Blast from the Past
How to become a motorcycle legend
Finch's Custom Styled Cycles and Beyond
Ron Finch has been building custom motorcycles for over 50 years. He launched his career back in the 1960s around the time that Arlen Ness and Dave Perewitz were starting to customize motorcycles. See the timeline below for highlights from the early years of Ron Finch’s career.
He opened Finch’s Custom Styled Cycles in 1965. With the help of his wife Ruth, he has established himself as one of the premier builders of our time. Finch’s motorcycles and sculptures have been featured in hundreds of magazines, art museums, galleries and shows across the United States as well as in Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
His METALife sculptures include creatures, plant life, furniture, signs and numerous custom pieces requested by businesses and private parties.
Did someone say “parties”? The best parties have a live band, Finch would say.
Finch is still creating, riding, and partying. How did he get where he is today? How did he become a legend? It took a lot of hard work, passion, a supportive wife, faith in God, and the belief that it is ok to be different.
Scroll down to see a timeline with some historical highlights.
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame
Ron Finch was inducted to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame in 2019.
Some recent highlights...
In 2019, Ron Finch turned 80 years old. He was inducted to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame.
In 2020:
- Finch visited Detroit Autorama and had an exhibit with his newly customized van
- Loop Hole appeared at an exhibit in Sturgis
- He gave his daughter’s 1974 VW Beetle a new paint job and made several other customizations
- Ron and Ruth Finch survived COVID-19
- He created several new pieces including those commissioned for a new location of Bad Brad’s restaurant
- Finch took on not 1, not 2, but 5 custom paint jobs and customized a trike
- A local gallery exhibited Finch’s art and was a hot spot at Friday Night Bikes in Lapeer, MI
In 2021 and beyond, Finch is still actively creating.
Timeline: Blast from the Past
Highlights from the early years of Finch's career.
1965
Finch's Custom Styled Cycles, Pontiac, MI
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1969
"Michigan's Motorcycle Madman"
"The Fabulous Finch"
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1970
Odin's Axel
"Best U.S. Custom"
First motorcycle ever in a museum
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1972
Ron's Rocket
Creamsicle - Lemon Fizz
"Not just a custom motorcycle...an art form"
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1973
Shop expansion and move to Auburn Hills, MI
Gas Menagerie
Aphrodisiac
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1975
Trilogy
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1981
"You will never walk again."
Hip shattered in motorcycle accident.
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1982
Aorta
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1987
Loop Hole
1993
Outspoken
2001
Studio move
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2003
Wing and a Prayer
2004
Double Cross
2005
Biker Build-Off
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2005 Odin's Axel - Restoration
2006
Lifetime Achievement Award
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2006 Finicky
2008
Milwaukee Art Museum
One of the most beautiful exhibits. A display twelve of his custom motorcycles in the Milwaukee Art Museum during the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary.
2009 Captivator
2010
Outsider
2013
Documentary
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2016
Lemon Fizz - Restoration
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Blast from the Past: Images
Gallery coming soon.