Schumacher purchases the new 2007 Von Dutch Kustom Bobber

Von Dutch exploding in Europe.....

Find the amazing bike that Owner/Designer: Alex Mardikian, Vice President of Worldwide sales: Ron Starrantino and the talented crew at Von Dutch Kustom Cycles has just finished building, for Ralf Schumacher, the formula 1 driver. A major photo shoot has been booked the media, for the upcoming week.
A true work of art and a great expression of what Von Dutch is all about.

Here is what else is going on at Von Dutch:
The new Von Dutch store in New York (109 Spring Street) in the SoHo district is rocking and blowing up scene this current spring.

Fred Segal on Melrose is carrying Von Dutch Vintage and is a strong relationship.

With European partners, a major marketing push for Europe underway,
commencing with a Von Dutch / Quentin Tarantino party at the Cannes 2007 Film Festival,
combined with a huge advertising campaign in pan-European media.
The Von Dutch Optical collection is launching this weekend at the MIDO Fair in Milan.
One step at a time…….

Now heres a little bit about the Man, the latest 2007 Dutch Angel owner:

Birthplace: Hürth (Germany)
Birthdate: 30. June 1975
Nationality: German
Height: 1,78 m
Weight: 73 kg
Maritial status: married with Cora and a Son David (born 23.10.2001)
Hobbys: Cart, Tennis, Cycling, Backgammon and soon the open road on his Von Dutch
Favourite music: Softrock
Favourite dish: Pasta
Favoruite drink: Applejuice spritzer
First drive in a racingcar: At the age three in a cart
First racingcar: BMW ADAC Formel Junior
First race: July 1992 in a BMW ADAC Formel Junior, Norisring, Nürnberg (Germany)
First victory: Cart-club race at the age of seven

Successes before F1
- 1. NRW Kart-Pokal (1991)

- 1. Kart-Gold-Cup (1991)

- Deutscher Junioren-Kartmeister (1991)

- Deutscher Kart-Vizemeister (1992)

- Formel-ADAC-Junior (1992)

- Formel-ADAC-Junior-Vizemeister (1993)

- Einstieg in die Formel 3 (1993)

- 3. Deutsche Formel 3 (1994)

- 2. Deutsche Formel 3 (1995)

- Sieger Formel-3-GP in Macao (1995)

- Formel-Nippon-Meister (1996)

- 2. Japanische GT-Meisterschaft (1996)

Formula-1-Debut
09.03.1997 GP Australia / Melbourne

Career in F1:
- Jordan (1997-1998)

- Williams (1999)

- BMW-Williams (2000-2004)

- Panasonic Toyota Racing (since 2005)

First points
13.04.1997 GP Argentinien / Buenos Aires in the third race of career

A Tribute to a bike that sheds its metal: The ART of the BOBBER

Art of the Bobber

Author: Spencer Drate, Judith Salavetz, Alex Mardikian

Introduction by: Jim Babchak

“[Art of the Bobber] captures the rebel spirit and the kustom kulture of the ultimate custom bike as never before. Every bobber is beautifully photographed, emphasizing the smooth edges and geometric shapes, creating a whole new dimension and perception for the reader.” Born to RideThe old-school look is back. Gone are the stretched-out, chromed-up, candy-coated luxury choppers that cost more than the garage they’re stored in and only see action twice a year for fear of scuffing the foot pegs. The world of custom motorcycles begins and ends with the bobber. Sleek, fast, light, and dripping with character and personality, these bikes are built to ride. With classic 1940s and '50s styling, bobbed fenders, stock frames, vintage parts, and old-school paint jobs, the bobbers of today are using new techniques and technology to pay homage to the riders and builders who started it all. Authors and designers Spencer Drate, Judith Salavetz and Alex Mardikian have compiled the photographs and stories of 49 hot bobber builders, from famous names like Von Dutch, Dave Perewitz, the late Indian Larry, and Arlen Ness, to small neighborhood shops attracting major national attention. With essays on the history of the bobber and the future of the industry from noted motorcycle journalists and insiders, The Art of the Bobber is a treasury of classic and modern custom bobbers at your fingertips.

