About Me

 

After a career in Consulting Engineering spanning almost forty years, I was looking for a way to occupy my time and feed my taste for both technology and art. I knew that custom design of some kind was what I enjoyed the most, but design what? After some trial and error with a couple of things I settled on motorcycles.

Before I started this I had ridden one motorcycle on one trip [about 1,500 miles] over three days, on the back! I can also still remember seeing the original of “The Wild Ones” and later “Easy Rider”. So it was a natural for me. I first bought a copy of Easyriders magazine and began designing a motorcycle based on dimensions taken from the photos in the mag. Using AutoCAD I was eventually able to make a graphic of my design. I then began talking to a couple of guys who build bikes; Steve and Mike at Speed Trix. I showed them my design and with their help I started working with real dimensions for components and parts. I did a lot of web surfing, watched TV, bought more mags and I learned. And, I recently added AutoDesk Inventor 10 to my toolbox.

So what do I bring to the table, besides an old man’s dreams? I bring a long history of mechanical design, an understanding of component parts both of and not of motorcycles and a burning desire to go where few others have gone. From many years of consulting I bring the understanding of projects and the ability to guide others through that sometimes painful process. From several years working for an industrial fabrication and machining business I bring an understanding of working with steel and other materials.

I also bring the belief that custom motorcycles are the truest form of art there is. When well done they are the perfect marriage between form and function, awesome in both appearance and “ride-ability”. It is also interesting that the bike itself is only half of the equation, the rider being the other half. It is my challenge to make both into one!

Lex Leighton, President
L.L. Customs