February 4, 2013

A look at Texas Bike Works

 
As a second generation bike builder, Jason Ferguson caught the bug at an early age. Before his parents divorced, he grew up around dirty old bikers going to bike shows and rallies.
 Jason’s old man would rebuild his bike every year for the local Easyrider bike show. Although his father didn’t build bikes for a living, he built many over the years.
 
After graduating from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 1991 he was hired by a custom motorcycle builder, Johnny Pag. Not knowing much about custom motorcycles, Johnny’s lead builder, Steve Kinney taught Jason about custom bikes and the industry. While employed at Biker Dream his duties included, eng. work, wiring, mock up, and installing lots of chrome and high-end paint jobs. While working with Johnny Pag at Bikers Dream, Jason helped create bikes for guys like Billy F Gibbons (ZZ Top), Terry “Hulk” Hogan, Paul Tracey (Auto Racer), Brian Downing (Angels), Chuck Finley(Angels), Bo Jackson (Raiders/Royals) and Kevin Greene(Rams/Steelers/Panthers). One of which was featured in Hot Bike magazine (Nov. 1997). After Johnny left Bikers dream to start Patriot Mfg. in ’00 I went to work for Patrick Racing as a CNC operator for several months while Pag was getting set up. When Pag left to start Pagsta mini Harleys Jason stayed to help Alex Mardikian (now Von Dutch Kustom Cycles) refine the production process. At Bob Taylor’s motors in Huntington Beach he worked on new Harley’s, old Shovels, Pans, Iron Heads, and learned as much about engine building as I could.

Jason moved to Texas in 2002. Convinced that the market was ready for his brand of clean yet elegant chopper design, he opened Texas Bike Works in 2006 and the business has grown steadily. “I’m a little like a mad scientist,” he says, gesturing to his equipment-filled shop. “Except for paint, I like to do everything myself because I enjoy it so much. It’s a lot of fun.” Moving to Texas has afforded Jason the ability to finally pursue his dream of owning a shop of his own. After moving to Texas Jason also worked with Shark Performance Art. During which time he built two custom pro street bikes, one taking 3rd in the Easyrider Show in April.

An expert welder, machinist, fabricator and custom fitter who’s got the skills to build pretty much whatever a client could want, or prudently choose the best from a universe of mass-manufactured products, then assure a seamless fit. He can also handle the invisible side of tearing down and rebuilding engines and transmissions to achieve higher performance. Best of all, he’s got the artistic sense to make sure that everything flows together harmoniously. His philosophy is reaping rewards. In August, he attended the largest biker rally in the world in Sturgis, South Dakota, where his blue bike (named “Antique-ness”) took three top awards: “Top Choice” as selected by Eric Gorges, founder of Voodoo Choppers; “Best Detail” by bikernet.com’s editor Keith Ball; and first place at the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show in the “Radical Sportster” category. (The stellar paint job was done by his friend Scott Draper at Shark Performance Art).


Texas Bike Works LLC
817-326-0288

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