How it all began

I have been into motorcycles for well over 30 years - my first ever bike at 17 was an AMF Harley Davidson 125cc - a nice single cyclinder bike, that promptly put me in hospital for a couple of months with a fractured spine. But I rode it home from the hospital - much to the annoyance of my mother and kept it for a few years. I have been pretty much brand loyal ever since - maybe its genetic as my grandfather had one after WW1.

I started getting into Harley's seriously again in 1996 when I bough a Sportster -an 883 custom - I had a stage 1 and then bought some chrome bits, before I traded it up for one of the first twin cams a 99 FXD which I still have although, its only the frame and engine that really remain of that original bike - I have gradually customised in a simple add on way over the last 10 years, I still love it and hope to keep it forever.

Afer that a Screaming Eagle 2005 Fat Boy, which I had a 240 rear end and stretched tank put on, and have only just recently swapped for a 2009 Streetglide. Then in 2005 I met Richard Taylor a local bike builder who I got to do some minor work on my faithful FXD - at the time he was working on a new project - the Air Bike - its a superb piece of engineering, with a 360 section rear tyre and a 23'' front wheel, it sits on its frame and rises and lowers by his bespoke air suspension - I bought it and that was really the start of my custom obsession.

I should also say I love riding and get out and about alot, regular trips to the US, I rode to the south of Spain in 2007, and did Route 66 in 2008 (see my blog on this) - i should add much of this was possible as I gave up work in light of the impending recession in July 2007.

During 2008 i fulfilled a long standing ambition and built my own bike in conjunction with Richard Taylor - the ''Macbeth Bobber" - it took most of the year and was eventually finished in September. All in all I was delighted with the result, but more importantly loved the whole process of the build -  my real contribution was the design and concept - which included most of the parts used, the frame style and the paint finish, and of course some wrenching.

Its called the Macbeth Bobber for my wife Lisa, who had no interest in Motorcycles, but an abiding love of Shakespeare; so to show that despite her view that I did not pay any attention to her interests - I had this bike Shakespeare themed.

Well two part quotes "something wicked this way comes" and "...full of sound and fury". a nice historic Macbeth emblem on the saddle and a 3 (for 3 witches on the oil tank). I am hoping to get it

0n the cover of BSH this year and enter it in the London Custom Motorcycle Show in May.

So having finished one bike  - I decided spend a big part of 2009 indulging my obsession with custom motorbikes.

This blog is going to chronicle this year where from a standing start I want to set up a small custom bike business, with a brand, some bikes to sell, a few parts, and of course some T-Shirts. It will involve a lot of time and effort and importantly co-operation from many different people.

I am very excited.