Custom Choppers, Harley-Davidson Repair Make This Business Ride

is a motorcycle repair shop that can accessorize bikes or build them completely from the ground up. They specialize in Harley-Davidson and custom choppers, but can also handle routine maintenance for foreign made “metric” bikes.

Jeff Rawlins is a former Chrysler employee who decided to get into the motorcycle business when his job was threaten by layoffs 10 years ago. Rawlins had always enjoyed riding and working on motorcycles, so in 2003 he started Arch City Custom Cycles with a partner in Fenton. Later, when they couldn’t agree on how to expand the business, Rawlins bought out his share and opened Hot Rod Custom Cycles in High Ridge.

Hot Rod is a family business—his wife Julie works at the shop on weekends taking care of the books and his brother-in-law Jon Broyles is one of the shop’s technicians.

Rawlins keeps busy around the shop, not even standing still long enough for an interview. He said he gets to the shop around 4 a.m., then spends most of his time in the garage. He complains that he doesn’t have much time to ride his own bike, so he keeps it parked inside the shop. It’s a custom built cobalt blue chopper that took two years to complete.

“That’s my bike too,” jokes Rawlins, pointing at a naked bike frame next to it. “I just haven’t started it yet. It’s for long straight roads!”

The cobalt chopper is the only bike he rides.

“I don’t even ride customer’s bikes, I make the other guys do that,” he said with a laugh.

Rawlins said his shop’s hours are set up to save a little time for riding, while still meeting the needs of his customers. He said he can’t complain too much about being so busy, because his customers pay his bills. Since most bike owners spend their weekends riding, he’s only open on Saturday until 1 p.m. so riders can get a last-minute repair or parts. After that, he figures most of his customers are on the road.

“We get to ride when the shop is closed,” he said. “Then I get to fix everyone’s bike at the ride!”

Broyles said that Hot Rod’s techs have the experience needed to work on older, classic Harleys as well as new models.

“All the younger techs are only versed in Twin Cam,” said Broyles. “Shovelheads, Panheads, Knuckleheads,” he said, listing off older Harley engine types. “From 50 years old to five months old, we can fix it.”

The shop has three bays and a dynamometer in its garage. The “dyno” is a diagnostic tool that looks like a computerized treadmill for bikes. The technician can run a bike on the dyno and get information on the engine’s performance, which assists in tune-ups or troubleshooting.

Currently, the shop does more repairs and smaller customizations due to the economy. According to Broyles, few people can afford the thousands of dollars it takes to build a custom bike from scratch these days, though Hot Rod Custom Cycles has the knowledge and skill to make any rider’s custom dream come true.

Still, he said that people rarely buy a Harley and ride it “as is.”

“Everyone customizes, everyone has something they want to do to their bike,” Broyles said. He said that bikers get ideas from seeing other bikes on rides and events, then Hot Rod’s job is to interpret the customer’s needs and find the right parts. The shop can order parts and accessories from all Harley-Davidson vendors.

“A lot of small shops might have Mid U.S.A. or Midwest, which are local vendors,” he said. “But not many shops have every vendor.” He pointed out that they can order parts from Drag Specialties and Power Commander, which carries exclusive Harley parts not found with other suppliers.

Hot Rod Custom Cycles can also order parts for riders who want to work on their own bikes.

The shop also offers a consignment service for customers who are looking to sell a bike. Bikes for sale are kept inside the showroom.