Final Five Custom Builders Selected for AIMExpo’s Custom Bike Showcase

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 — Bike builder Kevin Dunworth, curator of AIMExpo’s 2 Wheel Custom Showcase, has chosen the final five builders for the 2024 AIMExpo showcase. Brian Buttera, Tim Dixon, Oliver Jones, Anthony Robinson, and Paul Wideman will be joining David Chang, Larry Curik, Kacey Elkins, Roy Martin, and Mark Rabideau to showcase the talents and diversity of style in the 2 Wheel Custom Showcase.

“We’ve got the best of the best in this showcase, and AIMExpo attendees are in for a real treat,” Dunworth said. “For all the builders, being able to showcase their custom bike at AIMExpo 2024, with the entire industry watching, is a huge honor.”

Adding to the honor, Rod “Woody” Woodruff, president and CEO of the Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip, will also award one builder with “The Spirit of the Chip” trophy. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, February 7, at the 2 Wheel Custom Showcase.

MORE ABOUT THE BUILDERS

Brian Buttera is owner of Buttera’s Metal Werx in Lakeland, Florida. His love for bikes started while racing BMX and dirt bikes at a very young age, and he always dreamed of building his own one day. After failing in his early attempts, he completed and debuted his first full custom handmade motorcycle at Daytona Bike Week in 2019. That build won awards all around the country, giving Buttera the opportunity to travel the world. Buttera’s second build debuted at Sturgis, became the winner of the prestigious Golden Bolt in Los Angeles and the AMD World Championship.

Tim Dixon, a welder, and fabricator, began building bikes over 30 years ago in the backwoods of Tennessee. Being a local legend with his hotrod and motorcycle builds has led Dixon to international-level competitions, including being named “King of Builders” at the International Motorcycle Shows’ J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show Championship in 2019. He loves old-school choppers, vans, Panheads, Shovelheads, British bikes, and making stories everywhere he goes. Dixon believes in designing and hand-making every possible piece in-house, resulting in true one-off customs. He is never one to focus on what’s cool or mainstream; preferring to build what he “feels” in the moment and to let his work speak for itself.

Oliver Jones was originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and is now working out of Long Beach, California. Jones began building motorcycles in 2008. He has been a Born Free invited builder over eight times, has won Best in Show, Best Invited Builder, Best Modern, Best Japanese, and showcased at the FXR Show three times. In addition to being an invited guest at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show by Mooneyes several times, he has worked directly with Harley-Davison on two custom builds as well as their current “HD collections” apparel program.

Anthony Robinson is the passionate and talented owner of Gasoline and Coffee, a renowned bike-building company and coffee house. With a love for both motorcycles and coffee, Robinson combined his two passions to create a unique business that caters to motorcycle enthusiasts. Growing up around motorcycles, Robinson developed a deep understanding of their mechanics and design. He honed his skills through years of experience and self-study, becoming a master bike builder. Robinson has gained a reputation for his exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, and he continues to inspire others in the industry with his innovative designs and dedication to his craft and passion for coffee.

Paul Wideman, aka “Bareknuckle Paul,” founded Bare Knuckle Performance in 2003 after he recognized his affinity for quality-built motorcycles. What started as building custom chopper frames for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts quickly turned into a full line of hand-made parts for all bikes, from Sportsters to Touring models. Paul is a true craftsman, and the vision and attention to detail he brings to the custom motorcycle industry is second to none.

Tim Dixon