Street Chopper Editorial on the Von Dutch Stray

Von Dutch Kustom's Loner Chop Nothing Ordinary
By Taryn Funcheon
Photography: Eric Ellis

Street Chopper Magazine

The little things in life have a funny habit of making their way into the bigger picture, especially when people least expect it. For Alex Mardikian, owner of Von Dutch Kustom Cycles in Rancho Cucamonga, California, the chopper spread across these pages is proof of it. This build started with a simple autograph on a ball cap.
Back in 2004 during Daytona Bike Week, Alex was showing off his new series of choppers. The line-up included "Cruel World," a tricked out rigid chop that seemed to grab a lot of people's attention at the show, especially Joel Carson's. After the aforementioned autographed ball cap, Joel began picking Alex's brain about every square inch of Cruel World's frame, including what type of bike could be built from its design. After some small talk, Joel thanked him for the info and promised he'd keep in contact.

Joel kept his word, and in fact, kept in touch with Alex for over a year before a decision was made to build a chopper that would incorporate a few of Joel's specifications-the rest would be a surprise. "It was funny at first because sometimes we didn't even talk about building a bike, then he'd throw ideas out in other conversations, or send pictures of pin-up girls and I'd wonder where he was going with all of it," Alex recalled.

When it comes to trust, Joel put complete faith into Alex's abilities, as Joel wouldn't see the bike until it was finished. "It was like blind faith," Alex said, "he never knew what he was getting, but believed it'd be exactly what he wanted in the end." Joel wanted a Softail design, so Alex started with his '05 Softail style chopper frame with 43 degrees of rake in the neck, 10 inches of upward stretch in the single downtube, and 5 inches added to the backbone. The frame is connected to a Von Dutch Kustom's swingarm with a built-in 26-inch fender, while the signals and license holder is integrated into the axle housing with signature billet covers. Suspension for the swingarm is handled by a Progressive Airtail system, modified by Von Dutch, while the air compressor hides in the oil bag. Joel liked the look of a springer, so Alex modified a narrow glide springer frontend from Denver's Choppers with integrated Von Dutch Flying Eye series handlebars and tree attachment.

Another must-have for Joel on the bike was the fleur-de-lis, a French styled design often found on jewelry, like Joel's rings. So Alex incorporated the fleur-de-lis into a lot of the bike's components, like the wheels and gas cap. "I wanted to do something special for Joel, so I got crazy with the sheetmetal," Alex said. The gas tank was shaped with a flared over and under tapering back and was finished off with a pin-up girl on top. The custom oval oil bag is trick too, with integrated control panel and air gauge. "There is so many hidden details, and metal's always a great place to start," Alex said.

Von Dutch Kustom Cycles offers motorcycles to all markets...

JADA TOYS REV UP with VON DUTCH KUSTOM CYCLES with line of DIECAST COLLECTIBLE MOTORCYCLES

A cutting edge manufacturer of customized die cast cars, JADA Toys Inc., announced plans of an exclusive licensing agreement with custom motorcycle manufacturer,
Von Dutch Kustom Cycles based in Los Angeles, California. The partnership calls for the two innovative companies to produce a series of die cast replicas of motorcycles from custom builder Von Dutch Kustom Cycles designed by Chief Designer and CEO, Alex Mardikian. The die-cast versions of motorcycles include product line models such as; the Dutch Angel, Dragnut, LeftCoast, Cruelworld, Lowbrow, Mayhem, Killer B, Stray, Rumbler with other collectable die cast motorcycles to follow.

About JADA Toys, Inc.
Headquartered in City of Industry, California with satellite offices and showrooms in New York City, and Hong Kong, and manufacturing facilities in Asia, Jada Toys, Inc., is the leading die cast manufacturer in the customized vehicle category. The company holds licenses with the world’s car and motorcycle manufacturers including Hummer, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Lexus, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and others. First to the marketplace with the “hottest rides”, including DUB CITY, IMPORT RACER, HOMIEROLLERZ, ROAD RATS and other die cast and radio-controlled vehicles, Jada Toys products can be found at most major retailers and hobby stores worldwide. For more information visit; www.jadatoys.com

About Von Dutch Kustom Cycles
Von Dutch Kustom Cycles re-introduces the “Kustom Kulture” in their unique and innovative motorcycles. Our designer motorcycles appeal to modern day rebel that worships everything from classic threads to custom hotrods. The Von Dutch Kustom motorcycle designs are the result of creative expression, extensive product development and best in class components. This is a direct result of disciplined manufacturing processes and the end result is a high performance, high quality motorcycle unlike any other custom bike in the industry. For more information visit; www.vondutchkustomcycles.com .

