The Story
It all began in 1968 on the enchanting, uplifting island of Mauritius. My dad Lindsay purchased his first motorbike in 1968 – a Laverda 150cc. After Lindsay customized and raced this machine, he went on to build numerous other bikes from an RD250 to the famous CB750, turning them into incredible cafes and choppers. Lindsay's CB750 was the first chopper on the island! I’ve got photos and stories of gravel rash to prove it.
He started building custom scooters & motorcycles back in 1968 when he was 16. Soon after, BMW Mauritius poached him to work on performance cars/motorcycles.
He was later assigned to work for BMW Dubai, later BMW France as a Master Technician based on his qualifications, BMW Australia soon hired him in the 90s and so began a new phase in his life.
Since the age of three, I’ve been tinkering around with custom cars, and motorcycles and wrenching in Dad’s garage. This is where my passion for motorcycles and cars came from…so I’m blaming Dad for everything.
At the age of five, I took apart Dad’s CB750 – with the headlight ending up on the other side of the workshop.
That bike got me into a bit of trouble!
After high school I wanted to be an F1 mechanic, sadly the parents wanted me to work in an office so began the computer science degree journey spent years studying at Macquarie university soon after worked as an IBM Websphere specialist while working at this new exciting shop called Deus motorcycles on the weekends, which fueled the passion even further.
The dark side soon took over and I snuck my first bike – a SR500 into the backyard and started to work on it when Mum wasn’t around, despite Dad pleading for me not to pursue this crazy addiction of custom motorcycles.
Fittingly, I named my first masterpiece, Trouble….. and so it began!
Throughout my whole life, I’ve always been around bikes and cars, so I guess it is not surprising that doing custom turbo installations and fibreglass work earned me the “Mr Innovation” award at the Auto Salon in 2001, plus various other awards for my custom builds.
Moving to motorcycles was an easy transition and soon became my passion. It seems it was bound to happen even without the folks' permission.
Sadly my Parents wanted me to work in an office, so began the computer science degree journey spent years studying at Macquarie university soon after worked as an IBM Websphere specialist while working at Deus motorcycles on the weekends which fueled the passion even further.
In 2011 with a portfolio of bikes that I’ve modified, I decided to start Mean Machines Motorcycles.
A year in the company was bought out and expanded to the size of a football field.
In another hands, the spirit and passion faded but as always this was part of me.
During this time I worked in various motorcycle workshops and motorcycle companies which led me to build the first production electric motorcycle in Australia.
Yes folks from paper drawing, prototype frame and engine to a complete production motorcycle, the model is still being sold today.
Moving forward seven years, I reacquired Mean Machines Motorcycle and returned to building custom bikes.
July 2024 . Dad passes away.
The only thing that kept me going was building bikes—aka keeping those hands busy.
I was in a deep hole, and it was getting bigger. I've been wanting to build an old school dyna for a while now, probably watching too much Sons of Anarchy.
After my dad’s passing, I took 6 months off from building customer bikes and built myself a motorcycle. It's the only time I feel free and can build the vision in my head.
old-school dyna just to ride and enjoy. Keep it classic and clean.
As I am building this bike. I had some questions about making major changes to the carbs. I had no one to fall back on; usually, Dad's number is on speed dial with these fun projects he used to build race carburetors. I know some stuff, but I wanted to double-check and hear his voice.
I suddenly remembered the time a young guy called me up asking for some tips and if i was hiring he mentioned that building bikes is such an underground thing and no one would show him how to do things as its all a big secret.
Then I realised that we should all be able to build custom motorcycles as it has helped me throughout my life, gathering mates together to work on a project, your kids, siblings, even keeping your hands busy during hard times or you just want a cool ride.
With a bit of help and some know-how, it's easy.
I search the internet there was too much s*it out there and didnt know who to listen to and lot of amateur builders showing people the wrong things to do.
It was time to share my 30-plus years of knowledge of building custom motorcycles and what my dad had taught me.
Im teaching the world how I build my bikes its no secret, bit of patience and some imagination its easy.
I hope you enjoy my bikes and learning videos as much as I’ve loved creating them.
P.S.... send me a picture of your custom bike. I'd love to see it.
Enough reading; more wrenching —let's ride.