12/4/2023 0 Comments Easy rider magazine past issuesThis novel combination of retro and new firmly established Nakajima as a customizer par excellence. Using contemporary techniques and materials, he built machines that boasted the speed, comfort, and performance of modern bikes while preserving their classic look and feel. Nakajima’s creative muse, however, led him toward European makers, in particular classic BMW and Moto Guzzi models from the 1970s and 80s. Harley-Davidson “choppers” of Easy Rider fame and the British-made bikes and vintage Italian scooters favored by the Mods and Rockers of Quadrophenia dominated the scene. When Nakajima set out building bikes, customized motorcycles were synonymous with youth counterculture. Parts and tools carefully collected by Nakajima over years line the walls and other spaces of the workshop. A 1970 Alpha Romeo, one of Nakajima’s many other customizing projects, sets in the shop’s carport. Nakajima’s workshop 46works sets in the shadows of the Yatsugatake range. “That’s when I decided to focus my energy on customizing.” Leaving the shop in the capable hands of his staff, Nakajima in 2014 packed up and relocated to the countryside of Yamanashi, far from the bustle of city life. “I had to stop and ask myself what I really wanted to do,” recounts Nakajima. As the shop grew, though, Nakajima noticed that business matters demanded a greater share of his attention, leaving diminishing time for building bikes. There he and his small crew of employees made and sold original parts and worked on semi-custom orders along with providing general mechanical services. Nakajima first rose to prominence on the customizing scene with Ritmo-Sereno, a custom shop he established in Tokyo in 2001. The exhibition featured privately owned motorcycles that Nakajima built. Held at a gallery in Tokyo and featuring five of his creations, the event drew over 2,000 visitors from around Japan during its 10-day run. Although not the easiest person to reach, in February of this year Nakajima gave customized motorcycle aficionados a rare, first-hand glimpse at his craftsmanship with the solo exhibit Zenkai ka ina ka (Full Throttle or Nothing). People are free to email him with inquiries-he keeps the telephone number and address of the shop secret to minimize distractions-but should keep in mind that Nakajima does not do general repairs, reserving his skills and creativity for grander projects. Based at his workshop 46works in the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains in Yamanashi Prefecture, he labors in isolation, spending months at a time focused solely on building and maintaining his creations. Since joining the niche world, his reputation for craftsmanship in converting retro European machines has made him a leader in his field. In customized motorcycle circles, Nakajima Shirō needs no introduction.
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