James Hammarhead founder of Hammarhead Industries designs by this motto "Honor the past but never look back". His designs embody simplicity while creating a motorcycle that is functional, not designed as a fad or a statement, just hard core raw machines built on modern technology.
James has written "My mission is to build elemental motorcycles outside of the plastic-encrusted mainstream motorcycle industry. Hammarhead bikes honor the taut lines and lean form of the iconic motorcycles of the 1950’s. Each build is executed with an eye towards repurposing, recycling and efficiency. Hammarhead Industries provides minimalist motorcycles that are prepared for the modern world. Most are quiet, some are silent and all are built to be ridden."
James has developed a specific style that has caught the eye of many motorcycle riders as one of his creations goes by. We asked James to expand on his design philosophy and what the future might hold for his company, his reply was "In April 2010 we introduced two street Scrambler models that pushed the genre to its logical conclusion: spare, stripped bikes that are barely legal in most states but that can be ridden harder than the bikes they are based on. I see these bikes as modern not retro.
Modernism really nailed the idiom that form follows function: these bikes are minimal so nothing gets in the way of the experience. At the crux of every build I return to the Mies van der Rohe quote "Less is more." It turns out that "less" is really hard to achieve if design is by committee. To control the process I design the bikes that I need to build -- and which can be iterated for a customer in an efficient and timely build process. This has worked out well with three Jack Pines being built in 2010 and two Woodsmans as well. I think 2011 will be a strong year for these models and we will introduce a third ICE bike in the spring."
Hammarhead Industries has also designed and produced an electric cafe racer. James stated "I felt this bike need to be built to show the potential of the off the shelf components available in the EV marketplace. In a way, the Volta 102 is a very simple bike -- batteries, controller, and motor. No gears just twist and go. To ride this bike is a blast. I liken it to a hovercraft that slips silently along with the rushing air and tires providing a new symphony of speed." We hear that there are plans for a naked version of the Voltra in the works. Checkout Hammarhead Industries at www.hammarhead.com .
