There is an organic geometry to a beautifully built motorcycle. When you look at them through the lens of a classic film camera, the lines, the metal, and the history just pop differently.
This summer, we rolled the bikes out into the California sun to get them pristine. Side by side, they looked like a living gallery exhibit of custom steel.
On one side, you’ve got Steen’s machine—a stunning, deep brown and orange-gold flame Harley-Davidson FXR. It looks fast even when it’s completely turned off on the pavement. Right next to it is my brother Jake’s bike: a sweet, classic vintage Daytona draped in a clean off-white and blue paint job.
If you know anything about keeping vintage paint and chrome looking like a mirror, you know it takes the right product. And if you know anything about Steen, we aren't ready to ride without wiping down the frames and polishing the metal with our absolute favorite detailing spray: SC1 Clear Coat. If you've never used it, it's a total game-changer. Not only does it give the bikes that fresh-off-the-showroom-floor high gloss, but it literally smells exactly like sweet cherries while you work.
- Want your ride looking (and smelling) this clean? You can grab the exact detailing spray we swear by right here on our Moto & Road Trip Essentials Amazon List.
To capture the day before the dust hit the road, I snapped a few analog film photos of the setup. These shots turned out so beautiful that I’m making them available for you to bring a piece of that open-road lifestyle into your own space.
- Bring the road home: You can check out our new collection of Original Film Photo Postcards and Large Format Prints right here in the shop.
Once the chrome was shining, we kicked the engines to life and hit the pavement.There is nothing quite like a coastal ride with your crew when the air is crisp and the traffic clears out. We cruised down the highway, tracking the edge of the Pacific, heading toward a spot that has been completely fueling our creative inspiration lately.
We wrapped up the cruise by pulling into a cute little coffee pop-up hosted at an incredible local art house called Dear Tomorrow.
Sitting out on the porch, sipping great espresso, surrounded by local art & great friends—that is the exact ecosystem where art meets community. It’s the feeling of handmade craftsmanship, deep family roots, and total freedom all intersecting in one afternoon.
It’s days like this that directly inspire the textures, cuts, and shapes of the jewelry pieces I design back at the bench. When you design your life around the things you love, the inspiration never stops flowing.
Until the next ride,
Keep it rolling.
Keep it rolling.