John Brain

I'm an associate editor for the web-zine "Bike Rod and Kustom" a role that I cherish very much. I am a fanatic supporter and booster of the worldwide kustom bicycle movement, and, I am also a member of the Chopaderos bicycle club......My main interest is to promote the idea that kustom bicycles are a unique form of street art, and that they should not blindly look to motorcycles for all their styling inspiration. Of course bicycles and motorcycles share some basic visual components like 2 wheels, forks, and handlebars; but, components should most always relate to how a vehicle is powered. Motorcycles have engines which need gas tanks, exhaust pipes, oil tanks and other related motor parts, this is only natural. On the other hand a "kustom bicycle" is human powered, and it's components should be chosen for optimum performance for use with its means of power(your legs). It is a given that some compromises need to be made, as creative cycling tends to make for a heavier bike. You need to find the best of both worlds in this regard. A bicycle should always be something that is a joy to ride, and never something that is total misery to pedal................"Wanna-be" motorcycles, bicycles with bolt on gas tanks and sometimes even fake engines - no matter how well executed, are my least favourite kind of kustom bicycle. Some think that the best kustom bicycle possible would be a kustom motorcycle with the engine removed and a pedal crank welded on, I think this is madness. A great future for kustom bicycle style will come from those gifted designers who bravely explore new and unique styling trends, which move beyond slavish motorcycle imitation. The days of thinking that kustom bicycles are nothing more than wanna-be motorcycles is over. Kustom bike style has a great future, embrace it, work with it, and be inspired to create something new by looking within yourself for artistic inspiration. This is where true innovation will come from...