Tag Archives: bmw

Merry Christmas from Carpys Cafe Racers

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
25 Dec

Jeez, another year gone and soon beginning a brand new one.  Well, I hope that this finds you all well and happy?  I wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas and hope that you get time to relax and fit the new parts to your ride. These last 12 months have rocketed by for me but I have a few more new parts in the making and hope to show them soon and will showcase them first.

Look forward to gearing from you and l hope that I can help you create the Motorcycle that you want in 2024.

Thank you all for all the business and I continue to push the proverbial envelope in more parts and some special one of Motorcycles that I will be selling too.

Here is a movie ya might want to watch whilst you are off for a few days.

Another movie if you have a Rainey day and want  something to help the wet weather get by faster.

A day of filming for TV with Larry, Jay Leno etc was a Blast

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
14 Oct

Hey Everyone, well its the weekend, I have been a bit ill in health recently and have not been on the website as much as I would like to but I am back on my feet, few health issues to try and figure with the Human Technician but I am sure I will get that all dialled in.

Anyway, its a Saturday so I thought that I would add a great video on here, my Buddy Larry Romestant builds Beemers and they are works of art, we have become good friends over the years and thought today I would share the tv show that had him showing him creating his bike, like you lot I am sure you have had many ups and downs when it comes to creating your ride and Larry does indeed too, which means its the real deal.

Jay Leno,  and James Maund get a feature in this show and I was happy to oblige in a segment too, great to watch on your PC or Big screen and hope you like it?

 

The trials, tribulations and triumphs of being a custom bike builder come to life as Larry and Carol Romestant design and build a one-of-a-kind BMW Special K cafe racer. Featuring Jay Leno, Steve ‘Carpy’ Carpenter and James Maund with some of the most scenic riding sequences ever seen.

 

http://specialks.net

Homepage

Summer time at the workshop

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
08 Aug

Well, the Californian Summer hung off for a while, but now it is in full swing and boy is it getting hard to work in stifling heat and humidity is up the ying yang right now, feels like I am in Florida to be honest, but the show must go on, I have so much to do but right now I am waiting on some help with my Barn doors to be hung, they are big heavy wooden sliding doors.  But once they are up I can start to organise a little bit more, it is lucky we have a large property as I can store old projects all over the place but need to get it all under one roof soon and be more happier when that does come to fruition.

Like many of you, we are always wrenching on things, for me I have New parts to make or to become a dealer for and of course, I have Motorcycles to build and projects to finish, but as the saying goes, ‘Rome was not built in a day”.

It seems I have spent so many years on my knees but to be honest, I feel comfortable that way, even if the bikes on a lift, I guess it goes back to grass roots or what you grew up with, we had nothing as a kid and made the most of what we had, if we were given something we would cherish it and improve on it, but I still have so much passion in creativity with parts and creations and hope that I never lose that flame for design and ingenuity etc.

I love all sorts of Vintage and classic stuff, from obviously Motorcycles, music, fashion and of course cars or trucks, my recently purchased F250 has been fun but I have to also wrench on that and have changed stuff so far to improve the ride and running, with more to do as this is my parts hauler.

I was at the ceramic Coaters and decided to take the back roads to my place as the traffic was busy and it was 100 degree’s, the old F250 has been great so far as it has not got hot, but the 390 seems to be having carb issues, it has the stock Autolite 2 barrel and to be honest even though jets changed, power valve changed, float level set and cleaned many times, it just will not start after a few minutes, so things will be changing next week to sort that issue out.  But had to pull over and take a pic of this cool vintage sign I saw on the side of the road.

I love Southern California for old shops and signs and seem to see something different every time I go out to be honest and thought that i would share with you as I love Vintage signs too.

My Birthday coming up Thursday and I will not be working that day and enjoy time with my girl Jennifer, we do so much together and the good thing is she likes pretty much the same stuff I do, so we really get each other, she rides to and that makes a huge difference and she understands the trials and tribulations of running a Motorcycle and Automotive business.

Just wanted to say howdy to you all out there and thanks for supporting me in what I make and sell, I love you all.

 

Keep your eye on the website for more parts and bikes soon, just got back from the Post office, sent exhausts to Hawaii, Puerto Rico , New Zealand and Brazil today.

Fun times ahead at the workshop.

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
10 Jan

Well, a New year and New projects, I have a bunch of bikes that need to get running and then decide which way to go in the way of building and creating something cool from the shop but many different platforms are sat in the Barn, just awaiting some wrench time, but I do enjoy creating New rides.

I get many questions on how do I put in the Knee inserts on gas tanks, well, first off, I find a damaged tank, I don’t want to use a good solid undented gas tank, seem a shame to bash the crap out of it to be honest, so I usually have something about the shop or in storage that I can use and love to repurpose something that has been discarded, but I do use ear defenders as I have already got  Tinnitus from years of grinding metal, riding motorcycles with No ear plugs and going to many gigs and standing up front by the speakers.

I really enjoy making parts for the machines I build and of course offering it to customers too, its a noisy job but if it was easy, then everyone would do it right?

I have a few ideas for New parts this year, so keep checking back with me, also I hope to offer parts for different models and brands of Motorcycle, so I should be able to help you all, my Customer Service really is hard to beat compared to the many shops that have sprouted up recently, this is my career and my passion not just a business.

If its engine parts you need, drop me a Dime or Text on 714-598-8392 and I am more than happy to help you lot out with your project, this year should be a fun one and maybe I will meet some of you at an event?  I have built many Motorcycle over the almost 23 years I have lived here in Southern California and look forward to building many more.

