Sturgis 2008 was a fantastic event in many eyes. Bandit's Brouhaha proved to be as successful, as much as it was stressful. People staggered out of the show shaking their heads wondering if they’d ever see another show like that again. According to Bandit, probably not going to be any time soon.

One of the bikes to walk away with honors from the show was La Ruca, an old-school bike with new school flair. The Southwestern Texas shop has been covered in magazines for the better part of a decade, so Johnny’s success at shows is nothing new; but this bike seemed to catch the eye of Bandit as well as Wrench and Sin Wu.

As owner and operator of Johnny’s Custom Shop, Johnny Gil’s addiction was fueled by his father’s love for old cars and fast bikes. Johnny has won many awards but claims,” The most rewarding feeling comes from seeing the smile his customers’ face upon chiseling their creation from scratch.”

Johnny is not just a builder, but a rider as well. Johnny recognizes that not all bikes are going to a museum, so he knows the importance of a solid and dependable ride and his goal is to give his customers just that. You can see the thought is focused as much on riding as it is on fashion when looking at one of Johnny’s bikes. Family is the backbone to his success, and his loyalty to them, his values, and to traditions have built on his philosophy, summed up in one statement; Por Vida (for life).

This beautiful bike's features include a handmade frame, H- D Panhead motor, water jet details, as well as hand-tooled leather accents. After staring at the pictures for the past few days, I only have one question; who’s the chick on the tank and how do I meet her?

Handling all aspects of a build, Johnny has not only mastered welding and fabrication, but he also takes care of paint, pinstriping, molding as well as building engines and transmissions. Knowing that he understands and builds the intricate hearts of a motorcycle; the motor, solidifies him as a true motorcycle builder. The thing that separates the fabricators from the builders is their love and knowledge of the heart of any custom; the motor.

If you get a chance, check out their website, http://www.johnnyscustom.com/index.php. You will see that Johnny’s not new to the industry and has built numerous award winning customs as well as cleaning up some stock H-Ds. Once again it becomes apparent he focuses the riding aspect into his builds as soon as you see his other bikes.

Johnny Gil, a true Texan builder creating some of the classiest customs I have ever seen. Give him a call if you are in the mood for a custom or want to have a little Southwestern flair thrown at your stock bike. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Until next time…

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