Custom Bobber Built For Motorcycle Missions for State Farm Insurance
Written by Jeff Najar – Horsepower Marketing
What You Need To Know: Roy Martin supports Vets and 1st responders. Roy and daughter Nikki collaberated with Motorcycle Missions (MM) on a custom bike build. MM help Veterans and First Responders to work through their PTS(D) issues through custom bike builds. He developed the bike with his Build 13 team to create a custom bobber motorcycle build that was sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
How it works: The custom bobber motorcycle was built by a great group of veterans and first responders with Roys Toys Customs donating their shop and providing mentorship to this awesome speed demon, sponsored by Jake at State Farm.
No pay, no play: Anything that revolves around a charity needs a sponsor because of the cost of parts and the cost of travel to gain enthusiasm for the charity. That’s where Jake for State Farm Insurance came in. They underwrote the build.
Jake from State Farm came by to be fitted for the bike, but it turns out he was too short for the controls. He looks bigger on TV… Naw, We’re kidding about that. The team didn’t see Jake. NOTE: If Jake makes an appearance, the fellas said that they would be happy to get a quote.
It all Starts with Steel: To get started with a rigid Kraft Tech steel frame with stock cast wheels. The team assembled and built the bike at Roy’s Denver facilities and began a 16 week program each Saturday, working 6 hours a clip to build the custom sled.
When you get Roy and his team collaborating with MM, you get a box of chocolates. You don’t know what you will get, but you know it will be cool.
The team from Roys Toys Customs includes son Tony, daughter Nikki, wife Christy and look-alike Mr. Clean, Roy Martin. The all-star members of 1st responders and vets include Brad Orchard, Marine Corps; Andrew Perreault, Army; Chris Denton, Army; Dustin Forgey, Army; Steve Barr, Army; Matt Walker, First Responder; and Devin Marciano, First Responder.
Build 13: Day 1 – Matt Walker- First Responder, Chris Denton- Army, Steve Barr-Army, Dustin Forgey- Army, Devin Marciano- First Responder, Andrew Perreault- Army, Roy Martin- First responder, and Roy of Roys Toys Customs
Since the build really started post COVID, the supply chain has sustained issues in getting parts to the crew in a timely manner. You know you have a problem when money and relationships can’t solve the issue.
So, what to do? Since Nikki’s chopper was disassembled and waiting for paint, Roy cannibalizes a piece here and there. Now Nikki is as picky as her dad, and to say she was not amused would be an understatement.
Even so, the show must go on!
The Build 13 Team was learning from a master builder. And it was reciprocated.
“I’m so picky about what I like… I visualize what I want and like,” commented Martin. “This time I let up on the reins and let the group work on stuff. I mean, that was a big growth moment for myself, to trust in the guys and in the process. I realized if I do everything for them, then they’re not learning.”
The team enjoyed the participation from sponsor State Farm. It turns out that the build became one of the featured items to celebrate the firm’s 100th anniversary in business.
Roy said that they didn’t do custom bike building in a vacuum; it takes a biker village. After determining the design, Roy broke out his cellphone and started making calls.
One of his first calls was to famed and West Coast painter Taylor Schultz. He shot the State Farm red paint job. Austin’s Matt Hurtado of Working Man’s Custom provided the custom saddle. Pure power and sound was provided by D&D Bobcat exhaust. Anything Goes 74 provided a slick oil tank. Of course, Nikki Martin’s bike provided all the odds and ends.
The bike has received outstanding reviews and State Farm has developed outstanding media.
The engine began life as a Twin Cam Harley Davidson 96” motor. Roy and the Build 13 team rebuilt the mil including rod bearings, gaskets, pistons rings, and a new oil pump. Besides the engine build, Martin and the team worked with BDL on their new cam cover so they could run a single fire ignition. This approach removes a lot of wires and provides a cleaner look.
The USA-made BDL Cam Cover Conversion Kit for Harley Twin Cam is a slick unit. Builders can now convert Twin Cam ignitions to earlier Evolution-style electronic ignition. And this allows the use of aftermarket Evo wiring harnesses. The BDL cam cover is made from 6061 T-6 billet aluminum with a polished finish.
The Roy Style: Roy has a truly unique artistic style that is instantly recognizable. It includes over-the-top paint schemes, integrated themes, and bikes that are made to be ridden. Despite being follicly challenged, he uses his creativity and talent to create stunning pieces of kinetic art that leave a lasting impression on the viewer. His style is a blend of modern and traditional techniques, and he is not afraid to experiment with new materials or approaches in creating a distinctive custom bike.
Overall, Roy is a true inspiration, showing that being hair-impaired does not define one’s ability to create beautiful and impactful rolling art.
To build the bike of your dreams, click here to connect with Roy at Roys Toys Customs.
