Kasyan Cycle Worx
A Family-Owned Shop Hits the Ten-Year Mark Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio It’s not easy running a business or being self-employed, especially with how things have been changing. Rent is out of control and the cost of things has increased comically. Pittsburgh has lost a few bike shops and dealerships since 2020, so it’s refreshing to know that the local Kasyan Cycle Worx is still going strong. The father and son team of Nick and Jordyn Kasyan recently moved into a new building in McKeesport, where they have a lot more room and easy street access. Walking into the back was impressive, with almost every bike lift being occupied by a customer’s bike or one of their own custom builds. We learned the backstory of how Nick got things started with the shop and how his son, Jordyn, picked up on mechanic skills at such a young age. How did you get the business going?Nick Kasyan: I started with cars. In 2004, a buddy that I went to school with had parents who owned Heritage Harley-Davidson, so I had an opportunity to go up there and give it a shot. It worked out, and I’ve been doing motorcycles ever since then. In 2013, I opened our first Kasyan Cycle location in a two-car garage in an alleyway. From there, we moved to our Fifth Avenue location. The only reason we ended up moving from there was that the owner wanted to sell the building. We started looking for other spots and stumbled upon this McKeesport location. It’ll be a year in August in this building. Was there something that motivated you to open your own shop?Nick: I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was doing part-time work at the time because I had young kids and a family. I bought some parts from a guy out by Wicked Witches in Natrona Heights. He had a double-decker garage with maybe twenty-five used bikes for sale upstairs and did the service work downstairs. That inspired me to do my own thing. Ten years in, and we’re just now getting bikes to buy and sell. We’re at that point where we’re steady with bikes and trying to buy and sell as much as we can. Jordyn, when did you start working with motorcycles?Jordyn Kasyan: I’ve been doing this full-time since I was maybe thirteen or fourteen. I’m seventeen now. Was your red, white, and blue Sportster your first custom bike?Jordyn: It’s a collection I’ve accumulated throughout the years. I’ve been building bikes since I was a kid but was more of the bastard stepchild of the guys who were doing their cars. I did some knuckleheads, panheads, and all kinds of stuff. I grew up around motorcycles, so the parts were always around. How does it feel to be involved with a craft so intricate and mechanical at a young age?Jordyn: I have always had a motivated mind and was never huge into video games or stuff like that. I’m a mechanical type of person that has always torn things down and worked on stuff. Even when I was little with RC cars. Although it sucked, Covid actually helped because it gave me the opportunity to be able to work full-time. I was always down here after school, even just sweeping floors. What style of bike or type of work do you both prefer?Nick: We service all bikes, but we’ve been getting more into the performance baggers and softails. You kind of have to chase the trends in this market to survive. Jordyn: We definitely both found a passion for the performance side, especially as it picks up in the area. We’d like to start stepping into having more bikes for sale and parts in inventory, even our own built bikes for sale. More eye candy but keep the everyday operation going. How would you describe Kasyan Cycle Worx to potential customers?Jordyn: We guarantee our work and will stay late to get it done if that’s what it takes. Our biggest thing is to be fair with the customer. Nick: We’re family-owned and give a fair price with a good product. We have customers from all over, even one that brings his bike from Tennessee for service when he’s visiting family in the city. If I’m not touching it myself, I’m keeping an eye on things. Would we like to charge more? Of course, but I like to keep things as fair and affordable as we can. That’s how we’ve made it for ten years. Note: Starting in March 2024, Kasyan Cycle Worx will be operating out of their new location at 101 5th Ave, McKeesport, PA 15132 Featured in Issue 13 KASYAN CYCLE WORX 101 5TH AVE, MCKEESPORT, PA 15132 412-672-9253 www.kasyancycleworx.com facebook | instagram Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO
1956 Panhead Chopper
The Nature of the Beast Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio We’ve had numerous people over the years approach us about seeing cool custom motorcycles riding around Hookstown, Pennsylvania. As it turns out, no matter which bike it was, they were almost always talking about Harry Dykes. As someone who bought his first bike at age fourteen, it was no surprise to learn about the many classic motorcycles that have passed through his garage over the years. With its heavy paint flake and laid-back stance, the tried and true 1956 Harley-Davidson pictured here is a great representation of classic chopper culture that could have come straight from the 1970s. As you’ll read, that was exactly the result he was aiming for. We met up with Harry in the hills of Hookstown to hear more about his past and how the bike took shape. What impact did your childhood have on this build?Harry Dykes: Whenever I was a little kid in Hookstown, a friend’s aunt’s husband had