A Life in Design

A Life in Design as Alex Mardikian

As second generation designer and coming up under a iron clad, self made, accomplished father, a hippy stepfather of rebelion and a gypsy artist mom, I have married those important aspects and lifestyles as molding models to my creativity.

I don’t expect people to understand why I’m so interested in design – I’m more willfully obscure. My creations and works of art looks to the future, but also back to the past. I use new techniques, but also reintroduce that lost quality of beauty.

Overall, it is thought that design is this incredible discovery as a field, and yet not to many are truly making it interesting. So the life of my designs are like that- looking not to be over designed at all, it’s just there flowing seamlessly for the importance of beauty and performance, recognized and accepted as a collectible from its time of completion.

Los Angeles Times - Von Dutch Earns its stripes

THROTTLE JOCKEY/SUSAN CARPENTER
Von Dutch earns its stripes
A bobber that rocks, the Dutch Angel is a real showpiece that leaves choppers (and most everything else) in its dust.
SUSAN CARPENTERAugust 2, 2006
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SUSAN CARPENTER / THROTTLE JOCKEY
I was ready to rumble. Bring the bike on Wednesday, I told the guy. Noon. I'll be waiting in the empty parking lot at 45th and Figueroa.The driver from Von Dutch Kustom Cycles was late, but when he wheeled the Dutch Angel into the lot, all was forgiven. The behemoth 113-cubic-inch V-twin was tricked out with slick candy-stick pin-striping, a high-end racing motor and enough chrome for a lady to check out her helmet hair.If I were a guy, I would've whistled.The frame wasn't stretched like Silly Putty. There was no J-Lo tire out back. That's because the Dutch Angel is a bobber — a '40s-style bike that's replacing the chopper as the latest in old-school cool. Less extreme and more ridable than the choppers that have been terrorizing city streets these past few years, the bobber doesn't sacrifice any of the requisite outlaw cred. Its shortened (or "bobbed") rear fender, along with its rigid frame, solo seat, mid controls and narrow back tire, just make it more of a nostalgia trip.The Dutch Angel, like many modern bobber interpretations, is a retro tribute rather than an exact replica. It tweaks the vintage styling and updates the technology. With its compact size and feline curves, the bike has the look of a vintage cruiser, but it's also a sport bike — a custom power cruiser, if you will. A top-of-the-line billet-aluminum Patrick Racing motor gives the bike a lot of giddyap. Pulling in the reins is a pair of fast-acting Brembo piston-caliper brakes. Both are chromed, along with the exhaust, transmission, primary drive cover and everything else under the hand-crafted saddle.All this name-dropping comes at a price: $46,600.Firing up the Dutch Angel goes against standard operating procedure. The ignition is hidden off the transmission just below the tailpipes and operated with a cylindrical tumbler key to prevent joy rides or an unwelcome take-away to the chop shop. Before hitting the start button, there are two others to push — one on each of the cylinder heads to release compression and get the monster pistons cranking inside this four-stroke powerhouse. (Forget, as I once did, and you'll pay the price with embarrassing backfires — the motorcycle equivalent of farting on a first date.)The first words I heard after flipping the switch were "Go, girl!" as two cholitas floored it out of the parking lot in their beat-up sedan. They were the beginning of an onslaught of attention. Sure, the "49-state friendly" pipes blowing exhaust at an illegal volume prompted mothers to draw their children closer and Prius drivers to pretend I didn't exist, but everyone else loved it. The chromed engine and "Von Dutched" fenders and tank were all affirmed where it counts, with young ruffians nodding their approval from sidewalks and yelling, "Nice bike, homes," from car windows.Personally, I've never felt so much like a neon sign — a neon sign that screamed, "Look at me! I'm on a Von Dutch!" It isn't just the signature pin-striping. The words "Von Dutch" are literally all over the bike. They're stamped into the metal of the tank tags and floorboards. The Von Dutch "flying eyeball" appears no fewer than 15 times — on the air box, swing arm and gas saver, among other places.Von Dutch, for those who don't know, isn't a fashion brand, as the millions of trucker caps and tees might suggest. It's the trade name of Kenneth Howard. The legendary SoCal pin-striper was best known for inspiring the Kustom Kar craze of the '50s and '60s, but his earliest work was in the '40s and on bikes.The Howard family has nothing to do with Von Dutch Kustom Cycles, however. After Von Dutch died in 1992, his children sold his name. A decade later, a number of builders competed for the license to build bikes under the Von Dutch moniker. Alex Mardikian, 35, who designed bikes for Patriot and Ultra before striking out on his own, won — and in 2003 set up shop as Von Dutch Kustom Cycles.The Dutch Angel is a fairly compact bike. Instead of adding inches to the down tube, Mardikian took it down a notch, squishing it an inch closer to the ground. Then he stretched it out — not eight inches, as is standard on a chopper — but three inches along the backbone to accent the feminine arch of the tank. With a nostalgic, spring-mounted seat pan, I felt more subtleties of the pavement than I was expecting for a softail. On one ride, I caught such major air on a minor bump that I actually whooped out loud before dropping back into the saddle, which was, thankfully, not so nostalgic. It was cushioned with gel beneath the hand-tooled leather.The riding position was upright and comfortable; at least it was comfortable at low speeds. Without a windshield, my body took the blow at anything over 60, making me feel as if I was going at least 20 mph faster. And when stopped, the pipes were so hot and the primary drive cover so wide that I felt like a Vegas showgirl when I kicked out my legs to clear them.Other examples of fashion superseding function: The digital speedo was unreadable in sunlight, the teardrop mirrors were too small to see anything more than a single car, there wasn't a logical place to carry luggage and the right turn signal was on the right grip — an annoying Harley-Davidson throwback that was difficult for me to operate without rolling off the throttle.Those aren't deal-breakers. They're just hints that the Dutch Angel is more of a showboat than a long hauler. I probably wouldn't ride it to Sturgis. Without a windshield, I'd age a year from the wind damage. And with a four-gallon tank and gas-gobbling engine, it might take me that long to get there. I'd trailer it, making sure to angle the bike so I could admire it from the rear view.*
Contact Susan Carpenter at susan.carpenter@latimes.com.*Von Dutch Kustom Cycle's Dutch AngelTest price: $46,600Engine: Billet Patrick Racing, four-stroke, V-twin, air-cooledDisplacement: 113 cubic inchesTransmission: Six-speedBore and stroke: 4 inches x 4.5 inchesMaximum torque: 125 pound-feetSeat height: 23 inchesDry weight: 486 pounds

