Russell Marlowe, of Russell Marlowe Custom Cycles, is a self-made and self-taught custom bike builder. Russell began the craze in the late 1980s when he purchased a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. From there, he tore it down bolt by bolt, bought a manual, and taught himself everything he would need to know to get it running and back together again. Russell Marlowe Custom Cycles has not always been the business it is today. For the first nine or 10 years, it was all happening in Russell’s backyard. There he built a little shop and wrenched on friend’s bikes, usually staying there until early morning hours. Continuously, he would tear things up, tweak them, and finally learn what not to do. A little over six years ago, Russell made the transition from his backyard into a 6,000 sq ft. shop. This venue has been the site for some of the most radical productions to date. Russell does not follow the traditional bike designs. They are not cookie-cutter bike kits but state-of-the-art custom one off motorcycles. Not bolt tighter crap. Raking in at over 15 years of struggles and rough time, Russell continues to make a name for him in the business he loves more than anything. In the past five years, Russell has won 24 Easy riders Best of Show Judged Class and countless other titles. In April 2005, Russell won the Heritage Motorcycle Rally $100,000 Bike Build-Off. And in 2006 was third, And getting started on a bike for the Million Dollar Bike Build off that will be in April 2007. It is more about the love of building than the money. Russell jokingly states “If it was about the money I would go get a real job!”