FOREWORD

My first of chopper lifestyle came from my dad. He had been building bikes in our backyard since the 60’s long before the billet bolt-on era. What I understand more today about my pops and his bikes back then was his creativity. They weren’t just looks, they went fast! Not just a bunch of shiny crap. Everything had function, or purpose. Well, most of the time… Talking about rebellion, yes, these guys pathed the way for us today, basically writing the blueprint for 2-wheels custom culture... The fascination of twenty or thirty bikes parked in front of the house as a kid stuck in my head forever. Lee Marvin and Marlon Brando inspired deviant youth with a style taken from the street, since the ‘53 movie ‘The Wild One’. 2 groups were shown in this movie, one stily one riding Brit bikes and wearing leather. Other one percenters riding Indians & Harleys, wearing cut offs. In 1954: Elvis put out ‘That’s alright Mama’. Rebellion got wheels and soundtrack. Those movies stirred the pot for many people throughout their lives. That subcultural misbehaviour originated in the 50’s evolved through the years, and spread way out the California state line. Today with access to just about anyone and anything the obessesion has grown global! One common denominator remains true: when there isn’t a way, do it yourself. Keep life dangerous! The danger makes you feel alive. Flying down the highway wondering if that chain is tight enough, or too tight. Is it gonna wrap around you leg going 90mph in heavy traffic... Or spilling your coffee on your lap in the car on they way to your desk job? As for Lords, we love the culture, we love the era. We aren’t trying to capi talize on bike culture, we are trying to preserve it. Somewhere somehow, outlaw biker lifestyle became a huge business… I think it has lost it’s original meaning. I believe original outlaw life style parallels with rock’n’roll life style. We all love both, and that’s why we’re naturally involved in the current revival.

Modified bikes are a big thing, and not in some ‘underworld’ of fights and booze and gangs anymore. It seems like young punkrockers, skateboarders, bmx riders and stainless-steel rockers sort of team up to revive the spirit of rebellion on two wheels. Creativity and respect in what can’t be better discribed than tradition blend in « Rebels Motorcycle Ltd »: the influence of Californian motorcycle subculture in nowaday’s world. Get in tune! - Jake Cavaliere, Lords of Altamont

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