The annual Trippy Ten is a psychedelic-themed helmet art exhibit I created to show appreciation for painters working in the motorsports industry. Every year, event partner Bell Helmets provides a lid to ten selected artists to paint however they choose. The finished helmets are then displayed at the Glory Daze Motorcycle Show in Pittsburgh, PA, before being returned to each painter after the event. This year, the artists were able to choose between the Bell Bullitt and Eliminator models.

In the matter of choosing between style and functionality, there’s a sweet spot when piecing together a chopper. Performance often takes a backseat with most builds, but sometimes it’s the driving force of inspiration. The thought of cruising through the twists and turns of rural Pennsylvania backroads on a muscular chopper with a snappy engine sounds like the ideal way to clear your thoughts in these weird times. Maybe that’s what was running through the mind of Roll On Cycle’s Zack Williams when he crafted the Evo Power chopper seen here.

If you go grab issue Number 007 off of your bookshelf or workbench, you’ll see the incredible Chromophobia shovelhead gracing the front cover. That particular chopper was done by painter Tyler Elliott of TE Customs, who just happens to also be the builder behind the classy ironhead you see here. This was his first bike build and the one that ultimately opened the door for him into custom motorcycles.

My work seems to be a culmination of my life and surroundings. I pull from the culture of living in major cities from Tokyo to New York to Los Angeles and now Pittsburgh, where I currently reside. Having earned a degree in fine art, I utilize that with my spirit as a rebellious youth who constantly painted on bedroom walls and spray painted on the streets of my hometown. As far as the actual process, I often start with a background full of “experiments” or a chosen image.

Something tells me that the life of Logan Allison is much more interesting than anything a quick chat about a custom chopper can deliver. As someone who has traveled around the country, living in different places and getting by in whatever way he could, it only felt appropriate that he’d build a bike as tough as his 1998 Harley-Davidson Evo.

Sometimes fate has your back and offers you an opportunity you didn’t plan for. Sometimes that opportunity looks like a rusty old box of parts and a whole lot of work. The Triumph project you see here was born from a situation like this. Pittsburgh’s Jeff Wichman stumbled onto the beginnings of this 1952 Pre-Unit when his friend decided to sell all of his belongings and travel the world indefinitely.

Some people just have a passion for doing things the hard way. Depending on your perspective, the challenge of learning new skills and techniques can either be overwhelming or rewarding. Our brains operate around efficiency, and it takes a great deal of willpower to dig deeper. Compared to days of the past, modern culture celebrates shortcuts as a way to get more done in less time, often sacrificing authenticity and the benefits of experience.

Seven years ago, William Wallace closed on an empty space in Wheeling, West Virginia, with no real direction as to what it would become. In time, things started to take shape, and by the end of 2018, Clientele Art Studio was born with its first official gallery show. Wallace was a friend of ours from Alexa’s music-making days, so it was great to see someone create an attractive space that gives artists in the Ohio Valley a place to showcase their work.

Custom-built motorcycles are sometimes referred to as functional art pieces. The platform allows for layers of work and intricacy that are only limited by a builder’s abilities, time, and dedication. While we all love going over a bike and seeing the attention to detail that went into each piece, the paint job is typically what people notice upon first glance. Bold is often better if you’re looking to draw attention or express yourself in a unique way, and Jeremy Seanor of Lucky Strike Designs specializes in just that.

Before we get to the bike, let’s rewind to 1959. That’s the year motorcycle legend, Eddie Mulder, won his first race at the age of fifteen. Since then, “Fast Eddie” went on to have a career brimming with success, joining the Triumph factory racing team and racking up wins and track records in everything from dirt track, hare scrambles, hill climbs, and more. 

Power to the painter! The Trippy Ten returned in 2021 with ten new artists. For those unfamiliar, three years ago we launched our annual helmet art show called the Trippy Ten. The purpose of the event is to show appreciation for custom painters in the motorsports industry. Each year, ten selected artists are given a helmet to paint however they choose for an exhibit that’s displayed at the indoor invitational during our Glory Daze motorcycle show in late September.

As chill as ever, Mike Greer fits his bike perfectly—laid back and ready for a good time. As a mechanic by day, he started out like most chopper fans by picking up a bucket of parts and bringing it back to life. It wasn’t long before the wheels started turning in his head, driving him to create a chopper that was unique to his personality.