Custom Bike Builder Billy Lane

At just 33 years of age, Billy Lane has become a major player in custom bike building. He creates masterfully custom bikes from thin air. Aside from being great looking, Billy Lane has skills too! Lane was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He tinkered in the garage with his dad on hot rods and didn’t actually answer his calling as a bike builder until college. Billy Lane is educated among other things. He has received his Associates of Science from Florida State University and his Bachelors of Science from Florida International University in Mechanical Engineering.

Billy got his first bike in college. It was in pieces so he had to figure out how it went together. That must have intrigued him because he went to work with his brother after school building bikes. During that time, he created custom parts and eventually the demand grew so big that Billy opened Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, Florida. And so as they say, the rest is history and he is really making history. Lane kicks out just a few bikes per year so he can focus on the ideas and development of new parts like the double wheel hobble. Billy has developed a number of custom pieces and has patents on parts from the Six Gun handlebar riser clamps and Six Gun handlebar grip, to the Tumbling Dice Light. With all this success, Billy Lane has received numerous awards such as the 2002 Easyriders Invitational Class winning First Place for Best in Show for his “Psycho Billy Cadillac” bike with hubless wheel. He also received the 2002 Easyrider's Best Bike Builder of the Year.

I learned a lot about Billy from his web site Choppersinc.com. This is an awesome web site. You have to check it out. It opens with a tribute to Indian Larry who was a real inspiration to Billy. The flash site features great music and sound effects. Check out the pictures of his bikes, learn about him personally, shop for stuff including frames and rollers, revisit bike rallies and photos from those events. All in all, this site delivers. You can even watch some video clips of Billy building and riding his choppers.

Lane has been featured in countless magazines, he has been discovered by The Discovery Channel and has appeared on a number of shows like the Great Biker Build-Off and co-hosted an episode of the channels new show BIG! which aired in June of this year. Lane has written books as well. His latest book, Chop Fiction: It’s not a motorcycle baby, it’s a chopper explores Billy’s personal and professional life in a candid and entertaining light. Billy Lane seems to be very personable and willing to talk about his success. I came across an interview with Billy Lane on FullThrottleSaloon.com at the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota. In it, Billy Lane started off by answering a much-asked question, who inspires you? As expected, a lot of the old school builders and the like such as Von Dutch, Indian Larry and new comers like Jesse James of West Coast Choppers, Matt Hotch, and Eddie Trotta inspire him. Jesse James’ business savvy has helped Billy in his professional life and values Jesse’s knowledge in that area especially.

Billy sees himself retiring in five years so he can work at a slower more creative pace and leave the hassles of business behind. Billy Lane has learned so much from his peers that he hopes to share his skills and knowledge with the new comers in the bike building industry. Until then, we can be sure to see a lot of Billy Lane.

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