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THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Saturdav April 10, 1976 .
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FINCH'S CUSTOM Styled Cycles north of bank accounts that match their imagina- "Some people feel that art has to be sta-
Pontiac is definitely not your average tions. A few years ago a man from California tionary to be art," says Kasmer, "but we
motorcycle shop. From the banked S-curve brought in a Harley-Davidson and F i n c h don't see it that way."
driveway to the parts display cases made from transformed it into the $10,000 showbike
auto windshields to the sculptures made Odin's Axes. 'O SEE FINCH'S work is to know the truth
from old bike parts it's a biker's fantasy Finch's average customer brings in a one of that statement. Some with soft colors
incarnate. to two year old bike and spends around $1500 and fluid lines seem to say "speed" while
The shop was designed and built by owner getting it customized. Finch believes that a standing motionless. Others are hard and
Ron Finch and architect Joseph Wolf for the bike should be "functional" but once they get angular with loud colors and designs. All the
express purpose of building custom bikes. into the $5,000 to $6,000 price range most metal personifications of their owners per-
The shop took a year to plan and and an- bikes are strictly show. sonalities.
other year to build. "I'd never met him Finch has been in the business full time
(Wolf) before I decided to have the shop "SOME GUYS come in with an engine and for nine years. Six years in downtown Pon-
done, but we're close friends now," says say 'build me a bike for this much'," tiac and for the past three in his present
Finch. says Kasmer, "while others come in with building.
everything planned out to the last nut and
FINCH RUNS t h r e e businesses from his bolt." In any case the customer talks to Finch Before that he worked out of a two car
Joslyn Rd. location -retail parts sales, before the bike is started. "I'll sit down with garage part time while driving a truck.
wholesale catalogue sales, and custom bike the guy and make suggestions. For instance He went into the business full time when
construction and design. When questioned if something is unsafe or ascetically dis- he foud he was "taking more time off to
about being located far off the beaten path pleasing, I'll let him know. But I'm not work on bikes than I was driving."
Finch said, "People don't mind driving a domineering about it. If the customer still
little extra to get what we offer." wants it, he gets it," Finch adds. FINCH CURRENTLY employs about ten peo-
Says manager Russ Kasmer, "We build their Finch's bikes are more than two wheels ple to help him complete his creations.
dreams here. The only thing they're limited and an engine- --they're works of art. They've But says Kasmer, "This is more than a source
by is their imagination and their bank ac- been on display at both the Detroit Art Mu- of money, it's an outlet for our creative
count." And some of Finch's customers have seum and the Phoenix Art Museum. drives."
Story by
PHIL FOLEY
Photography
by
STEVE KAGAN