Augustine turns passion for bikes into a lifestyle

Adrian Augustine turns antique motorcycles into priceless works of art.

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When Earth allows us to discover a rare gem we take into consideration the size, clarity, vibrance of color and the creative possibilities of what the gem will become if placed into the right hands. A gem of such proportion does not always rely on recognition but on appreciation of quality.

Adrian Augustine, custom motorcycle builder, has come into this classification of artiste. Augustine has certainly given his passion a life of quality and appreciation whilst tucked away in the red rocks of Page, AZ.

Without the want or need of the fame, Augustine agreed to this feature article for the Chronicle.

“I hope to inspire the youth to become what they want to become.” He said.

This new reason for going public is because of a ride to the Chinle area. The high school’s auto mechanics teacher was admiring his bike and then asked him to speak to the students about his trade. Mainly because the students had a full,working automotive workshop at their disposal but they had no motivation to utilize it. According to the teacher, the students were in need of reconditioning on what they could do with an education in auto mechanics. The teacher wanted the students to see what they could accomplished was limitless.

The idea of the youth having an entire vocational training program at their disposal with no recognition of it has stayed in the back of Augustine's mind since.

“I’m an open book,” he said. “If it will help somebody, somewhere who is having problems, I hope [my story] opens their eyes to make a change. If somebody needs me to show up to support the community, I will step up to the plate.”

Evolution of a life and a hobby

Augustine is Navajo from Kaibeto, Arizona. He is one of three known Native American custom motorcycle builders. His passion began with quads growing up, then cars, and onto muscle cars and trucks. After high school he found two Hondas that were to become the beginning.

“The first [Honda] was a 750 cc and the second was an 1100 cc, which I chopped up and made into my first chopper. It progressed from there. I’ve been doing this as a hobby on and off for about 13 years.”

Of course, no passion becomes a lifestyle without taking the bumpy road and learning from it. Augustine admits he had his battles with alcohol and only when he was sober did he discover his best was yet to be accomplished.

“I had a pirates life, rough. It [seemed] fun in my twenties. I was a party animal. Then I had a wake up call when I hit 30. One day I woke up and wanted to quit all that. I got sober and quit smoking.” Augustine freely admits.

“I had the rockstar mentality, and didn’t think of the future. [So], I had to start thinking of bigger things: community, local politics, and setting an example for my [ten year old] daughter, my nieces and nephews. I had a moment of clarity and said this is not the life I want to leave to my daughter. I just woke up.”

He has been totally sober 5 years now.

“A side effect of becoming sober is caring about things.”

With more focus, and family in his corner, his talent became more streamlined.

“Everybody [in the family] thinks its cool. They love what I do. My two oldest nieces, when I worked with my hands, before I had real tools, they actually helped me. We bended metal together, they welded. They got into bodywork and they worked on a couple bikes with me [here at the shop].” said Augustine, regarding his nieces who fill in their schedule at their uncle's shop learning as they go.”

“ have to add I wouldn’t be where ilam without my family.”

Augustine gives due credit to his friend and employer Vern Joe, owner of Pow Wow Trading Post. It is his eye for rare finds and knowing the value of a backing talent that gave Augustine the break he needed.  Through Joe’s investment in Augustine he was able customize the Indian for submission in the Lake Powell Cruisers Car show five years ago. From there a friendship grew and the everything they wanted to accomplish was made a reality.

They have since made many rides cross country together. They do not belong to a club or outfit, which is known as ‘lone wolf’ status. Along with other friends they consider themselves just weekend warriors checking off rides on their bucket list.

Augustine’s favorite project to date is the 1975 Shovelhead, a custom built bike with brass accessories and engravings, hand tooled leather seats with flawless stamp work, pinstriping with native rug designs and pearl finish in the maroon paint job. To any bike lover the words, ‘1975 Shovelhead’ will make them foam at the mouth to see it. To see and hear the actual bike is to see the brilliance of a rare diamond.

His next favorite is the custom of an Indian from the new reissue line. The Indian is customized to reflect the Pow Wow Trading Post logo. Augustine laughs, adding because he is Native American and people see him with this bike.

“I get a lot of attention for ‘an Indian building an Indian’ and they giggle about it.”

But the bike is no joke and a display of genuine craftsmanship. For any Indian purist putting the Pow Wow logo was genius and the same craftsmanship is reflected in the restoration.

What’s Next

“I am really fortunate and blessed in [being able to do what I love for a living]. I get to do everything, fabrication, leatherwork, wrought ironwork, and I work on vehicles as well. I just show up to do my hobby day after day. I’m blessed this way. I’m open to the possibility of my own business, but it's just a little far-fetched right now. I do get offers but there is really no market for it in Page. [My work] is personal and for business promotion.”

He adds that the market for custom jobs bottom in 2000 when the recession hit as custom bikes can be very costly.

Augustine’s point of pride is his 5 years entry in the the Lake Powell Cruisers Car Show.

“In the last four years [the car show] has gone through changes. It doesn’t have much allure to people who live farther awary, like Las Vegas. So, we are hoping to change that. This year we’ll be adding a bike class and we are offering a purse donated by Pow Wow. Hopefully we can bring more people to the car show and more motorcycle enthusiasts. Come out and support the community and the businesses. Stop by and say hello to me, and thank-you to everybody [who has supported me and the car show].”

The next Lake Powell Cruisers Car Show is scheduled for July 4th, 2018.