After leading a successful career as a U.S. security consultant and deciding to drive some of the world91裸聊视频檚 most dangerous roads last year on a Royal Enfield 500 classic motorcycle, Vernon local James Leigh recently began a new venture 91裸聊视频 one that encapsulates both of these passions.
He began building nostalgic military motorbikes.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e always loved the 1940s World War Two bikes and made a limited edition motorcycle called the in 2010 that was army green 91裸聊视频 it was exactly what I would have wanted. They were hand-painted and I even found one in Edmonton but because Indian had shut down and changed names, and I couldn91裸聊视频檛 even find an oil filter for it so I figured I should just make one for myself.91裸聊视频
With a general idea in mind, he bought a black motorcycle and started doing research. Inspiration hit.
91裸聊视频淚 looked up a lot of historic pictures and a lot of motorcycles from the Second World War and the Vietnam War and I designed this one,91裸聊视频 he said, gesturing to his now nearly-finished bike. 91裸聊视频淭he ones from that time had these girls on them and they were called Victory Girls and they were on every American bomber and British bombers too.91裸聊视频
The more he researched, the more creative he got and the more details he added.
WATCH: Leigh walks through the details of the first bike he built
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In addition to depicting the hand-painted Victory girl on the side of the bike, some other details he added include: a serial number from the tail of a American helicopter that crashed in Vietnam during the war and a yellow stripe used as an indicator for the centre of gravity when dropping caged motorcycles in parachutes to soldiers in the field.
After customizing the first bike to his liking, Leigh decided to take it for a spin around Vernon.
91裸聊视频淎s I91裸聊视频檓 taking it out that first day 91裸聊视频 I had put a permit on it and I go downtown and guys are coming out of Kal Sports Bar and taking pictures and giving me thumbs up and I didn91裸聊视频檛 realize until that point that it was that interesting. I just thought it was different but then this kept happening. Everywhere I went with this bike, people are taking pictures. There91裸聊视频檚 something about it and I think it91裸聊视频檚 because it looks like it91裸聊视频檚 fresh out of 1940 World War Two.91裸聊视频
Because he was getting so much attention, he said he thought he91裸聊视频檇 post it to an online and see what people thought of it there. Suddenly, it started picking up steam online.
Soon, what began as a passion project snowballed.
91裸聊视频淎ctually, the actor Edward Norton, his agent got ahold of me because I guess he [Norton] had seen it on the website, and said that he wants one in battleship grey.91裸聊视频
So after all this interest, he realized there was a market for these kind of military bikes and decided he91裸聊视频檇 start a small company: DMZ motorcycles 91裸聊视频 DMZ is an acronym meaning .
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 using all local people for the production and that was really important to me when I started building,91裸聊视频 said Leigh.
So far he has the artwork, including the victory girl paintings, done by in Vernon, machining and fabricating done at in Vernon, the leather work done at , and the mechanical work done by local Joe Adams of Adams Aero. The first custom seat was done by a U.S. company 91裸聊视频攂ut Leigh said BlueRose Leather will do the seats in the future. He also noted that , the Triumph dealer in Kelowna, has been of particular help to him by spreading the word and helping Leigh with the purchasing of the bikes.
Eventually, he hopes to create a online forum that will allow people to customize the bike to their liking.
91裸聊视频淲hen I start the website, what I envision is people can pick the country they like: the logo, the girl, the seat, the colour, whatever they want. There are so many possibilities because it91裸聊视频檒l all be hand-done and locally-made. There91裸聊视频檚 so many possibilities.91裸聊视频
He also said that each bike will come with its own identifying military dog tag to match the serial number on the bike.
91裸聊视频淏efore I really get into this big-time, I want to finish five bikes to really showcase the possibilities. It was just supposed to be one bike and now I91裸聊视频檝e got a few ordered and it could get crazy.91裸聊视频
So far, he has bought four motorcycles for customization and plans to launch his website later this year.
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