Revving Up Success: The Evolution of Lowbrow Customs from a Bedroom Startup to Bonneville Triumphs
Ohio’s Lowbrow Customs has transformed itself from a parts business operating from founder Tyler Malinky’s bedroom to a nationally respected outlet for kustom accessories and apparel. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Malinky takes the city’s blue-collar grit and combines it with his relentless ambition to grow Lowbrow Customs to an even more inclusive, DIY community for passionate motorheads.
“I really can’t believe it’s been fifteen years! It took a lot to get here. We always work to operate as a company that facilitates teaching because there’s a lot of overlap between bikes, hot rods, and art. I always smile when I ride because it’s been a positive, fun thing in my life. There can be a lot of fronting and tough-guy attitudes, which I don’t like. I’m having a good time with what I do and I make sure others know that because I’m doing what I love,” exclaimed Malinky.
Lowbrow Customs takes Malinky’s passion a step further with their in-depth vlog series, chronicling the company’s history as well as offering how-to presentations for riders. The videos serve more as a springboard for communal exchanging of ideas as opposed to merely promoting the company’s inventory.
“I’m into mentoring people because I never took for granted all the people that helped me. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there and I think it’s wasted if it’s not being shared. Believe it or not, I was not at all mechanically inclined when I started. My brother and my dad were really into cars growing up and bikes did not hold my interest at that time. My interest peaked when I discovered the Triumph Bonneville; Purchased a ’71 I found in the local paper in 1998. It was a flat tracker and just a bitchin’ bike,” said Malinky.
As Malinky worked tirelessly to develop his mechanic skills, his talent for computers soared and took him to the burgeoning world of e-commerce, a platform in its infancy that he wisely embraced to ultimately launch Lowbrow Customs.
“It’s funny looking back because computers and motorcycles seemingly have nothing in common, but I thought they did because I love problem-solving, working to find solutions and then sharing them. When I was starting out, I watched all the car and bike shows and would send out money orders for parts and not always getting what I ordered, or anything at all,” laughed Malinky.
As he struggled to source parts and accessories for his ’71 Bonneville, Malinky believed he could improve the online customer experience, and fifteen years ago Lowbrow Customs slowly began to collect, fabricate, and ship parts to customers that shared Malinky’s earlier frustrations.
“It was a slow going. I was already making web sites for local businesses and making custom signs. I felt I had already possessed some of the skills needed and then all of a sudden, Lowbrow was competing with my day jobs and I realized it could be possible to make Lowbrow Customs a full-time thing” reflected Malinky.
Lowbrow Customs stands apart from its peers as they take apparel imagery and accessories and put them into motion, high-speed motion. In addition to celebrating the company’s 15th anniversary, Malinky returned from the renowned Bonneville Salt Flats to capitalize on his recent land speed records. Serving as a rite of passage and industry benchmark for kustom kulture, the famed Salt Flats and its unique terrain allow builders and industry vets to ‘put up or shut up’ by silencing empty boasts with tried and true speed trials. Malinky hit the 153mph mark aboard his kustom, dual-engine Triumph back in 2012 and recently, 129 on his 1950 Triumph ‘Poison Ivy.'
“Racing is a huge passion of mine, I constantly think about it and how I can improve. I first got the ‘salt bug’ in 2010 when I went with my brother and dad. My ultimate goal is to hit 200mph on a vintage bike, which Bonneville classifies as 1956 or earlier. For next year, I’m building a dual-engine bike called the Milwaukee Murderer that will do 160 on pump gas! I’m sure with fuel injection and nitro it would do 200 and that’s my long-term goal,” shared Malinky.
Asked how it felt to bring a dream to fruition and race on the famous Salt Flats, Malinky quickly dispelled myths surrounding the improbabilities of dreams.
“I don’t look at it from a strict dream perspective. I always tell people that it’s great to be ambitious and have goals because it makes you stronger. I don’t view Bonneville as some bucket list thing. You can attend when they have track days and trailer your bike or car there for a reasonable entrance fee. They have a number of rules and regulations, more for cars than bikes. For me, the challenge is how to slice through the winds and the terrain. I use a hardtail frame, light aluminum wheels and tanks, and of course, a small profile. It’s so much fun and really fulfilling!” he exclaimed.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Malinky will be entering the 2020 Cannonball Race, an event in marked contrast from Bonneville’s sheer speed. The 10th annual event embraces classic motorcycles and shirks the ‘all show no go’ sneers as participants have been required to undertake a cross country endurance race aboard their classics. For the 10th anniversary, Cannonball is only welcoming motorcycles manufactured before 1930 for the endurance race.
“So of course there will be obvious challenges when riding any classic bike for any distance. The event gives my brother Kyle an excuse to finish his 1926 Harley Davidson JD. The frame and front end is basically a bicycle so I think handling will be for shit.
My brother and I will team up to trade off riding and another fun thing is there’s no front brake! And if you mount an effective front brake system, you’ll bend the frame. This will be the best fun/suck time ever but I’m not one to shy away from a challenge because, without turmoil in life, the sweetest parts may not be as sweet,” stated Malinky.