Falcon Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
Falcon Motorcycles makes custom motorcycles in Los Angeles, California
. It was founded in 2008 by industrial designer Ian Barry
and his partner Amaryllis Knight
, and specializes in the design, engineering and fabrication of one of a kind machines, built around the derelict engines of pre- and post-war
British motorcycles.
. The company and its motorcycles have been featured in newspapers and magazines, and credited by Popular Mechanics
s Nicolas Stecher with, "helping kick-start the British track-racer movement".
The Bullet, based on a 1950 Triumph Thunderbird
, is the first in Falcon's Concept 10 collection, each of which is to use pre- and post-war British engines with racing pedigrees. Commissioned by skateboarder and actor Jason Lee
, over 1,000 hours went into fabricating the board track racer
inspired Bullet. Each Falcon Motorcycle was named after a species of Falcon
.
The second motorcycle in the collection, the Kestrel Falcon was launched at the 2010 Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, California
, where it won the Best Custom Award. Barry said it took over 2,000 hours to fabricate. It was built around a 1970 Triumph Bonneville
engine that was cut in half and modified to work with a BSA transmission. Ten inches of the original Triumph headstock were used, and some other pieces such as a BSA
transmission and the tires, while rest of the Kestrel was fabricated by Falcon, including the front forks, frame, fuel tank, and aluminum cylinders. The Kestrel was named one of Cycle World
's 2010 "World's coolest bikes" and was noted for its "its purity and depth in both aesthetic and functional execution" and for the "mind-bending volume of time spent on the details, and its hand carved, graceful and organic shapes."
Falcon says remaining eight in the Concept 10 series will use engines from a BSA, an AJS
, a Brough Superior
, a Vincent
, a Norton, a Velocette
, an Ariel
and a Rudge.
featured Falcon in their national "Start Booming" TV ads promoting their Open, or Plum Card, small business products, lauding businesses for innovation and success.
and Queens of the Stone Age
frontman Josh Homme and actor Giovanni Ribisi
. In 2008, after a decade of building bikes under his own name, he started Falcon Motorcycles with his business partner and fiancée Amaryllis Knight
.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It was founded in 2008 by industrial designer Ian Barry
Ian Barry
Ian Barry is an award-winning industrial designer, and co-owner of Falcon Motorcycles, with Amaryllis Knight. He plays guitar in the progressive metal band Black Math Horseman.- Career :...
and his partner Amaryllis Knight
Amaryllis Knight
Amaryllis Knight, co-owns and operates Falcon Motorcycles LLC, based in Los Angeles, California, with her fiancee, motorcycle and industrial designer Ian Barry...
, and specializes in the design, engineering and fabrication of one of a kind machines, built around the derelict engines of pre- and post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
British motorcycles.
Motorcycles
Falcon Motorcycles' first motorcycle, the Bullet Falcon, won the Custom Culture Award at the 2008 Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’EleganceLegend Of The Motorcycle
The annual Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Elegance is a competitive event held on a 44-mile scenic loop that begins at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, California and follows the coast down, along, and back up the mountain ridge-top that overlooks the Pacific Ocean...
. The company and its motorcycles have been featured in newspapers and magazines, and credited by Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
s Nicolas Stecher with, "helping kick-start the British track-racer movement".
The Bullet, based on a 1950 Triumph Thunderbird
Triumph Thunderbird
The Triumph Thunderbird is a British motorcycle that was introduced by Triumph in 1949 and produced in its original form until 1966. The name was used three more times for new and distinct Triumph models.-Original model:...
, is the first in Falcon's Concept 10 collection, each of which is to use pre- and post-war British engines with racing pedigrees. Commissioned by skateboarder and actor Jason Lee
Jason Lee (actor)
Jason Michael Lee is an American actor and skateboarder known for his role as the title character on the NBC television series My Name is Earl, his portrayal of Syndrome in the film The Incredibles, his role as Dave Seville in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and his work with director Kevin...
, over 1,000 hours went into fabricating the board track racer
Board track racing
Board track, or motordrome, racing was a type of motorsport popular in the United States between the second and third decades of the 20th century. Competition was conducted on oval race courses with surfaces composed of wooden planks...
inspired Bullet. Each Falcon Motorcycle was named after a species of Falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
.
The second motorcycle in the collection, the Kestrel Falcon was launched at the 2010 Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
, where it won the Best Custom Award. Barry said it took over 2,000 hours to fabricate. It was built around a 1970 Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
engine that was cut in half and modified to work with a BSA transmission. Ten inches of the original Triumph headstock were used, and some other pieces such as a BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
transmission and the tires, while rest of the Kestrel was fabricated by Falcon, including the front forks, frame, fuel tank, and aluminum cylinders. The Kestrel was named one of Cycle World
Cycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
's 2010 "World's coolest bikes" and was noted for its "its purity and depth in both aesthetic and functional execution" and for the "mind-bending volume of time spent on the details, and its hand carved, graceful and organic shapes."
Falcon says remaining eight in the Concept 10 series will use engines from a BSA, an AJS
AJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
, a Brough Superior
Brough Superior
Brough Superior motorcycles, sidecars, and motor cars were made by George Brough in his Brough Superior works on Haydn Road in Nottingham, England, from 1919 to 1940. They were dubbed the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" by H. D. Teague of The Motor Cycle newspaper. Approximately 3,048 of 19 models...
, a Vincent
Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...
, a Norton, a Velocette
Velocette
Velocette is the name given to motorcycles that were made by Veloce Ltd, in Hall Green, Birmingham, England. One of several motorcycle manufacturers in Birmingham, Velocette was a small, family-owned firm, selling far fewer hand-built motorcycles than the giant BSA, Norton or Triumph concerns...
, an Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
and a Rudge.
Marketing
In July 2010, American ExpressAmerican Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
featured Falcon in their national "Start Booming" TV ads promoting their Open, or Plum Card, small business products, lauding businesses for innovation and success.
Founder and designer
Ian Barry is a industrial designer who designed and built motorcycles based on British brands for over 10 years. His clients included Them Crooked VulturesThem Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
and Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
frontman Josh Homme and actor Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi is an American actor. His film credits include Gone in 60 Seconds, Boiler Room, Saving Private Ryan, The Mod Squad, The Gift, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Lost in Translation and more recently, Public Enemies and Avatar...
. In 2008, after a decade of building bikes under his own name, he started Falcon Motorcycles with his business partner and fiancée Amaryllis Knight
Amaryllis Knight
Amaryllis Knight, co-owns and operates Falcon Motorcycles LLC, based in Los Angeles, California, with her fiancee, motorcycle and industrial designer Ian Barry...
.