CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill.: Originally starting out of his garage 11 years ago, the man behind Barebones Chopper in Crystal Lake custom builds motorcycles to help riders express their individuality.
Among his clients, owner Andrew Gordon has worked with a psychologist on his edgy alter ego, transforming the psychologist’s motorcycle into a dark sequence of colors and numerous sharp points.
A musician also met with Gordon about his three-wheeled motorcycle. After talking with the musician about his interests, Gordon turned his chopper into a bike that represented the Fender Stratocaster guitar the musician liked to play.
“The motorcycle of your dreams should be a part of your personality,” Gordon said. “If it’s a part of your personality, it has to shine in such a way that it’s what you want to portray.”
With that guiding principle in mind, Gordon recently moved his business into a new location along Erick Street in Crystal Lake that includes a shop and storefront – a 1,600-square-foot space that allows him to continue building custom motorcycles from scratch.
Nearly 600 people helped Gordon open the new location during an hours-long open house May 9 that featured live music, vendors, motorcycles and cars.
Along with custom-built motorcycles, Gordon also does specialty repairs and plans to sell merchandise inside the new store.
Gordon also has seen demand for his services grow throughout the past year, as a niche motorcycle market continues to grow in a post-recession economy.
The recent changes to his business come after Gordon started tailoring motorcycles out of his garage near Crystal Lake 11 years ago. He moved the operation to the Wonder Lake area before moving it back to Crystal Lake.
For years, Gordon worked as a project manager in the construction trades, but the work slowly became routine and mundane, Gordon said. He branched into the motorcycle business, as a creative outlet.
He now finds himself meeting with prospective customers, talking over their interests, designing and building motorcycles to their individual interests.
The work, he said, challenges him to overcome problems and tap into his artistic side.
“I custom-make or tailor-make what they want. It’s no different than tailoring a suit,” Gordon said. “I’m creating that look, that style, that effect, that personality that reflects it to have their custom-made motorcycle from scratch.” -AP
