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Event Reports

Artistry In Iron Builder Profiles- RKB Kustom Speed

As part of our sponsorship with Las Vegas Bikefest’s Artistry In Iron, we wanted to take a closer look at the builders who have been invited to this years event.

So one at a time we are going to ask each of the builders the same ten questions and let our readers get to know them all a little more.

RKB Kustom Speed is our Tenth interview, but stay tuned for more as they come in.

 

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My name is Rick Bray, Owner/Operator of RKB Kustom Speed. Fabricating my own Kustom projects had been a life long fascination of mine.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been building my own Kustom cars, trucks, hotrods, motorcycles and projects for customers alike.

I like to think of it as my passion in life to see how I can test my creativity through my fabrication skills.

 

RKB Kustom Speed

Rick Bray

California

 

https://www.facebook.com/rick.bray.712

 

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1. What people places or things do you get your inspiration from for bike building?

    Most of my inspiration comes from 1960s gassers, race cars and lowriders.

2. What is your personal philosophy on custom bike building?

Less is More. I try to keep my bikes as clean and minimalistic as possible yet still completely functional

3. What is on your “Must Do” list while you are in Vegas for Bikefest?

I only have one priority for this trip to bikefest…….to receive an invite back to Artistry in Iron next year.

4. What does being invited to build a bike for Artistry In Iron mean to you?

I am honored and impressed with it. To be one of twenty invited to participate is a big honor for me.

5. How do you feel about the judging at Artistry In Iron being peer based?

I think its awesome because my peers understand the amount of time and effort involved and we all understand each others hard labor

6. What is the best or worst feature of your Artistry In Iron build?

Naturally in my eyes I have a hard time seeing any bad features in the build because I built what I personally like. Granted that doesn’t always work for everyone, but it suites me just fine. As far as the best features, in my humble opinion, the handmade brass work along with the chrome work are easy to appreciate for me. It took a long time to make everything smooth enough for flawless chrome.

7. What kind of time goes into a build that’s at the level of an Artistry In Iron bike?

Countless hours, we spend so much time on these bikes the days just blend together

8. What is your most prized possession in your shop? Example: a tool or machine that was handed down from a family member etc.

My Bridgeport Mill is pretty special to me. It was given to me by a friend who started out as what you could consider a role model to me. Before I was old enough to do any of this stuff on my own I was at the race track watching the results of his hard work using the same mill I use today.

9. If you had the ability to look into a crystal ball and see trends in the future, what would you expect to see coming for the custom motorcycle scene?

I think in the future we are going to continue to see a wide variety of styles created by hand from builders like myself as well as those who embrace the new age of technology to let machines create things off the software they program. I’m personally excited to see what the future has in store.

10. What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?

Winning the lottery and retiring away in a nice little mansionette where I can build what I want when I want at my own little pace.

 

See the RKB Kustom Speed entry and the other Artistry And Iron Bikes during Las Vegas Bikefest October 3-6 or to find more info go to www.lasvegasbikefest.com

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