It’s never too late to party especially on the coat-tails of America’s Independence Day celebration, so when Deus ex Machina, L.A.’s popular gathering spot for bikes, surfboards and a great cup of java, threw a day-after-July 4th celebration of Motorcycles Made in the U.S.A., all flavors of red, white and blue bikes showed up. Plus plenty of burgers and hot dogs, cold brew and hot tunes served up by the San Diego band LowVolts.
Strategically located on the corner of Venice Blvd. and Lincoln Blvd., the Deus shop is easy to find and just a couple minutes from the Santa Monica Pier and beach. It throws bike parties with various themes twice monthly. Inside the shop several bikes were on display including a fire engine red Indian “on loan” from the prestigious Los Angeles Petersen Museum as well as a 1942 Big Tank Crocker, rare as dragon’s teeth, brought over by the new Crocker company.
As the event’s organizer Ryan summed it up, “Today we at Deus wanted to tie something in for the Fourth of July so it was the perfect opportunity to spotlight vintage American bikes… Harleys, Indians, Victory, Crocker…and everyone else is welcome, too. We’re all about two wheels and having fun.”
Ryan, in addition to being assistant manager at Deus, happens to be the apprentice for Deus ex Machina’s in-house bike builder Michael “Woolie” Woolaway who crafts one-off masterpieces of all shapes and forms. “What I love about it is working with your hands and stepping back at the end of the day and see what you’ve built.” Ryan also rode his very rare and iconic “Fatz Noriega” 1972 Iron 900 Iron Head Sportster, literally a time machine that he found in storage where it had sat in near mint condition since 1974.
Another of the highlights of the gathering was a trio of bikes brought by Scott Jones from his Santa Ana, CA shop Noise Cycles. One was freshly minted, orange and black 2009 Dyna powered by a 120R motor that he won in the bike builder contest at last year’s Born Free rally. The bike’s concept was to pay homage to Harley history circa 1920-1970 with parts from all those decades integrated into the build with a special nod to Scott’s favorite bike, the 1940s Harley WR. Another Noise Cycle’s bike looked like it’s wearing a welder’s mask for its fairing along with #5 racing plate. A third bike was a classic Panhead chopper with kind of a giraffe pattern paint job.
Says Scott when asked when he first starting making noise, he laughs and says, “Probably about nine years with a blog I started. About 2 ½ years ago it turned into a full-blown business. Fabrication is our specialty, a lot of ground up bikes, mostly Harley, but others as well. We also have a signature line of parts including handlebars.” Shortly Scott’s heading for Milwaukee for a bike movie premier and for Factory’s Knucklehead Reunion.
Many of the customs rallying up for the party were wrenched together by their owners with a little help from their friends, including a home brewed hardtail ’89 Sporty owned by Ed from the South Bay area featuring a multi-hued prism painted coffin gas tank, Paughco frame, six-over girder and a sticker that reads, “This Machine Kills Hipsters.” One of Ed’s buddies, Justin Dehaven aka “Uncle Jonzy” rode in with his buddies on his ’93 Evo, stretched out on 14-over girder forking by Franks. Justin makes custom seats under the banner High Noon Classics, several bikes at the party saddled up with his work.
Bikes rumbled in and out all day long enjoying the SoCal perfect riding weather and the chance to check out a wide range of custom bikes. They don’t call America the melting pot for nothing!
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