What can I say about Kellan? The guy is super talented and extremely humble. I found out about him a bit over a year ago through Instagram and since then he has been one of my big influences. His building styles vary each build and no two bikes are the same. Most of his bikes are completely hand built and his foot control ideas are amazing.
Name: Kellan Musseau
Age: 29
Location: Courtenay, BC Canada
Day Job: Right now I’m working at a local pizza joint, but my girlfriend and I are currently deep in the process of opening our own cafe.
Current Bikes: 1965 Harley Chopper and 1980 Yamaha XT500
When did you get into bikes and why?
I first got into riding bikes when I was 16, before I drove a car. My Dad rode, and I was pretty obsessed with getting a bike from a young age. I wanted a sportster but couldn’t afford one so I bought a sport bike instead. After crashing it I took a couple years off and around my 19th birthday I decided to get back into riding but with older bikes. I was super broke but picked up a $1000 xs650 and started learning.
First road bike?
A 2001 CBR600 with awful tribal flames.
How do you approach building bikes?
It happens pretty organically. I usually have the vision in my head well before I start, and then once I’m going I just let it all happen.
What is your process?
Once I have a project figured out in my head, I try and order any thing special I need well in advance. I live in a small town so I can’t really get any specialty stuff on the fly. Once I’m rolling I let the creativity take over. Pretty standard order of things but tear down, fabrication, proper full mock-up without electrical, then pull apart for final welding, paint etc. I always work pretty fast so I can see my completed vision as quickly as possible. Once I have started a project there is no stopping me until its done. I only ever work on one bike at a time to prevent my brain from internally combusting and to keep my workshop organized and uncluttered.
Where did you learn to work on bikes?
I'm pretty well "self taught” with far too much time spent on Youtube and forums. I learned most of my skills out of necessity being that I have always been too cheap and stubborn to pay people to do things for me. With that mentality I have learned how to paint, upholster, weld, build motors etc. That said, I have had some help along the way. Joel Harrison of Butts Seats was my boss for a number of years and he answered a lot of my stupid questions, taught me some chopper tricks and let me use his tools in the early days. I also took some night tig welding classes. I still am constantly learning and have the memory of a goldfish so I’m always forgetting things and going through the cycle again!
What's it like going from a shop to working in home setup?
I worked at a shop called Wheelies Motorcycles in Victoria for about 6 years. It was actually a restaurant with a little chopper shop attached to it. I was the chef and opened the place up with a couple other fellows. I decided to leave Wheelies about a year and a half ago, moved to a new smaller community, lived in a van for a while and then bought a house. It was the best decision ever and working from my own home shop is amazing.
How would you define your style?
I keep it pretty classic chopper. My bikes are always a mix of old and crusty parts that I have modified, and hand built stainless parts. I don’t really stray away from the 60's or 70's as far as aesthetics go, and I don’t really use many direct bolt on parts. To keep things to a budget I always end up doing my own seats, lacing my wheels, painting, polishing etc. My main focus when building a bike is making them functional. I ride my bikes a lot, and on big road trips so they need to be reliable!
What's your workshop setup like?
It's a pretty basic 1.5 car detached garage. My partner and I were lucky enough to buy a house last year and my garage has been like my child. I kitted it out pretty good when I first moved in but I really don’t have anything too fancy. Tig welder, Lathe, a bunch of cheap metal finishing tools and of course hand tools. I'm super OCD with the space so I keep it real tidy and clean. I often think my garage is more of a constant project then any of my bikes.
Any projects in the works?
I just started a Sportster chopper for a friend, and have a couple more similar ones lined up. That and I'm still tweaking my personal bike for this year. I have always just built bikes for myself (at least one or two a year), but in the last year have been getting much busier with customer work. My unofficial shop name is Laneway Choppers.
What's your dream bike?
Right now I’m really wanting to build a 48-51 Panhead with a I-beam springer and bunch of cool unpolished handmade parts. But I don’t know if I have an actual dream bike.
Name: Kellan Musseau
Age: 29
Location: Courtenay, BC Canada
Day Job: Right now I’m working at a local pizza joint, but my girlfriend and I are currently deep in the process of opening our own cafe.
Current Bikes: 1965 Harley Chopper and 1980 Yamaha XT500
When did you get into bikes and why?
I first got into riding bikes when I was 16, before I drove a car. My Dad rode, and I was pretty obsessed with getting a bike from a young age. I wanted a sportster but couldn’t afford one so I bought a sport bike instead. After crashing it I took a couple years off and around my 19th birthday I decided to get back into riding but with older bikes. I was super broke but picked up a $1000 xs650 and started learning.
First road bike?
A 2001 CBR600 with awful tribal flames.
How do you approach building bikes?
It happens pretty organically. I usually have the vision in my head well before I start, and then once I’m going I just let it all happen.
What is your process?
Once I have a project figured out in my head, I try and order any thing special I need well in advance. I live in a small town so I can’t really get any specialty stuff on the fly. Once I’m rolling I let the creativity take over. Pretty standard order of things but tear down, fabrication, proper full mock-up without electrical, then pull apart for final welding, paint etc. I always work pretty fast so I can see my completed vision as quickly as possible. Once I have started a project there is no stopping me until its done. I only ever work on one bike at a time to prevent my brain from internally combusting and to keep my workshop organized and uncluttered.
Where did you learn to work on bikes?
I'm pretty well "self taught” with far too much time spent on Youtube and forums. I learned most of my skills out of necessity being that I have always been too cheap and stubborn to pay people to do things for me. With that mentality I have learned how to paint, upholster, weld, build motors etc. That said, I have had some help along the way. Joel Harrison of Butts Seats was my boss for a number of years and he answered a lot of my stupid questions, taught me some chopper tricks and let me use his tools in the early days. I also took some night tig welding classes. I still am constantly learning and have the memory of a goldfish so I’m always forgetting things and going through the cycle again!
What's it like going from a shop to working in home setup?
I worked at a shop called Wheelies Motorcycles in Victoria for about 6 years. It was actually a restaurant with a little chopper shop attached to it. I was the chef and opened the place up with a couple other fellows. I decided to leave Wheelies about a year and a half ago, moved to a new smaller community, lived in a van for a while and then bought a house. It was the best decision ever and working from my own home shop is amazing.
How would you define your style?
I keep it pretty classic chopper. My bikes are always a mix of old and crusty parts that I have modified, and hand built stainless parts. I don’t really stray away from the 60's or 70's as far as aesthetics go, and I don’t really use many direct bolt on parts. To keep things to a budget I always end up doing my own seats, lacing my wheels, painting, polishing etc. My main focus when building a bike is making them functional. I ride my bikes a lot, and on big road trips so they need to be reliable!
What's your workshop setup like?
It's a pretty basic 1.5 car detached garage. My partner and I were lucky enough to buy a house last year and my garage has been like my child. I kitted it out pretty good when I first moved in but I really don’t have anything too fancy. Tig welder, Lathe, a bunch of cheap metal finishing tools and of course hand tools. I'm super OCD with the space so I keep it real tidy and clean. I often think my garage is more of a constant project then any of my bikes.
Any projects in the works?
I just started a Sportster chopper for a friend, and have a couple more similar ones lined up. That and I'm still tweaking my personal bike for this year. I have always just built bikes for myself (at least one or two a year), but in the last year have been getting much busier with customer work. My unofficial shop name is Laneway Choppers.
What's your dream bike?
Right now I’m really wanting to build a 48-51 Panhead with a I-beam springer and bunch of cool unpolished handmade parts. But I don’t know if I have an actual dream bike.