by Michael Satterfield - Photos by Lucas Kepner - 03/12/2024
As Lucas and I walked into the Angel Motoworks shop for the first time, I was struck by the atmosphere. Despite being in the heart of Los Angeles, the shop is mostly quiet, tucked away in the back of a former aircraft parts factory from the Second World War. It doesn't feel like most motorcycle shops, it's spotless, the walls are a natural wood shiplap from the 1940s, sunlight streaks in via the large skylights and windows, a row of motorcycles greets you as you walk in, some completed projects, others waiting their turn.
Lucas was setting up his camera to film an interview later, as I made my way around the shop. I looked at bikes in the lineup, and others on the lifts being worked on, and I couldn't help but notice the attention to detail. It was apparent that Angel Motoworks takes pride in not just the final product but also the process that goes into making it.
We were greeted by Remy, the Creative Director, who had just returned from a ride, he offered to show me around. We started with some of the shop's backstory, the shop originally launched as BAAK USA, the US licensee of French custom motorcycle shop BAAK. But just days before, they decided to expand beyond building bikes that BAAK offered parts for and rebranded as Angel Motoworks. Their goal? To be the ultimate bespoke motorcycle shop in Los Angeles, building bikes tailored to the client's specifications, be it a Royal Enfield, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, or any other bike.
Remy even showed us a special project for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride for a brand that makes small displacement mopeds. It was fascinating to see the creative process in action. Remy explained how they start with a sketch and work with the client to refine the design until it's perfect. Then, the team gets to work, meticulously crafting each part of the motorcycle to bring the vision to life.
Next, we moved on to look at a few bikes they had recently completed, a black Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 which a customer was coming to pick up the following day. Another Royal Enfield red with a baseball glove and brown leather seat. Both were beautiful, but as Remy pointed out one had around $15,000 spent on it, and the other only had around $3,500 in parts and accessories. At Angel Motoworks they like to allow customers to build their dream bike in phases, you can bring a bike in for some cosmetic changes and bolt-ons like exhaust, or you can have custom wheels, brakes, shocks, and all the go-fast goodies as well as the clean aesthetic. It was clear that Angel Motoworks had the expertise to handle any upgrade or modification, no matter how complex.
What stood out to me was the attention to performance and safety. Remy explained how the team doesn't just focus on aesthetics but also on making sure that the motorcycle performs at its best. Whether improving the horsepower or the handling, Angel Motoworks goes above and beyond to ensure that every motorcycle that leaves its shop is a masterpiece in both form and function. They even work on classic bikes, using modern technology to improve the reliability of vintage motorcycles while still maintaining the originality and style that makes those motorcycles so special.
We sat down and recorded a short interview, which you can watch here, afterwards, we met Jeremy, who was described as a bit of a magician when it comes to building motorcycles, and Laura, the storyteller who captures and shares the essence of their work on social media. It was clear that every person in the shop played an essential role in bringing their clients' visions to life.
As Lucas and I headed out on the next leg of our journey, I couldn't help but feel inspired. The passion, precision, and attention to detail that I saw at Angel Motoworks were truly remarkable. It was clear that this was a place where dreams became a reality, and I couldn't wait to see what they would create next. For more visit angelmotoworks.com.
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