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 Exile Cycles Open House
A rare opportunity to see inside Russell Mitchell’s shop
Photos and text by Bart Mitchell
Sunday and the decisions to make, do I go to the Long Beach Motorcycle Swapmeet or go get some free donuts and muffins along with a beverage at Exile Cycles in North Hollywood, CA? Exile Cycles Open House it is! They where ready for eveyone at 9 AM, but most people didn't arrive till after 10.
I got there at 10 AM and introduced myself to Russell Mitchell, it had been a while and I don't assume people know me when they meet a lot of individuals at bike events. Since there wasn't a crowd yet, I asked him what was new with the business. Russell informed me with the custom bikes being a little slower than normal it has given him a chance to work on products for the Softails and Dyna's. An individual can completely transform a stock bike into a very cool ride with a total custom look using the parts Exile Cycles has developed. Which was what he was doing for a couple of bikes he had on his bike lifts in the shop.
He had a few bikes on display. His custom trike, a recent Softail built to display his parts, a custom Dyna and I believe the one on the lift started out as a Rocker. The Softail was clean looking and smooth with the new parts. The Dyna, which was at the recent L.A. Calendar show on the 18th, had a Hypermoto style to it. Both bikes demonstrated what can be done with Exile Cycles parts on stock bikes.
After a quick raffle around noon the now large group all headed out to The Rock Store on Mullholland Canyon. The ride was pleasant and even though a few got seperated, directions had been handed out so we all arrived about the same time. A good sized crowd was there, as there usually is on a Sunday, and lots of different bikes to look at. Brenda Fox was there with some gals who had decorated their bikes in pink for support to find a cure for breast cancer and had rode down from Canada.
After a bit I was gonna head home when a few of the crew said they were going to Sage Brush and since it was on the way home I joined them. Russell told me he often went there on Sundays and I quickly saw why. Good bands, great food and an enjoyable crowd made this a great place to stop while riding your bike. I had an enjoyable day and met some great people, the thing I like most about riding motorcycles of any make. I just hope all of you had as good of a Sunday as I did.
Hope to see you on the other side of my lense.
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