I’m going go out on a limb here and guess you’ve probably heard of Brandon Holstein and The Speed Merchant; the famed custom shop born from the love of two-wheeled iron.  

Brandon’s love for motorcycles goes back decades so it’s no shocker that The Speed Merchant that the shop customizes and builds motorcycles that push the boundaries of what a custom motorcycle should do. These are performance builds with countless hours invested in not just them but The Speed Merchant’s extensive line of new products, too.

We’re honored to have Brandon Holstein as one of the invited builders on this year’s Motul Hot Bike Tour.

BUILDER NAME:    Brandon Holstein
SHOP NAME:  The Speed Merchant
BIKE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL:  1993 FXR
INSTAGRAM:  @thespeedmerchant

Describe yourself in three words.
Resilient.  Reserved.  Honest.

What are you currently building?
FXR, and Fat Bob

What was your first bike?
1988 H-D Sportster

What is your all-time favorite bike?
Haven’t found it yet.

Why did you choose to work in the motorcycle industry?
I’m not a corporate desk guy.  And I sort of fell into the industry.  It wasn’t anything I had planned. 

What do you think the future of the motorcycle industry is?
I am not sure….  I used to have an idea, but these days I can’t quite put my finger on where it is heading.  The ADV thing is and has been huge for quite a while.  So I can’t say it’s the future, as it’s already here…. 

What inspires you?
Nature.  Adventure.  Good food.  Adversity.