We ran into Matt Hotch at the Biker Fusion party at the Dog House on Main St. in Daytona. Hotch is a master builder who learned the trade the hard way – he taught himself. His passion for mechanics started early. He began building
Matt Hotch still reins as the only Biker Build-Off Grand Champion.
go-karts and mini-bikes in his parent’s garage when he was only ten years old. Hotch would hone those skills to the point where his work started garnering serious attention amongst custom motorcycle builders. In 2004, he won his first
Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off with
Chingon, and would become the first and only Grand Champion the following year with his second win with the retro-styled
VLux. His creations are artistic and functional, and Hotch’s talent is still a much sought-after commodity.
Motorcycle USA: How’s business for you?
Matt Hotch: It’s going. Parts are slow, but bikes are busy. Which is funny, because bikes are my passion but parts are my money.
Motorcycle USA: What’s your latest project?
Matt Hotch: I’ve got a twin carb, twin front cylinder knucklehead that I’ve been working on for three years.
Motorcycle USA: Are you getting many orders for one-off customs?
Matt Hotch: Yeh, we’re staying busy.
Motorcycle USA: What’s your big seller right now?
Matt Hotch: Everything’s down, between the f%#* knock-offs and the economy.
Motorcycle USA: Where do you think the industry is headed?
Matt Hotch: I think it’s headed like it always does. It’s cyclical. Bikes are bikes, and people are doing things themselves, more like they did in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