a 1967 Triumph Bonneville chopper. I remember sitting on the bike when I was a kid, maybe as young as ten years old, and playing the whole motorcycle fantasy thing. There was a TransAm sitting next to it, and my friend would sit in the car while I was on the chopper. We’d just bullshit and hang out, kid stuff. The owner of the bike passed away, but I ended up with the seat, gas tank, and sissy bar from that Bonneville and held onto the parts for twenty years. I’ve had several bikes through the years, starting with British bikes—a few different Triumphs, a BSA for a while, a couple of ironheads, and a shovelhead that I’ve had for ten to twelve years now. I told myself that I’d eventually build a panhead and use those pieces, and here it is. It took twenty years, but those parts were off of the bike that first got me into choppers. How did you get this build rolling?HD: My dad was looking for a trike, and I knew a guy selling a 1947 Servi-Car. He also had a panhead engine, and I ended up getting him to throw it in on the deal. My original plan was to just toss a quick chopper together, but then ended up splitting the cases, hand sanding and polishing everything, and it just kept snowballing from there. The first night that I started sanding it, I asked myself, “Why the hell did you do this?” What did the process look like once you got into it?HD: I had countless hours hand sanding and polishing everything until my fingers were gone. The original paint job was commissioned, but after seeing the painter do another identical bike, I figured I’d just do it myself so I had something that was one-off. I wanted it to look like you pulled it off of a 1970s chopper. That’s a Jammer frame that I molded. I figured that if I was polishing shit, then I might as well start molding, too. It was beat up and in rough shape when I bought it from a guy in Akron. I used to run a 20-over P&P girder, which is what was on it for Glory Daze 2022. It rode decent at highway speed but had tire flop when riding around town. I ended up finding that 15-over front end and threw on an 18-inch wheel. It rides like a dream. You can take your hands off the bars and light a cigarette going down the road. What attracted you to building a bike from this period? HD: I was brought into motorcycles by a bunch of older guys that were into bikes when I was younger. They grew up in the 70s riding shit when it was first coming out. That’s what got me into riding and enjoying bikes. I’ve always been partial to the older choppers because I’d hear them reminiscing about riding their bikes to California or pogo-sticking across two lanes of the highway. Well shit, I want to do that. Nobody in my family was into motorcycles, but when I was fourteen, I bought a 1959 Triumph Daytona that was chopped out. This was the pre-internet era, and I went through hell getting parts for it. I’ve had a bunch of different style bikes but just can’t seem to get away from choppers. What does the bike mean to you now?HD: It used to have a telescopic front from the 1960s, but I picked up this Denver’s Choppers front end from Cycle Warehouse in Butler, Pennsylvania. My brother and I went up there in the winter one year, and after looking around, I saw that they had a bunch of springer front ends on the wall. I took some measurements on my bike and went back in the springtime. It was still there, and I got a better deal by waiting. It was perfect for the bike. I didn’t really want to run a 21-inch front wheel, but it gives the chopper the right stance. What are your typical rides like?HD: I try to keep it mostly local but will run a couple of hours in any direction. As far as long trips go, I try to but it’s hard to get anyone that wants to join in. Personally, I just like to get out and ride, whatever the destination. Anything else you want to say about it?HD: That engine is kind of the reason I stuck with the show bike thing. My dad passed away, but he would always break my balls and say I would never finish it once I started polishing it. So, I wanted to prove that I could do it. Featured in Issue 13 1956 HARLEY-DAVIDSON PANHEAD CHOPPER Built by HARRY DYKES instagram Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO
Ditch Chicken
Old Junk Becomes Moving Art Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio This motorcycle demands your attention. You could look at it for hours trying to figure out what all of the parts are or where they came from. For instance, the brake fluid reservoir is actually a brass mill grinder from Croatia. As the bike’s builder, Jerry McGinty, put it, “The machine is a rolling amalgamation of steel, glass, brass, copper, leather, rust, bamboo, silver, stainless, and Ti.” We first saw this wild creation at the Mods. vs. Rockers event last year and reached out to the owner, Estle Harp, about including it in Glory Daze that September. The fun bike garnered a lot of attention throughout the event. We felt it needed a proper feature, so we met up with Estle at his place in Butler to learn more about the work involved and what it means to own such a unique, one-off custom motorcycle. This is an extremely interesting motorcycle. Who built it, and how did you end up with it?Estle Harp: Jerry McGinty built it. He lives a little west of Erie, Pennsylvania. I saw him at the Cafe Racer show one year. He brought a few other bikes down there through the years, so I asked him if he’d ever thought about selling any of his bikes. I fully expected him to say no, but he said