Meet the 32 Invited Builders of Born-Free 17
The Dudes
Event Spotlight
Born-Free 17
Invited Builders
This Weekend
June 2026 • By The Dudes at LiveTheGnar
Every year Born-Free selects the world’s best custom motorcycle builders to debut a brand new bike at the show. These are the 32 Invited Builders for Born-Free 17 — competing for $10,000 in prize money and a trip to the Mooneyes Show in Yokohama, Japan.
Born-Free 17 — June 27-28, 2026. Oak Canyon Park, Silverado, California. Photo: Born-Free Show
What Is an Invited Builder?
Being selected as a Born-Free Invited Builder is one of the most respected honors in the custom motorcycle world. These aren’t people writing checks for booth space. They’re builders — real builders — who have been handpicked by Mike Davis and Grant Peterson to spend the year building a brand new bike specifically for Born-Free and debuting it in front of the main stage.
Every Invited Builder is competing for $10,000 in prize money and a trip for themselves and their motorcycle to the Mooneyes Hot Rod and Custom Show in Yokohama, Japan each December. The bikes you see at this show are not garage queens — they are the result of a year’s worth of work, pressure, and passion from some of the most talented people in the craft.
The Born-Free 17 Invited Builder class. Photo: Born-Free Show
Builder Spotlights
We were able to get eyes on builds from 10 of this year’s Invited Builders ahead of the show. Here’s a look at what’s coming to Oak Canyon Park this weekend.
Builder
@keepitcountryuk
Lloyd — United Kingdom
Over 12 years building bikes. Fully bespoke custom parts and full builds — seats, forks, handlebars, sissy bars, exhausts, frames. Everything made to measure, every piece one of a kind.
Builder
@jelly_beans_chopper
Jelly ジェリー — Japan
Known for strikingly creative custom parts — including clear acrylic foot pegs that make you do a double take. The kind of builder who finds angles others don’t even know exist.
Builder
@bike_garage_kokoro_bgk
Bike Garage Kokoro — Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
One of several Japanese builders representing Born-Free this year, Bike Garage Kokoro brings the precision and obsessive attention to detail that Japan’s custom scene is known for worldwide.
Builder
@superiorvintageiron
Nick Turner — San Jose, California
Automotive fleet mechanic by trade, chopper builder by calling. Nick’s '55 Panhead sat unloved and unfinished until a Born-Free People’s Champ entry submission kicked him into gear. One Instagram post changed everything.
Builder
@sugarbabycycles
Ben Lomond, California — Aluminum chopper parts
60K+ followers and counting. Sugar Baby Cycles out of Ben Lomond, CA specializes in aluminum chopper parts and full custom builds. A previous Born-Free Invited Builder — this time they’re back with something new.
Builder
@luckmc
Masayuki Sugihara — Kyoto, Japan — One-of-a-kind chopper builds
52K+ followers. Masayuki Sugihara built his reputation one singular chopper at a time out of Kyoto — meticulous, philosophical about every detail, trusted by riders worldwide including Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Luck MC is what happens when someone truly refuses to compromise.
Builder
@faultlinekustoms
Taunton, Massachusetts — Innovative custom repair & restoration
Featured in Easyriders Magazine. Won 1st place in the Antique Class at the 2024 Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show — one of the most prestigious custom competitions in the world. Known for flat track-inspired choppers that balance old-school form with high-performance builds.
Builder
@anthony73robinson
Anthony Robinson — Gasoline & Coffee — Lancaster, California
Born-Free veteran. Anthony Robinson out of Lancaster, CA has been a fixture in the SoCal custom scene, bringing a distinctly California perspective to chopper culture. A previous Invited Builder with a reputation for builds that are as rideable as they are beautiful.
Builder
@ledsledcustoms
Patrick Patterson — Dayton, Ohio — American-made chopper components since 2002
57K+ followers. Pat Patterson has been supplying high-quality American-made chopper components since 2002 — Invader wheels, kicker kits, hardtails, fenders. Self-taught, started in his garage, grew into one of the most innovative shops in the country. The Invader wheel lives on through Led Sled.
All Born-Free 17 Invited Builders
The full list. Follow every builder on Instagram to see what’s coming to the show floor.
@stance_ryo
@keepitcountryuk
@jelly_beans_chopper
@bike_garage_kokoro_bgk
@superiorvintageiron
@sugarbabycycles
@seven_motorcycles
@luckmc
@faultlinekustoms
@dirtybiker
@anthony73robinson
@pinkel_party
@ledsledcustoms
@cheetah_tokyo
@bradomiller
@hamanscustom
@shais_garage
@getalifebrook
@SNKBLD
@wretched_hive
@cherryscompany
@mc.cats.yusaku
@bootleg26
@panammotorcycles
@stoopmotorcycle_morry
@rf55
@_krispy.co_
@longbrotherschoppers
@carmine680d
@pangeaspeed
@standard_Cycles
@tradercodyschopper
Born-Free 17 Invited Builders. Photo: Born-Free Show
Harley-Davidson Invited Builders
In addition to the main Invited Builder class, Born-Free 17 also features a dedicated Harley-Davidson builder group:
@jacob_conard
@fury36
@boostedbrad
@mymachinist
The Show
This is what Born-Free looks like on the ground. 25,000 people, hundreds of bikes on the grass, and the kind of energy you can’t manufacture.
The show grounds at Born-Free California. Photo: Born-Free Show
Born-Free California — Oak Canyon Park, Silverado. Photo: Born-Free Show
Born-Free is This Weekend
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