CHECKING IN WITH
Older, Wiser… Woker? WORDS: CHIP KASTELNIK, JORDAN MASTAGNI PHOTOS: MIKEY VAN, ALEX CHAPMAN, AND JORDAN MASTAGNI
f you’ve been following anything performance related in the custom Harley scene for the past decade or so, then you’ve definitely heard of San Diego Customs. In fact, they’re kind of responsible for the overall FXR and Dyna craze that took the world by storm. Buying up old FXRs and turning them into street-eating rippers with fuel-injected Twin Cams, and all the top-shelf suspension and braking components was definitely not a thing that was happening around the world. But it definitely was a thing happening at San Diego Customs pre-FXR craze. We’ve had a long relationship with the crew at San Diego Customs and wanted to stop by to catch up with co-owners, Chip Kastelnik and Mikey Van, since it had been quite a few years since we’d seen what they’ve been up to. Let’s just say quite a lot has changed while quite a bit remains the same.
the same shit I do everyday. Fighting the powers that be, trying to maintain the goal of getting into the future.
Hot Bike: Heya Chip, it’s been a while…what you been up to, old pal?
CK: It seems the industry has taken on a new identity. In this era of inclusion and wokeness, in which the idea of actually doing your own thing and being original has been replaced with doing
Chip Kastelnik: Hey guys! Long time for sure. I’ve just been doing
76 HOTBIKE.COM
HB: Are you excited that Hot Bike is back? Why? CK: Super stoked, glad to be a part of the new team. It’s refreshing to see the resurgence of print. It’s always nice to look at something other than a phone. Hot Bike has been a staple of the motorcycle industry for over 50 years, and its history holds the truths as to how the industry got to where it is today, and who got us all here. HB: In the past four years since we last featured one of your bikes, what’s changed in the industry since then?