that he was thinking about it in order to make some room in the garage for new projects. The only condition is that I’d have to buy all four of his custom builds. Jerry really wanted them to go to someone who would appreciate them. I told him that he was looking at the guy. He’s a really nice guy who is very creative. He just proves to not throw anything away because it could become useful at some point. Are all four of the bikes you bought different from each other? EH: They’re similar in style but use their own pieces. The only thing that’s the same is the motor and frame. I’d have to say that this is my favorite of the four. It was the last one built, and he obviously put a lot of time and thought into it. When did your motorcycle obsession get started?EH: I probably got into bikes about fifteen-to-twenty years ago. I was a big Honda guy and had way too many bikes. I had over fifty Hondas at one point, but it was too much to take care of. So, I started selling a bunch of them here and there–some I wish that I hadn’t sold. I had two Honda police bikes from the 1960s. I swore that I wouldn’t sell them, but someone offered me the right price, and they went to South Africa. Are you originally from the Butler area?EH: I grew up in Allison Park but moved out here in 1986 and started the Fun Park. It used to have a go-kart track that we ran for thirty-one years. Now, we just run the mini golf. What made you buy the bikes, this one in particular?EH: I just have an interest in creative things. Stuff like this only comes along once in a while. To me, it’s a piece of art, and I’m really grateful to own it. I feel fortunate because you know he put his heart and soul into that thing. What motor and frame is this?EH: It’s similar to a 200cc Honda, basically a Chinese clone. The frame is from a company in California called Kikker. I think they make the front end, too. What odd pieces were used throughout the motorcycle?EH: The handlebars are a turnbuckle. The mirror is from a brass candlestick. The kickstand is a wood-boring bit. The tail light is from an old amusement park ride. The license plate bracket is a cheese grater. It uses an old car jack for the center stand. The tank bib was fabbed from a fancy horse tack. Jerry said he was at an auction somewhere, and some young Amish kid bought a whole bunch of tack. His dad said it was too fancy, and he wasn’t allowed to have it. So, the kid sold all of it to him for five dollars. Do you have any favorite parts?EH: I really like the mailbox door used on the battery box. Also, the back side of the headlight is from a gas light out of an old house, and the center part of the headlight is an old, rusty four-inch sewer pipe. The footpegs are tree-climbing spikes. They hurt, too, because I cranked my ankle off of one. It made me dance. What does it mean to see someone put together such a creative motorcycle?EH: He kind of inspired me to maybe do a couple of my own. I have all kinds of junk around here that I could use. Featured in Issue 13 2011 KIKKER HARDKNOCK Owned by ESTLE HARP Built by JERRY MCGINTY Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO
Lost Souls Customz
Building A One-Stop Shop Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio Taking the leap into opening your own shop can be intimidating. The pandemic pushed a lot of people in the direction of doing their own thing, but not everyone is cut out for it. Jobs dried up as businesses closed, putting folks in tough financial and emotional situations. Sometimes when your back is against the wall, the only option you have is to roll the dice and rely on your skills and talents to get you by. In a nutshell, that’s the story of Lost Souls Customz, a one-man shop that recently moved into a new space in McKeesport. The owner and mechanic, who goes simply by Jay, has a colorful history of restoring old vehicles and wrenching on motorcycles. His goal is to build the shop into a spot that breathes creative life into the local motorcycle community. How did Lost Souls Customz come about?Jay: I used to restore classic cars before my interest in motorcycles became the focus. I lost my job during the pandemic and had maybe $1,200 to my name before starting up a little shop over in Munhall across from the Waterfront. I put literally every penny I had into it, and before I knew it, bikes were rolling in. I decided to keep going with it and moved into my new shop location on the first of June. Now that you’ve moved into the new location, how would you describe the work you do?Jay: I try to dig into the hearts and minds of the people I’m doing the work for to see their vision and make it a reality. I put my heart and soul into what I do here. I’m not exactly competitive with others and their styles, I just want to be the best version of myself and push the limits of my own abilities. I focus on the constant growth of my craft to build and create one-of-a-kind rolling works of art for myself and my customers. What is your source of inspiration?Jay: My source is my family. My son loves motorcycles, and seeing him grow up in that setting drives my work ethic and makes me push myself to the limits every day. Another huge source of inspiration is Michael Balch from GMS Racing. He is always there to lend an ear or offer advice. I derive a lot of my art from tattooing, old-school 70s choppers, metal flake paint jobs, and the SoCal look. Being from a classic car background, I’m also inspired by good old-fashioned American muscle. Big engines, burning rubber, and the open road is where I planted the seed of my American dream. Where did you come up with all of the lifts and tools?Jay: It’s a collection I’ve accumulated throughout the years. I’ve been building bikes since I was a kid but was more of the bastard stepchild of the guys who were doing their cars. I did some knuckleheads, panheads, and all kinds of stuff. I grew up around motorcycles, so the parts were always around. How did you get into paintwork?Jay: I used to do tattoos for a living. Ten years ago, when I was seventeen years old, I packed everything I owned on a bike and didn’t get off of it until I ended up here in Pittsburgh. