FORGED FROM A PASSION TO BE INDIVIDUAL
By Graham Collins: As a motorcyclist and bike lover my attention is always drawn to that standout custom machine shining jewel-like amongst the stock bikes. Don’t get me wrong, the stock bikes are trick and drool-worthy (and what I own) but there’s always an air of excited anticipation when you approach a custom bike. A feast for the eyes and senses as you assimilate the styling with the technical. What was the donor bike; engine; suspension; carburation; dials; tank; paint; polish; etc etc….
Arriving at Foundry Motorcycles on a chilly and damp January morning it soon became apparent there wasn’t a stock bike in sight. Tom Simpson, owner, designer, craftsman and all round great bloke greeted us with coffee and kitkats (always a good start) and opened his workshop to us. Andrew was there on a mission to get some promo shots and we’d commissioned our friend and pro-photographer Chris Ison to take them. I was there to look at bikes and understand the process of creating a custom bike masterpiece. I’m sure I was supposed to be concentrating on the shoot but it was soon apparent that that was going to be secondary!
![Foundry Motorcycles Workshop, Zero West](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/zero-west-british-watches-f5.jpg)
“What makes Foundry Motorcycle machinery stand out is Tom’s philosophy to incorporate new ideas with every build. By not formalising what he does means he keeps everything unique.”
![Custom castings on a Harley Davidson, taken by Zero West](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/zero-west-british-watches-foundry-motorcycles-custom-bike.jpg)
Talking to Tom it was immediately apparent that his bikes and our watches have a similar ethos, i.e. stylised and engineered designs created around a stock core. In his case it’s the engine and in ours it’s the movement. The parallels don’t end there though because although Tom’s bikes look “out-there” they are designed to be ridden, which is a skilful balance born out of a deep understanding and passion for his craft.
![Cafe Racer drawing at Foundry Motorcycles](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/zero-west-british-watches-motorsport-f1.jpg)
![Custom Foundry Motorcycle helmet with cool illustration in black and white](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foundry-helmet.jpg)
![Rev Counter, Foundry Motorcycles](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Speed-dial-foundry.jpg)
From concept to reality – One of Foundry’s other iconic builds…The mashed-up Norton featherbed frame with Triumph twin motor…the ultimate café racer?
![Cafe Racer illustration of a Triton, Foundry Motorcycles,](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Triton-illustration-Foundry-Motorcycles.jpg)
![Triton custom motorcycle build by Foundry Motorcycles](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/zero-west-british-watches-motorsport-triton-f.jpg)
Another chord that struck us too was that Tom knows every square millimetre of everything he makes, as we do at Zero West. His skills are multi-faceted and in a former career he was a blacksmith. He casts his own parts, machines components, welds frames, forms his own panels, rebuilds engines and even configures keyless app based ignition and strategically conceals cameras!
![Garage talk at Foundry Motorcycles with Zero West Watches, Harley Davidson and Cafe Racers.](https://zerowest.watch/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/zero-west-british-watches-foundry-woirkshop.jpg)
We spent a thoroughly fascinating morning with Tom. He was gracious with his time and allowed us free run of his workshop emporium. I was in my element and blown away by his creations, each one a totally unique work of art. Tom is Foundry Motorcycles and his energy and enthusiasm is infectious and I saw many parallels between him and us. Check them out at foundry motorcycles
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