I
n just six years, this show, produced by Austin-
based Revival Cycles, has become one of the
premier shows in America and, for that matter,
around the globe, rivalling many older shows.
Maybe it was the promoters’ attitude from the start
in how they believed, in their words, “something has
been lost and it is time to revive the culture of physical
craftsmanship”. With each and every builder invitation,
they have promoted getting that ‘something’ back.
Again this year, with over a hundred bikes on
display in the cavernous printing plant that used to
house the Austin American Statesman newspaper,
you could sense the energy buzzing as the doors
opened into the dramatically lit hall. The bikes were
on low pedestals arranged geometrically around the
many support columns holding up the roof. Large
hand-painted cotton banners hung on the walls,
tastefully announcing the show’s sponsors. You feltlike a kid in a candy store wanting to try everything
you see—and there was no lack of different flavours,
from choppers to cafe racers, modern customs to board
trackers, e-bikes to antiques... Something for everyone.
There couldn’t be a more ideal place nor a more ideal
time to schedule a motorcycle event. For starters, just
having the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’ makes Austin
my kind of town! Then add some great ingredients like
the amazing food, music and art and spice it up with
some other events going on the same weekend like
the Grand Prix of the Americas Moto GP and AMA
Pro Flat Track half-mile racing out at COTA (Circuit
of The Americas) or the Lone Star Round Up, which
is a huge outdoor car show and music festival that
brings many hundreds of hot rods and custom cars to
the area from not just the United States but across the
world. For this weekend each year, the entire city is
jammed with motorheads and it’s a blast! Super Hooligan racing on the
tight TT race set up in the car
park of the Austin American
Stateman building.EVENT FEATURE THE HANDBUILT MOTORCYCLE SHOW
The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show in Austin, Texas, has certainly
established itself in the world of custom events—and it’s done it quickly
WORDS & PHOTOS: MICHAEL LICHTERTHE HANDBUILT
MOTORCYCLE SHOW
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, AUSTIN, TEXAS
100 | 100% Biker | issue 250 | http://www.100-biker.co.uk