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but spent much of my time in San Diego. That’s where I got my love for lowrider bikes and the 70s-style choppers with the SoCal look. I wanted to incorporate my travels and my life into something people could enjoy visually, so through natural progression, I chose to paint. What was it like growing up out west?Jay: Very hot. It’s completely different out there. You can ride year-round. I never even owned a car until I came to Pittsburgh. Out there, you beat on things a little harder and didn’t have to put them away for winter. The lifestyle is much different here because of the seasons. Your bike is more of a secondary vehicle, whereas out west it could be your primary source of transportation. Regardless, I enjoy myself here. You never know where you’ll end up with the twists and turns of life. Are you looking for help?Jay: Yes. I’m booked out for months and have been trying to find someone to help with mechanic work. I’m even willing to teach and have thought about doing classes as a program to build their own bike here. Where would you like to see the shop go?Jay: I’d like to slowly get away from the general repair jobs and do more of the custom work. I like building choppers and baggers because it allows for more creativity. That’s more of what I’d personally like to focus on. To build a brand for myself. The name Lost Souls is based on faith, and I believe in doing right by people–honor and respect. I’m in this to do what I love and help the people that come in and support me. I can’t do it without them, and I’m thankful for my people and the opportunities. Featured in Issue 13 LOST SOULS CUSTOMZ 315 11TH STREETMCKEESPORT, PA 15132 412-652-3240 facebook | instagram Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO
The COVID 13 Bike
A Stolen Shovelhead Gets A Shot at Redemption Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio It was roughly ten years ago when Dan Swiderski’s shovelhead was stolen from his house, never to be seen again–or so he thought. Unless you’ve personally experienced a similar misfortune, it’s hard to understand the depths your mind will sink to when something like this happens. I imagine all of the hypothetical scenarios circling around like malevolent bats causing constant distractions.Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending. Years passed, and eventually, the bike was recovered. Even though it was in pieces, Swiderski used the opportunity to build the Harley chopper that he had always dreamed of. Alexa and I met up with him to get the full story on his custom FXE and its interesting history. You moved here from Philadephia. What was your connection with Pittsburgh?Dan Swiderski: I was in bands that toured through here a lot. Living in Philly made it easy with basically just one highway connecting the cities. I’d come out here for Skull Fest or stop on my way to the Lowbrow Getdown. I met Josh at Uptahn Metalworks after I started connecting with the motorcycle scene in Pittsburgh. He needed some help in the shop at the time, so I made the move once I was able to get a transfer at my union job. I’ve always been a sidewalk mechanic who loved motorcycles and owned Harleys. Part of why I moved here was for the motorcycle culture and chopper scene. Pittsburgh turned out to be what I thought Philly would have been–a bunch of crazy motherfuckers riding around on choppers. What’s the history of this Harley shovelhead?DS: Before this version of the bike, it had been stolen from my house in 2014. Then randomly one day, a retired cop detective called me. He said they found my bike maybe five years ago, but he couldn’t contact me because it was Philadelphia P.D.’s case. It was in bad shape when I picked it up. All that was left was the frame, motor, and transmission. It was a swingarm shovelhead back then, but after I got it back I immediately started chopping it. I had a Sportster chopper before and felt like I hit the lottery when getting the shovelhead back. How did this particular build get started?DS: I was chosen for the Greasy Dozen’s Lucky 13 because of the wild story of having the bike stolen. That was in 2020 right as COVID was starting, so we ended up doing it digitally. Building it during that time was both good and bad. I had plenty of time to work on it, but nothing was open. Even just finding hardware was shitty. What work was involved?DS: The handlebars were built by Jordan at WannaBe Fabrication. The springer front end was found on Chopper Swapper. The seat was done by my buddy Diego, also known as “Mr. Comfy”. This was one of the first seats he did. The frame was hardtailed by Josh at Uptahn Metalworks using a V-Twin Manufacturing section. The sissy bar was built with the help of my friend, Austin, who had a fabrication shop. I mainly did everything else–I