functional. What can we expect from Guilty Customs in the near future? Are you going to continue with such style, or are we about to see something completely different from you guys?
You won’t find any dramatic changes from us anytime soon. As mentioned, we’ve found our niche, and we’re sticking with it.
Recently, we signed an exclusive relationship with Rick Krost’s U.S. Choppers, where we are offering the street version of his famous board track racing replicas. This bike offers authentic 1930's styling cues, but in a way that can be ridden every day comfortably. Rick developed the brilliant chassis, but we are taking it to the next level stylistically and we’re doing some pretty cool things with it to make it our own. You’re going to see a few of those coming out of the shop in the near future, along with the classic tall chopper, but with some Guilty ques.
Also look for variations on Lucille and the USChopper models that are more friendly for women and riders of smaller stature. This is a demographic we are really focusing on.
