There is a motorcycle show in Austin, Texas, that if you haven’t heard about yet, you have now been notified. This invitational bike show, organized by Austin custom shop Revival Cycles takes place during the MotoGP (yes, racing bikes) weekend in mid-April. While the racing action takes place at Circuit of the Americas outside Austin proper, the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show in held at an open-air warehouse setting in East Austin, a neighborhood of industrial buildings, dive bars, and old wooden houses and vacant lots turned into hip coffee, beer, and food-truck hangouts.

This second-year iteration of the event brought builders from around the US and beyond, commingling artisans of iron with photographers, illustrators, and graphic artists displaying their wares on the walls. All types of motorcycles were on display, from Shinya Kimura’s 1915 Indian he piloted on the Motorcycle Cannonball to bespoke designer Ducatis. Mixed in between were inspirational and artistic builds, ranging from antique boardtrackers to scramblers, choppers, and café racers.

Just outside in the adjacent yard, the Wall of Death exhibition was putting smiles on people’s faces, and the requisite food trucks supplied the gourmet backyard grinds. Luckily there was food available, as it supplied my brain the essential nutrients to process some of the mind-bending engineering feats inside, such as the Bonneville record-holding dual-engine Indian Scout, and Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications’ wicked speedway-style custom with a Buell Blast bottom, Ducati heads, and Triumph gearbox. Whaaat?

Luckily the event stays open past midnight on Friday and Saturday night, and the added Sunday this year was great, as many hours and revisits were required to absorb the awesomeness. Hats off to the Revival Cycles crew for this curated and greased-up museum of moto-porn. If you have the time or ever needed an excuse to experience the Austin vibe, this is the perfect two-wheeled weekend to do so. Oh, and did we mention the show is free admission? Yeah, get down here for 2016.

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista

Gallery of Godliness

Words: Chris Long Photos: Nilton Baptista