 

The Hot Rod and Razor exhausts Now in stock, this is how they sounds too.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
24 Nov

Well, its that time of the year already, I will not be working at all in the Barn, its nice to celebrate Turkey day and I will make sure I shall to its fullest. Burp!

Hope you are celebrating too if you are in America that is, and so tomorrow, work will be flat out as the festive season will then be upon us.

Just wanted to take this time to wish you all a Very Happy Thanksgiving and than you all for your orders, I love my job and what I do, this Thanksgiving I sit, eat and feel thankful for all that this wonderful country lets me be a part of.

 

Weekend is here but its going to be damn Hot In Southern California

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
14 May

I know, I know- I should not complain about the weather, but- I left the shores of Blighty back in 1997, this weekend it will be in the 90’s and I am lucky that I now have the Barn to work in, albeit no A/C.  Its surprising how much you can get done when there is a big ball of fire trying to make you evaporate.

Today I shall be packing up quite a few New exhaust systems, with more on the way, busy time of the year for me as people are wrenching on their machines and of course, with warmer temperatures, then riding season is at its most fruitful, I too love riding early in the morning as the warmth of the Sun begins to make the tarmac steam and for me, there is nothing better to clear your head than a crisp morning.

But parts have to be re-stocked and I am trying to get the New Place in some sort of order, so I can pick and pack my parts a little easier and then ship right out to my Customers, I am lucky as the Main Post Office is just down the road, so that means I can take them directly to the Loading dock to scan and load the packages and boxes onto the truck that is going out to deliver.

I am coming up with a few different parts too and this all takes time, but I am enjoying what I do and when you work from your own Workshop with no landlord hassling you, a lot of stress simply disappears.

Happy Sunday everyone and hope you get a little bit of time to be able to do some wrenching on your machine, let me know if I can help by phone or text, 714-598-8392.  keep building and keep riding.

Fun Time doing an Episode with Larry Romestate and Jay Leno

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
11 Apr

I had a ball when we were filming this, fun times that I always treasure and hope you enjoy this too, Larry designed his BMW over many years and we used to hang out in my shop brain storming, he did a super job completing his machine and he rides it all over the place. Just thought I would share today.

 

Have a great week everybody and keep building at home and above all have fun.

 

Weekend is pretty Much Here

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
11 Mar

Hey Everyone

I have been pretty busy as of late as the Barn is now built but still waiting on a few things to get it functional to be honest, and with the price of Building materials higher than a Coke addict, I shall just take my sweet ass time in getting it completed.

 

Anyway, the weekend is here, I hope to have a little ride over these next couple of days as we have some great winding roads where I live, tree lines corners and big off cambered corners with drop off, make for an exhilarating ride to be sure.

 

Hope you can get some time in the saddle like this fella on His 650 BEEZA!

Some Videos for your Sunday enjoyment

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
28 Feb

Its a Sunday and I have a million things to do this weekend, what with Motorcycles to build, parts to make and orders to pack, its a busy weekend for me and thought that I would add some videos for you to watch of other bike shows and cool things to maybe get some of you to get in your garage and have a go at something.

Little snippets of great stuff to watch whilst you design and start your own projects, its fun to be able to have a go at your own machine and nothing better than when you first fire your ride up and sling your leg over something that you are passionate about.

Ever wanted to go to deals Gap? here you can from the comfort of your seat at home and when you have created your machine, take it here to enjoy the twists and turns of these canyon roads.

And now for a trip overseas and to Portugal for henry Cole and his Motorbike show, enjoy.

A New Era is now here but, we shall always be riding our Motorcycles, no matter what is thrown at us!

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
31 Aug

CORONA DIARIES 2020 from the  deep warm depths of La Mirada. California

August is now out the window, on its toes and halfway down the road, thanking god that his part of 2020 is now in the can and hopefully the next time August comes around, we might be able to life a more normal lifestyle.  I mean, the one we have now sucks like a new Dyson and I will be glad when we can count down the 2020 timer on December 31st approaching midnight.

Things here have been quite crazy work wise, as I have exhaust orders up the Ying Yang and many daily custom parts flying out as soon as I make them, which tells me that people are at home building and creating their own unique two wheeled machines and I am super stoked to see that you are putting all your frustrations and down time to great use and at the end of your build, you would of created your own transportation and can enjoy 2021 way better than this year.

So today i thought I would put some vidoes on my Blog to help your day and week for that fact, go by a little easier.

And for the next segment of two wheeled entertainment.
Life in the megalopolis can grind down even the most badass individual. When the city rubs Aki the wrong way one too many times, she hustles her way onto some sweet retro custom motorcycles and gets gone… Tokyo Gone.

Next up is the amazing Jody Millhouse of Thornton Hundred motorcycles, which is based in good old Blighty, over in Milton Keynes, home of the Concrete Cows.

Thornton Hundred Motorcycles work using the latest in CAD design and CAM manufacturing technology to create truly unique designs. They are constantly re-investing and with every success comes fresh investment into new products and manufacturing techniques. They are dedicated to creating a relaxed and personal buying experience from our workshop that is based just outside of Milton Keynes, near Junction 15 just off the M1. They are also committed to delivering exceptional customer service, responding to all enquiries in a timely manner, inside and outside of working hours.

Now, check out just one build of a Brand new 2020 Triumph Bobber, as Jody takes a new ride apart and transforms it into what I would call a “Fat Attack” and creates a beast of a machine that has Cad Custom parts, hand made stainless exhaust and Custom Lower trees, I loved the clip ons that use a snap ring, very Novel. May not be your Cup of Tea but wanted to share his video as he creates some awesome works of moving art. You will have to put up with the odd commercial in between the build but its worth the look at the quality that Jody is known for.

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