Ten Questions with Jason Smith
Jason is the owner and co-founder of Mothership Moto, a repair and maintenance shop located conveniently on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh. They handle anything from a complicated problem to a simple oil change. He took time out of his busy day to answer some questions and provide some information about the shop.
How did the shop come to be?
Mothership Moto was started by three eccentric friends who have a love for adventures on two wheels.
Mothership Moto was started by three eccentric friends who have a love for adventures on two wheels.
What type of motorcycles or work do you typically get?
Customers tend to bring a lot of older metric bikes, as they are plentiful and affordable. In between a lot of maintenance work, we get everything from projects gone wrong, people getting in over their head, or simply bikes that have sat for years and need some love.
Customers tend to bring a lot of older metric bikes, as they are plentiful and affordable. In between a lot of maintenance work, we get everything from projects gone wrong, people getting in over their head, or simply bikes that have sat for years and need some love.
What is it that you feel attracts people to motorcycles?
It’s freedom in your face, just you and your motorcycle. There is a bike for every personality, and they can always be customized.
It’s freedom in your face, just you and your motorcycle. There is a bike for every personality, and they can always be customized.
What’s the greatest joy of running your own shop?
I feel the best part of owning my own shop is resurrecting old motorcycles and keeping others rolling. It’s great to just see the smile on customers’ faces and knowing you had a hand in it.
I feel the best part of owning my own shop is resurrecting old motorcycles and keeping others rolling. It’s great to just see the smile on customers’ faces and knowing you had a hand in it.
What has been the biggest struggle?
I have a strong desire to fix things. It’s difficult knowing that although I have the ability to do so, I don’t often have the time.
I have a strong desire to fix things. It’s difficult knowing that although I have the ability to do so, I don’t often have the time.
What bikes do you enjoy working on the most?
I really enjoy working on customers’ daily riders—bikes that they’ve cherished for years and have made their own.
I really enjoy working on customers’ daily riders—bikes that they’ve cherished for years and have made their own.
Are there any projects you would love to take on?
I’d like to do more modern custom bike builds with reasonable budgets. I love doing good quality work but do not enjoy being asked to cut corners or work for free.
I’d like to do more modern custom bike builds with reasonable budgets. I love doing good quality work but do not enjoy being asked to cut corners or work for free.
What’s your take on the Pittsburgh motorcycle scene?
The motorcycle scene is like everything else in Pittsburgh, very cliquish. There’s a lot of us doing it, but nobody is really crossing into the other group’s realm. One point of opening the shop was to blur those lines to try to get builders and riders to talk and be comfortable with each other. We should be welcoming new riders and educating non-riders about the lifestyle.
The motorcycle scene is like everything else in Pittsburgh, very cliquish. There’s a lot of us doing it, but nobody is really crossing into the other group’s realm. One point of opening the shop was to blur those lines to try to get builders and riders to talk and be comfortable with each other. We should be welcoming new riders and educating non-riders about the lifestyle.
What would you like to see happen in the future?
I would love to see me out riding more! It’d be great if there were less egos and more local rides, meet-ups, shows, and legal places for people to ride off-road. This would help build a stronger motorcycle community.
I would love to see me out riding more! It’d be great if there were less egos and more local rides, meet-ups, shows, and legal places for people to ride off-road. This would help build a stronger motorcycle community.
Choose any three bikes for your garage.
I could never limit myself to just three bikes, but if I was put on the spot and had to choose from ones that I’ve ridden, I’d go with an early 1970s Kawasaki H2 two-stroke triple, a new Kawasaki Z900RS, and a decked-out BMW R1200GS. If there was room, also a new Yamaha WR250R.
I could never limit myself to just three bikes, but if I was put on the spot and had to choose from ones that I’ve ridden, I’d go with an early 1970s Kawasaki H2 two-stroke triple, a new Kawasaki Z900RS, and a decked-out BMW R1200GS. If there was room, also a new Yamaha WR250R.
PITTSBURGH, PA 15201