even learned how to weld on this bike after buying my first TIG welder. My favorite part of the bike is a secret little stash tube that holds a set of mini dice. Who did the trippy paintwork?DS: Austin, who I mentioned before, painted the base coat. I then linked up with graffiti artist Septic the Outlaw for the tank and fender art. He had done a mural at a bar I was working at, and I thought the art would’ve looked cool to have on my bike. My buddy who was into skateboarding knew the artist and hooked us up. On a slow night at the bar, a stranger started asking me about the bike, which is when I finally met him. The tank and fender he painted turned out great. Did you finish the build in time?DS: Surprisingly, I did finish it in time for the Greasy Dozen. I spent about six months straight working on it, then they pushed back the deadline, and I was able to do a couple more things to it. My shakedown rides were a lot easier because I wasn’t under the gun. Now that you’ve been here a while, what is it you like about Pittsburgh?DS: It’s beautiful to ride here. It’s a city inside of a forest, and the views never get old. I know a lot of people complain that it’s annoying to get in and out of the city, but it’s easy compared to other cities. I live in the South Hills, so even just getting home from work is fun because of all the different ways you can go. You’re in a good central location to ride. You can go to all of the events, the mountains, or wherever. I love the working-class part of Pittsburgh, too. Big egos tend to get snuffed out here. What’s next now that you’re selling the bike?DS: I’m gonna miss it. This was the first real chopper that I built, and I hope somebody enjoys it as much as I did. The next project is a 1956 panhead survivor. Check out the band that Dan is a part of, World 2. Featured in Issue 13 1980 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXE SHOVELHEAD CHOPPER Built by DAN SWIDERSKI instagram Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO
No Coast Campout
A Litas Gathering in the Allegheny National Forest Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Kelly Rae Griffith Camping in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains? Yes, please. Last year, a few of the Litas collectives met up in Pittsburgh at our annual Glory Daze motorcycle show and came up with a plan for an annual campout in the Allegheny National Forest. The location offers endless off-road trails, a historic state highway, and best of all, real toilets and showers onsite! Despite some rain, the first annual No Coast Campout event was a hit among the region’s Litas groups and will be back again next year for those interested.Kelly Griffith and Caitlin Maiden of The Litas Cleveland were kind enough to answer some post-event questions and give an inside look at the event and what’s to come. How did No Coast Campout come about?Kelly + Caitlin: At Glory Daze 2022, The Litas Cleveland met up with The Litas Buffalo and Pittsburgh. We had a brief chat about how fun it would be to meet up for camping. We took the idea and ran with it. What did you hope for in the first year?K+C: No Coast Campout was truly birthed by a need to have a campout closer to our three collectives to accommodate all rider skill levels. We thought about having it open to anyone for the first year, but toned it down to all collectives wanting to go. We knew collectives of the Litas have the same bottom line and wanted to keep the event small. In the end, we had over 70 attendees, from 12 collectives; Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Dayton, Buffalo, Toronto, Milwaukee, Hunterdon County (New Jersey), Lancaster, West Michigan, Newburgh, and Hamilton (Ontario, Canada). Weather is always a factor when organizing an event. How did the attendees manage under the circumstances?K+C: We had a lot of rain on the forecast, which lead to about 20 no-shows. Those who did attend were well prepared with rain gear and great attitudes! Several people opted for area Airbnbs to spend the nights out of the rain. Several groups banded together with some follow trucks to do some area sightseeing in the rain. We also had spots of beautiful weather and couldn’t have asked for better weather for field games and bonfires on Saturday. What do gatherings like this mean to you and the team as motorcycle enthusiasts?K+C: There is just something magical and heartwarming about getting so many womxn riders together, in such a beautiful place. It was important for us to foster a sense of community at No Coast Campout. We didn’t want to see each regional collective grouped off by themselves. To attempt to ensure this, we had community dinners both nights and all the camping was grouped together. Where would you like to see this event in the future?K+C: I would love to see No Coast as a well-established event pulling Litas from all over the U.S. and Canada. As for the near future, we knew we wanted to get one year under our belts before expanding the event. For 2024 (June 21-23) we are opening it up for 150 campers (100 in 2023) and adding more organized activities. No Coast Campout is held at Loleta Bear Claw Campground Photo: Jennifer Reihner Featured in Issue 13 NO COAST CAMPOUT With words from KELLY RAE GRIFFITH + CAITLIN MAIDEN June 23-25, 2023 Loleta Bear Claw Campground Marienville, PA www.nocoastcampout.com instagram Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by KELLY RAE GRIFFITH
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