2010 Rallies & Events
Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Show
Story by Wendy Manning
Photos by Sarah E. Lewis and Rodent
Keino Sasaki, part of the famed trio of Indian Larry and Paul Cox, now owner of of Keino Cycles LLC, got together with some friends and organized The Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Show, held at the Autumn Bowl skate park in September 2009. The show, which is planned to be an annual event, drew more than 2,000 people. Keino said, “It was way more than we expected. We were thinking five-hundred, maybe six-hundred people would be there. It’s not only motorcycles, it’s also a skateboarding thing and that’s opened up a different door.”
News of the show was spread by word of mouth, bloggers, and on Internet sites. “The crowd was totally diversified as compared to other shows,” Keino said. “We had thirteen or fourteen bikes. It’s not about competition, it’s more like an art gallery opening. There’s no winner, there’s no loser.”
He explained that the tone and mood were set by special lighting to enhance viewing of the motorcycles, and the Autumn Bowl was the perfect setting. “It’s a huge warehouse that had empty for awhile but a friend of mine built this skateboard bowl and a half-pipe inside. It’s quite a beautiful space,” he said.
The show was sponsored by Asahi beer; American Icon Screen printing; BAKER Drivetrain; Cycle Source; Church Of Choppers; Dice Magazine; Evil Engineering; High & Tite Brooklyn Paintworks; Jammer Cycle products; and Spectro Performance Oil. Builders who participated in the event included Lock Baker of Eastern Fabrication; Andy Camay of Brooklyn; John Copeland of Brooklyn; Paul Cox of Paul Cox Industries; Bill Dodge of Blings Cycles; Neil Fenton of Brooklyn; Krazy Kevin of Long Island; Alex Lerner of Queens; Kevin Orangers of Brooklyn; Rich Phillipps of Rich Phillips Cycles and Leather; Keino Sasaki of Keino Cycles; Jeffrey Schad of Brooklyn; Walt Siegl; and Tim Vander. Music was provided by the New York based bands Children; Priestess; Natur; and T.S.S. (Total Social Suicide).
The 2010 Brooklyn Invitational Bike Show is already shaping up to be much larger. “This year the show will be September 18th,” Keino said. “The night before will be a release party for Dice Magazine and they’re going to haul the bikes from California to New York, it’s going to be a pretty big deal.” To date, twenty bike builders have been invited to participate. “We’re still getting sponsors, and we’re inviting a lot of people from out of state to come to New York,” he added.
Spectators are welcome at the 2010 show, Keino said. “There’s no charge, it’s free to get it, we just ask for a donation to cover the cost. We’re not doing it for the money, it’s a not for profit event.”
For more information and updates on the show, visit http://brooklyninvitationalbikeshow.blogspot.com/. To see what Keino is up to lately, visit him at www.keinocycles.com or hop over to his blog at keinocycles.blogspot.com.