The Handbuilt Show Comes to LA

Quite the mix of vehicles and styles at the Handbuilt Invitational LA

Rediscovering the Handbuilt Show

We’ve been attending The Handbuilt Show in Austin, TX for years, watching it grow and evolve into an increasingly spectacular event. Each year, the show has brought together an incredible array of custom builds that are nothing short of moto eye candy. When I worked for Piaggio Group, we were a title sponsor with Moto Guzzi, and one year, I had the honor of commissioning four custom builds for Guzzi, all of which were featured in the show. The consistent theme, despite the evolution, has been the extremely high caliber of builds chosen to participate.

A couple of supermotos from Aaron Colton. You going gas or electric? [Patrick Flynn]

The Handbuilt Invitational Comes to LA

When I heard that the Handbuilt Show was branching out to LA with The Handbuilt Invitational, my excitement was through the roof. I knew Alan and his team would bring their A-game to their first show outside of Austin. They were accepting bike submissions, so I thought, “why not?” and submitted the Bullitt OG2, though I knew it was a long shot given the expected level of competition.

Surprisingly, I received a notification that the OG2 was selected as one of the invited builds. What an honor, especially considering the lineup included renowned builders like Maxwell Hazan, Dustin Kott, Roland Sands, Alex Earle, and many more.

The OG2 looking good under the lights. [Patrick Flynn]

The show took place over the 4th of July weekend, from Friday, July 5th to Sunday, July 7th. The Revival crew adapted to the LA scene beautifully, spreading the event across multiple rooms, a change that provided a fresh, less rushed experience. This setup allowed visitors to absorb each build without the overwhelming sensation of a single massive space.

Sosa Metalwork’s beautiful Royal Enfield custom. [Patrick Flynn]

Monte Carlo drift car by Timofei Kosharnyi with all the right sponsors. [Patrick Flynn]

The Handbuilt Invitational didn’t just stick to one theme but showcased an eclectic mix of styles, from Shinya Kimura’s steam-punk Moto Guzzi to a clean Triumph bobber, and even a Ducati 1198 SportClassic hybrid. The theme seemed to be “these are all fucking amazing,” and indeed, they were. The addition of custom cars integrated with the bikes added a new layer of interest as I moved from room to room, trying to guess the theme of each space.

Aside from the stunning custom builds, the event was packed with entertainment. The Ives Brothers performed their breathtaking Wall of Death velodrome show, and Aaron Colton wowed the crowd with his motorcycle stunts. Additionally, the event offered great food and drinks, and a whiskey tasting by Texas-based Milam & Greene, where I managed to sample their “very small batch” bourbon, which was exceptional.

Aaron Colton with the eye of the tiger. [Patrick Flynn]

Seeing the Handbuilt team successfully take their show on the road was incredibly gratifying. They proved more than capable of hosting a world-class event outside their home turf, and I’m grateful they chose LA as their first stop. Thanks to Alan, Tim, and everyone involved for making this event a memorable one.

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