Yuri Shif: The Raconteur
A windy afternoon in early January. We are getting ready for an interview. Long distance conversation. It will be in Russian, so we are putting some final thoughts together, before having a talk with Yuri Shif. Aleks, who is helping me with translation is working hard on a Russian keyboard, letter by letter translating the questions we plan to start with. Even though she is fluent, we seem to struggle. Everything takes time if you haven’t used the requisite skills for quite a while.
Our meeting with Yuri was slightly delayed and after a quick call we arranged to talk in an hours time. During the wait I got involved into quite an argument with an acquaintance of Aleks about creativity and how it could be used for gaining money. He was quietly occupying small space on the sofa at the far end of the room, seemingly refusing to leave and occasionally raising opinions reminding us of his existence. He believed in the importance of the end goal – accumulation of capital and attachment to things above all else. I stressed the joy of process; the art of going, not getting there if you are a craftsman. Often “there” doesn’t exist to get to anyway. The money keeps us going along the next creative path, but what would be the point if we didn’t enjoy stretching our legs?
Chasing Horizons with Scott Toepfer
Beginning and Bikes
I started riding dirt bikes, quads and the like when I was a kid, but it wasn’t until 2009 that I bought a street bike. My first motorcycle was a 1978 Yamaha SR500 that lasted about 5 months until I killed it.
After doing that weekend training course that you have to do in California, me and a few guys rode towards El Mirage and Wrightwood. It was a great thing to learn the dynamics of riding in a group early.
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Renard Motorcycles & Artisan Werks: Crossroads
I got out of the bed at 4.30am at dusk after a sleepless night. It was an exciting day which I had been looking forward to for quite some time. We had a quick breakfast, lots of coffee, got in a car and drove off. We had an eight hour journey ahead over three countries to witness probably the most exciting new motorcycle and meet its creator. (more…)
werks
It is very strange to think about it right now, the car coming and realisation of unavoidability… bang! body is flying! It was the first crash ever and the feeling was unusual. There was not much time to think about anything, it all happened in split second and every action i did was to save my bones and the car. It was not a safety gear which saved me – as I was not wearing any – it was pure luck. And while sitting on the tarmac I had this thought echoing in my mind: I ‘m not ready to leave this to luck alone! (more…)
Rebirth of The Fox: Andres Uibomae & Renard GT
The Renard project started for me about seven years ago: I met a guy who was in the motorcycle restoration business and he turned out to be familiar with the Renard history. I am quite proud that we had our own motorcycle industry here in Estonia. And it’s really important to discover it again, because Soviet occupation destroyed that kind of contacts with our own history. And I think that without our restoration project the Renard would have been completely lost for next generation. Hopefully we manage to last longer than pre-war Renard Cycles. (more…)
Portrait of John Ryland: Classified Moto
Before bikes…
At this point in my life I feel like I’ve always been a gearhead, but that’s really not the case. I guess most people get their mechanical smarts from their dad. That wasn’t the case for me. I pretty much thought pliers were meant to do everything. I figured nuts and bolts just naturally stripped out after a few uses. I always loved vehicles, but I didn’t know anything about them mechanically. It was pretty much that way until I was in my early 20′s.
Kei Kagami Motorcycles and Creations
KK: I am Japanese but I have been here for 21 years. Japonese I am (laughs). In 1989 I came here to work for John Galliano, he was my hero at the time and fortunately he gave me a job. But three seasons later the studio in London was closed, John found a backer in Paris so he moved there. I had nowhere to go, I could not be brave to go to Paris with John because of the French language problem and at the time I could not speak much English either. But I liked London very much and decided to stay. I went to St Martins college, where I met Alexander McQueen, who was at the same course. Strangely I did the best collection of the year (1992). It was great! I did the finale! (laughs). After graduation I did some freelance work which brought me some money. In 1996 I started doing my own things.
abstract
werks’ unifying factor is a certain kind of approach to life and to craft which stands beyond just music and art, often found in out-of-the-way obsessions like motorbike customisation or longstanding traditions like tailoring; craftsmen who work to fulfill a particular vision, however idiosyncratic it may appear.