Corbett & Kish feature Von Dutch Kustom Cycles May 2007

Michelle Smith of American Thunder is featured with Von Dutch Kustom Cycles in the May 2007 C&K Magazine an affluent publication. Check out and see what the draw is on this specific Cruelworld Von Dutch Chopper and how it ties into Athletes First and the Orangewood Foundation. Visit www.vondutchkustomcycles.com

Von Dutch Kustom Cycles embarks on Japan

Into theSo Cal hot rod and kustom kulture scene, then you should know that Von Dutch Kustom Cycles has veered onward into the Kool Japan arena with its new Flying Dutchman creation by Mardikian and his crew of master builders.

On the global extension of Von Dutch, motorcycle dealerships have now been developed in Western Canada, Moscow -Russia and the United Arab Emirates - Dubia. By the end of the year we will be glad to adding to our network, a new location in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Kulture of a Kustom builder...

The American Way Of Life is based amongst the details which kill, collections of tattoo and piercing, bikes and babes, hot rod, hot bodies, route 66 and lost highway of lowbrow art... It all comes down to simplicity and lifestyle: Power, Motion, Freedom, Sex and Style. Connect that to the open road and will find the best therapy next to good ol' apple pie.

This refined rebel lifestyle is not for the masses, it is for those that are singled out with the passion of performance and the heart for adventure.