Catch Wild Custom's art deco bike at Art Fair Philippines 2020

Wild Custom shows its Rodsmith-inspired motorcycle at Art Fair Philippines at The Link

Motorcycle fans making their way to Art Fair Philippines 2020 this weekend should make sure to check out the “WILD” art deco motorcycle. The precious metal by custom fabricator Alfredo Aranda can be found on the roof deck of The Link in Makati City from February 21 to 23, 2020.

Sari Ortega of the Crucible Gallery wanted to commission an art bike that could serve as a functional sculpture, so Kit Nicolas of Classic Kit Restorations recommended paying homage to “The Killer” by Craig Rodsmith for Bobby Haas — a modern custom inspired by the front-wheel drive (FWD), radial engine powered motorcycle by Killinger und Freund from the 1930s.

Kit, who specializes in classic motorcycle restoration, knew who’d rise up to the challenge: Alfredo Aranda of Wild Custom. Alfredo has been working with metal practically all his life. His father was a professional fabricator and Alfredo followed in his footsteps.

Alfredo began welding in the fifth grade, did it professionally overseas in Qatar, and spent the 2000s crafting lowrider bikes which were featured in international magazines. In the 2010s, Alfredo began working on custom motorcycles which further grew his reputation as an expert metalsmith.

Kit and Alfredo took inspiration from the work of Craig Rodsmith. Instead of engineering an FWD radial motorcycle, they decided to build an RWD platform using parts off a Honda Wave 110R including the single-cylinder engine, headstock, forks, etc. Alfredo flexed his craftsmanship as a metalsmith while Kit helped modify the design.

The result was “WILD” — a rolling sculpture with a custom steel frame, new fuel tank, curvaceous aluminum bodywork, copper around the leaf spring mounted leather saddle, push button switches, LED lighting, and a retrofuturistic art deco attitude. As a tribute to Rodsmith and Killinger und Freund, “WILD” is a functional interpretation of an iconic design which uses some humble guts from the locally ubiquitous underbone, the Honda Wave. After Art Fair Philippines 2020, the motorcycle will make its way to the RidePH Cafe event in March before going home to Crucible Gallery.