First off, I'm fine and doing well. Thank you. I was perusing some photos yesterday and it occurred to me that the above three bikes were once in my beat-to-hell Chevy van driving home from the L.A. Calendar bike show in Long Beach in 2007. Yep. Roughly $90K worth of customs, paraphernalia & swag in a $2100 Chevy. I didn't mind stopping for some tacos in a semi-rough part of Long Beach that night (still parked the van close to the door BTW) and had to chuckle to myself that If I had chosen a pick-up truck, I likely wouldn't be able to enjoy dinner for all the worry about the contents of the bed.
I had fun. A LOT of fun. I've met the most amazing people after doing all this crazy Monster-related crap. Amazing people who
to this day bring joy into my life and a sense of purpose. I built the business without a business model and funded it with some inheritance $ I had. I just
knew it was what I had to do. I didn't have any goals, per se. Just wanted to let my creative juices flow through me and onto some motorcycles was all. Such great, great memories I have from all of it.
When 2008's economic down-turn laid in heavy, I had to get a day-job. I had just expanded and hired a mechanic friend but had to, kinda, let him fly on his own (if he could as I couldn't). I was also pretty much burned out. Couple that with the ***NEW*** 696-style Monsters (which I'm still not a fan of), and I was truly ready to hang it up. The above isn't that all I've built, just the 'Big 3' in my mind. I hung the business up officially in 2012 when I completed my last build (I'll see if I can find a photo of it somewhere and post it up).
From top to bottom:
M1000SS
SS2R
Coup D'etat (which is the one I miss the most)
Life is good now, after having moved out of the SoCal scene in 2010. I ended up back in Albuquerque, NM (where I've decided is my real home (sorry Detroit
It's just too hard to visit anymore)). I've got a day-job now and a lot of responsibility too. I still manage to turn a wrench or two from time to time (
www.desertdesmo.com) when work and my personal life allow. I've got a few more crazy-as-f*ck ideas in my head for custom Ducati's. Just no time right now. Perhaps I should make time, I don't know.
From the bottom of my heart, thanks to all who made my personal ride the crazy-as-f*ck one it has been. I know a lot of the "old timers" aren't here anymore, but if you remember any of this crap, post up. I've been feeling a bit sentimental lately. If this is new to you, enjoy the reflection in the rear-view.
Kindest regards and thanks for spending time reading this nonsense,
--Stuart
