Tell me a little about the bike? What are it's specs?

Modified parts

fuel tank

front fender

rear fender

frame

fabricated parts

handle bars

headlight and front signal mount

rear axle cover/rear signal mounts

top engine mount

regulator mount

all spacers

third bearing mount for rear wheel

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What made you want to run a motorcycle business?
I have always enjoyed building and creating. This business pays for the tools and equipment so I can play.

Why did you decide to build your own motorcycle?
I enjoy creating and designing. I enjoy fabrication. I enjoy machining. I enjoy welding. I enjoy all things mechanical. I enjoy colors and form. I enjoyed putting all these together and it came out a motorcycle

How did you learn about working on bikes?
It started with lawn mower engines when I was about eight years old or so. My friend’s dad worked at Estes’s Garage and had this beautiful pile of old mower engines laying out back. Every time my brother and I rode our bicycles to town, we would help ourselves to four more engines. Two strapped to each bicycle. Some we got running, and some we finished destroying. From there it was cars, then in college it was motorcycles. It was in college that I began to experience metal fabrication, machining, and welding. I loved it.

What was the most challenging aspect of building this bike?
What I really wanted for this bike was to have a unified flowing form from front to back. I wanted the bike to have a basic simplicity. Each part had to fit into the overall bike in a way that allowed the eyes to flow from front to back without interruption. Everything on the bike had to be functional. There are no extra parts added for decoration only. No individual part was to interrupt the flow. Each part had to build visually on every other part so the bike flowed as a unit. I wanted the person looking at the bike to see the whole bike, and not to be attracted to just the tank, or paint scheme, or chrome, etc. I feel that goal was achieved.

What did you learn while you were building?
Parts that are supposed to fit and work together probably won’t. Even the high dollar parts. A lot of tweaking is necessary to make it all come together. It takes a ton of patience and an understanding wife.

How long did it take from start to finish?
It took about 14 months. This was not a paying job. When paying jobs came in this project took a back burner. From start to finish as a paying job, about 4 to 6 months.

How did you pick out which parts to use?
Some parts I bought and used pretty much the way they were out of the box. Others like the fuel tank, fenders, and the frame, I modified to suit the look. Some parts I machined and fabricated to create the look I wanted.

Why did you decide not to paint any fancy graphics on it?
My son, Jesse, painted the bike. He does body work for a living. From the time I started unpacking parts he showed an interest in painting the bike. When it finally came time, he asked what color and I told him I would find out when he was done. He leaded the tank and did the smoothing. When the painting was complete, the reflection of the shop lights on the paint showed the curvature of the sheet metal with no waves. He did a class job. I asked him what he would do differently. Without hesitation, he said “charge you more”. He chose the color to compliment both the natural finish of the engine and the chrome parts.

How much would it cost for me to get a custom bike built by Max Metal Motorcycles?
A bike can be built for about $20k and up to however big your bank account is.

When are you getting your own TV show?
Good question. No answer.

Who is that old guy with long hair standing beside the motorcycle?
Good looking models are expensive. This one works cheap.