Clear. That’s the phrase the Del Prado brothers hear most frequently. Clear. Standing of their store in New River, AZ, the place every thing has its place, it’s clear that is no coincidence. The security goggles sit folded subsequent to the electrical tape atop a vibrant crimson device cupboard, the instruments tucked quietly inside. There’s a shelf for paint, a desk for enterprise, and a piece bench divides the room into halves, a facet for every brother. However this isn’t the gorgeous face of some bought-and-paid-for store.
“Our mother and I are each neat freaks,” Justin tells me. “I may need a dysfunction. I don’t assume I can perform amongst muddle.” Then they describe ironing their shirts to go bag groceries as youngsters. Certainly, clear is the Del Prado lifestyle.
But it surely wasn’t till they jumped ship from company life (they each labored as managers in finance corporations till somewhat flick referred to as Battle Membership impressed them to desert their stations) that the creed would earn them a popularity as high bike builders. Since then, they’ve develop into identified worldwide for his or her spit-shined aesthetic, bending our minds with one imaginative Ironhead-based construct after one other.
Wanting over their catalog of labor, considered one of these items will not be fairly just like the others. We wished to take a more in-depth take a look at one specifically: the Seaside Cruiser. Because it seems, this bike wasn’t constructed for a buyer, however for Justin’s private each day use, impressed by his previous each day journey.
“The important thing design affect on this bike,” says youthful brother Jarrod, “was truly Justin’s 1958 VW Bug, which he’d beforehand restored. After having fun with that automotive for a number of years, he ended up promoting it, and later regretted it. The paint scheme and total model of this bike had been impressed by that automotive to assist Justin considerably hold its reminiscence alive. The paint codes are equivalent.”
It did greater than hold the reminiscence alive. “It was actually a sleeper,” Jarrod mentioned. “It regarded classic and enjoyable, nevertheless it was truly fairly fast! Though we didn’t rebuild the motor, somebody beforehand had, and will need to have upgraded to some scorching cams. Our seat-of-the-pants dyno guesses about 65 horsepower, which moved this little machine alongside properly.” (Inventory Ironheads carried 45-50 horses.)
I requested if the Seaside Cruiser was a departure from their model. “It’s actually probably the most comfy bike we’ve constructed. The mini-beach bars lend to a pleasant, easy-going using place. Most of our bikes have an aggressive clip-ons stance.”
Realizing how far they’ve pushed the envelope already, I ponder the place these two, who’ve been greatest mates since beginning, are headed subsequent. To this, Jarrod says, “We simply completed a 154 hp turbo Sportster. The longer term retains getting quicker! And we’ve obtained our first customized Triumph within the works. Together with a number of cafe-style Sportsters. We’re already booked till 2015, the long run is wanting superior for DP Customsand we’re having a blast!”
This text first appeared in situation 13 of Iron & Air Journal, and is reproduced right here below license.
Phrases by Robert Hoekman Jr. | Photographs by Jed Strahm
