BMW Dragon
The BMW bikes we’ve featured throughout the years have had a variety of styles ranging from classic restorations to stripped-down customs. The inspiration for each has also been interesting. John Price, who uses his shop name, SG Moto, pulled from an interest in Moto GP to style his 1986 K75S featured here. The popular BMW K models have earned a reputation as sporty and reliable bikes, serving as a great cafe racer platform for cruising around Pittsburgh. We met up with John in the busy SouthSide Works to learn more about his vision for the bike.
Glory Daze 2024
Motorcycles of all kinds rolled into Pittsburgh Brewing Company for the annual Glory Daze Motorcycle Show on Saturday, September 21, 2024. The new location was a hit, allowing for more room and unique forms of entertainment throughout the day. Changing venues isn’t easy, and many people wondered how the vibe of past events would transfer to the new setting. Pittsburgh Brewing Company is the home of Iron City Beer, a presenting partner of the show since day one.
Trippy Ten 2024
For 2024, the Trippy Ten helmet art show had a new home and presenting partner. The exhibit has moved to the new Glory Daze venue at Pittsburgh Brewing Company, taking over the impressive Brew House area of the event. Torc Helmets provided each of the ten selected painters with their choice between four popular models. The resulting lineup was the perfect blend of traditional and unconventional styles.
The Void
Most garage chopper shops get started in a very similar way. Someone gets hooked on old-school bikes and starts messing around with their own two-wheeled projects before things snowball. The next thing you know, they’re in deep with these wild machines, building bikes and making their own parts. Nick SanGregory, a piercer who runs his own body piercing and jewelry store in Pittsburgh, fits this story perfectly.
All in the Family
Some hobbies are more interesting than others. In the motorcycle world, vintage drag racing holds a unique place of the industry. Chasing time on a ridiculously custom bike with an engine that’s pushed to the limit just sounds like a thrill. When we were first piecing together the 2021 Glory Daze motorcycle show, one of the featured builders was Steven Skinner of Shadyside, Ohio.
Melissa
Building a chopper is as much about the bike as it is about the experience. Dan Ford, a local Pittsburgh musician, was surrounded by motorcycles in his youth but only recently finished the custom XL1200 you see here. With the help of Uptahn Metalworks, the bike started to take shape and was finished just in time for Glory Daze last year. If you picture a classic Sportster chopper build, this is something that might come to mind. The flame tank, custom sissy bar, springer front end, and overall silhouette work perfectly for a first-time chopper build. The black and yellow colors scream Pittsburgh, so we met up with Dan at The Highline on East Carson to capture a fitting background for the Steel City build.
Yamaha RD250 Dragster
Yamaha changed the game when it released the RD250 models in the early 1970s. They were lightweight, fast, and sounded amazing. Maybe you were there firsthand, but if not, you probably heard stories growing up about Yamaha’s racing dominance at that time. Does the name Kenny Roberts ring a bell?
Kasyan Cycle Worx
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 over the past few years, so it’s refreshing to know that the local Kasyan Cycle Worx is still going strong.
1956 Panhead Chopper
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.
Ditch Chicken
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.
Lost Souls Customz
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.
Glory Daze 2023
Pittsburgh’s vintage and custom bike show returned for another glorious round of motorcycles and a groovy good time on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Our team at Pittsburgh Moto packed the powerhouse building with the highest number of invited bikes we’ve ever had inside the invitational section of the event. There was some light rain throughout the day, but that didn’t stop the two-wheel crowd from rolling in early and filling the courtyard with interesting bikes.