Source: Motorcycle Cruiser –
Fifteen years on, The One Moto Show has become an awesome celebration of moto-culture with three days of food, music, art, and spectacular bikes like this H-D Panhead. (Andrew Cherney/)Call it a moto-themed quinceañera, or call it the celebration of a decade and a half of two-wheel madness, but either way we knew that the 15th edition of Portland’s The One Motorcycle Show was gonna be one for the ages. From a humble beer-fueled collection of random vintage and handbuilt bikes scattered around a ramshackle warehouse in north Portland to its current riverfront digs at the hulking Zidell Yards Barge Building, The One Show has evolved into a multiday hootenanny far bigger than founder/coffeehouse master/chief janitor Thor Drake imagined at the time. To quote: “We started out with no idea how we’d pull this off, let alone what might happen afterward. It’s hard to believe how this has all come together!”For the fourth year running, the ginormous Barge Building hosted hundreds of fascinating builds, with everything from vintage Panheads to MotoAmerica racers to clapped-out minis and everything in between. In addition to the usual beers and bands, you could find the trippy helmets of the 21 Helmets art display, the Direct Current electric custom sub-show, and this year a full slate of flat-track races from Milwaukee’s Flat Out Friday gang.Related: The One Show Is Bigger Than Ever for 2022Mike Aldridge of MidCity SmashedBurger fame won the coveted Champ of Champs award—aka Best In Show—at this year’s event with his Harley Low Rider–based custom. With a Barnett clutch, Brembo dual discs, Galfer rotors, Brock’s swingarm, 24K gold Jade Affiliated wheels, Fox QSR shock and way, way more—the level of detail on this 2001 bike is insane, and the photo does not do it justice. (@mrpixelhead/)In keeping with tradition, closing-day ceremonies had Drake crowning the top builders with handcrafted custom-made trophies—in the form of axes from Shwood Eyewear—denoting the various One Show categories, with MidCity Mike Aldridge snagging the coveted Champ of Champs prize. Our favorite category, though, had to be the Polished Turd award, given to bikes that “started ugly” but ended up pretty. Check out that bike as well as some of the rest of those bad boys below.Neil “Morto” Olson won the Most DIY award for his 1949 Intrepid/Lutefisk Speed Single machine. The prize is handed out to bikes that “spare no expense on zip-ties and duct tape.” (Andrew Cherney/)Koh Sakaguchi and Suicide Customs Inc.’s H-D Sportster-based stunner won the I Can’t Afford This prize (for bikes that redefine “high-end”) at the Builder Awards in the 2024 The One Moto Show. (Andrew Cherney/)An enigma in the big-bore world of Indian, the single-cylinder side-valve 250cc Brave was produced in limited numbers by Brockhouse Engineering in England and never caught on in the US. Still cool to spot this bike at the show, brought in by Spryt Olson. (Andrew Cherney/)Theresa Contreras walked away with the Female Builder award for the 2015 BMW R nineT she built with Jessi Combs (RIP). Eight years after completion, the bike still draws lots of eyeballs with its Schwinn-style flake seat, custom fabricated front fairing, billet wheels, and Theresa’s custom paint job. (@mrpixelhead / The One Moto Show/)The Diamond In The Rough prize, doled out to wonderful gems “that go unnoticed” went to Robert Trottier’s very thoroughly detailed 2009 Indian Chief. (@mrpixelhead / The One Moto Show/)Some bikes just look better in the light, and Aero Precision Metal Works’ hardtail build, dubbed “Cash Money,” is definitely one of those. Inside the show, we couldn’t make out all the incredible work—from the 96ci Ultima Shovel engine to the handmade frame and tank, to the handcrafted springer front end and wild paint from Coffin Garage—so thanks to Corey for sending this image. (Aero Precision Metal Works/)Clancy Peterson’s 1978 Honda CB400T will proudly wear the Best Polished Turd title for 2024. Nice! (@mrpixelhead / The One Moto Show /)A very cool and clean 1962 BSA Rocket, in full color. (Andrew Cherney/)Leave it up to metalworking master Cristian Sosa to snap up the Electric Cowboy award, given to battery-powered customs that go above and beyond. The 2024 Ryvid Anthem from Sosa Metalworks is truly one of a kind. (@mrpixelhead / The One Moto Show/)Although it didn’t win anything, Keith Young’s Honda CB550-powered “Holy Bike” had a crowd of admirers for much of the show. Fun fact: It’s got 550 holes in it. (Andrew Cherney/)Also featured in the electric-themed show-within-a-show Direct Current display was Mitchell Witkamp’s lit-up 1995 BMW K1100LT, which snagged top honors for Best Weld. (@Mrpixelhead / One Moto Show/)Winning the J&P Cycles Catalog Customs prize was Caleb Smythe’s 1980 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. The award goes to DIY guys and gals with a project bike having any aftermarket retailer/catalog combination of parts. Pretty loose rules, but it basically encourages anybody with even a bare-bones build with parts to enter. (@mrpixelhead / The One Moto Show/)Just a super-clean AMF-era Harley-Davidson. (Andrew Cherney/)Founder Thor Drake picked out the One Show award himself, with this year’s prize going to Alex Stoos’ 2012 Harley Sportster. (@Mrpixelhead/)Theresa Contreras was really digging her axe-shaped Female Builder award. (@mrpixelhead / The One Moto Show/)See you at next year’s edition of The One Moto Show. (Andrew Cherney/)
