After leading a successful career as a U.S. security consultant and deciding to drive some of the world香蕉视频直播檚 most dangerous roads last year on a Royal Enfield 500 classic motorcycle, Vernon local James Leigh recently began a new venture 香蕉视频直播� one that encapsulates both of these passions.
He began building nostalgic military motorbikes.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e always loved the 1940s World War Two bikes and made a limited edition motorcycle called the in 2010 that was army green 香蕉视频直播� it was exactly what I would have wanted. They were hand-painted and I even found one in Edmonton but because Indian had shut down and changed names, and I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 even find an oil filter for it so I figured I should just make one for myself.香蕉视频直播�
With a general idea in mind, he bought a black motorcycle and started doing research. Inspiration hit.
香蕉视频直播淚 looked up a lot of historic pictures and a lot of motorcycles from the Second World War and the Vietnam War and I designed this one,香蕉视频直播� he said, gesturing to his now nearly-finished bike. 香蕉视频直播淭he ones from that time had these girls on them and they were called Victory Girls and they were on every American bomber and British bombers too.香蕉视频直播�
The more he researched, the more creative he got and the more details he added.
WATCH: Leigh walks through the details of the first bike he built
Related:
Related:
In addition to depicting the hand-painted Victory girl on the side of the bike, some other details he added include: a serial number from the tail of a American helicopter that crashed in Vietnam during the war and a yellow stripe used as an indicator for the centre of gravity when dropping caged motorcycles in parachutes to soldiers in the field.
After customizing the first bike to his liking, Leigh decided to take it for a spin around Vernon.
香蕉视频直播淎s I香蕉视频直播檓 taking it out that first day 香蕉视频直播� I had put a permit on it and I go downtown and guys are coming out of Kal Sports Bar and taking pictures and giving me thumbs up and I didn香蕉视频直播檛 realize until that point that it was that interesting. I just thought it was different but then this kept happening. Everywhere I went with this bike, people are taking pictures. There香蕉视频直播檚 something about it and I think it香蕉视频直播檚 because it looks like it香蕉视频直播檚 fresh out of 1940 World War Two.香蕉视频直播�
Because he was getting so much attention, he said he thought he香蕉视频直播檇 post it to an online and see what people thought of it there. Suddenly, it started picking up steam online.
Soon, what began as a passion project snowballed.
香蕉视频直播淎ctually, the actor Edward Norton, his agent got ahold of me because I guess he [Norton] had seen it on the website, and said that he wants one in battleship grey.香蕉视频直播�
So after all this interest, he realized there was a market for these kind of military bikes and decided he香蕉视频直播檇 start a small company: DMZ motorcycles 香蕉视频直播� DMZ is an acronym meaning .
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 using all local people for the production and that was really important to me when I started building,香蕉视频直播� said Leigh.
So far he has the artwork, including the victory girl paintings, done by in Vernon, machining and fabricating done at in Vernon, the leather work done at , and the mechanical work done by local Joe Adams of Adams Aero. The first custom seat was done by a U.S. company 香蕉视频直播攂ut Leigh said BlueRose Leather will do the seats in the future. He also noted that , the Triumph dealer in Kelowna, has been of particular help to him by spreading the word and helping Leigh with the purchasing of the bikes.
Eventually, he hopes to create a online forum that will allow people to customize the bike to their liking.
香蕉视频直播淲hen I start the website, what I envision is people can pick the country they like: the logo, the girl, the seat, the colour, whatever they want. There are so many possibilities because it香蕉视频直播檒l all be hand-done and locally-made. There香蕉视频直播檚 so many possibilities.香蕉视频直播�
He also said that each bike will come with its own identifying military dog tag to match the serial number on the bike.
香蕉视频直播淏efore I really get into this big-time, I want to finish five bikes to really showcase the possibilities. It was just supposed to be one bike and now I香蕉视频直播檝e got a few ordered and it could get crazy.香蕉视频直播�
So far, he has bought four motorcycles for customization and plans to launch his website later this year.
Related:
Related:
Related:
To report a typo, email:
newstips@vernonmorningstar.com.
Email me brieanna.charlebois@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on .
