The Evolution of a Builder: Jared Weems on Triumphs, Harleys, and the Art of Custom Motorcycles
By Jeff Alexander
Jared Weems began his passion for motorcycles at the young age of five, captivated by watching his father wrench a classic, pre-unit Triumph in the family's living room. Weems would mimic his father's work motions by grabbing nearby tools, hoping to be part of something new and exciting.
"I was really drawn to motorcycles at such a young age. I would grab any tool laying around and try to imitate my father. My mom told me when my dad would leave the room that I would actually use the tools and accidentally undo his work, but I can't really remember that," laughed Weems.
His father's '49 Triumph resonated and sparked his deep appreciation for classic, pre-unit rigid frames. Growing up in the backwoods of Tennessee, Weems spent his time riding 4-wheelers and watching his dad wrench in his local shop but he admitted he got a late start on street bikes.
"I didn't get my first bike until I was 25 because I served in the military as a parachute rigger. I'll never forget my swearing-in on March 19, 2003, because that's when President Bush declared war on Iraq! It was wild because I was in the waiting room about to be sworn in when the announcement was made. Within months, I would be shipping out. I had to work to find housing for my wife and settle her before leaving, it was challenging," reflected Weems.
Weems leveraged his service time to build on his welding skills and would sneak read Triumph manuals during lights-out. He was still passionate about motorcycles but lacked his own to put his evolving knowledge into action.
"I downloaded all these Triumph manuals and would read them, night after night. My last military deployment base had a fabrication shop, so I was able to practice at night after hours and learn how to create handlebars and oil tanks," laughed Weems.
Prior to returning home, Weems told his father to search for a Triumph project, eager to test his knowledge and resurrect a basket case, but was surprised to see '72 Bonneville waiting for him.
"That bike was in immaculate shape! Fully restored. I loved it but I was looking for a project, something to hack up and design my own and that ride was just too nice! I rode it a lot between deployments but told my dad to keep an eye out for a real project, something I could dive into once I returned home," stated Weems.
After fulfilling his service, Weems returned home to finally source a classic Triumph project, his hunt taking him to Alabama where he snatched up two '66 basket cases. Setting lofty goals, Weems sought another basket case in Kentucky, scoring a '72 Bonneville which he aspired to chop. His tireless studies and twilight fabrication practice sessions were finally tested, as he successfully resurrected every ride with his meticulous attention to detail.
"Triumph remains iconic within the world of motorcycles and I love the designs of pre-units. They're going for some money now, so when I track down another one I just pay up and I safely assume that the motor is toast and everything needs to be carefully overhauled. Some fully restored examples can easily top $20,000 but I think that's ridiculous because I can buy so many projects for that. Sure, there're many people that can work on them but very few can do it right," stated Weems.
Weems' path to elevating the design of pre-unit Triumphs wasn't seamless. After enduring a medical discharge in 2018, he was at a crossroads. His expansive knowledge of classic Triumphs was often unrivaled but his physical ailments put a strain on his ability to execute his designs. He refused to allow his diagnosis to dictate his passions and returned to resurrecting Triumphs and transforming pre-unit rigid frame models into rolling art, with nuanced design innovations distinguishing him from his peers.
"I was really inspired when a friend brought over a David Mann painting, Dog Gone Hot Dogs which featured one of two Triumph motorcycles he ever painted. I was very inspired by that and committed myself to recreating the 1952 Speed Twin featured in the painting. I knew it wouldn't be easy but I am OCD and wanted to ensure every detail was complete. I set that challenging goal for myself and it really awakened my building and design spirit," reflected Weems.
The Mann tribute Triumph was completed in 2020, with Weems dedicating countless hours to ensure his personal standards of perfection were fulfilled. Mann's iconic paintings always featured Harleys but Dog Gone Hot Dogs remains unique for his depiction of a classic Triumph.
"I was lucky enough to meet his wife and she revealed that he would attend events with a camera and then go home and paint the images, basically imagining the builds! So with my build, I was basically recreating something from his mind, so to speak! It's pretty wild when you think about it in that way," said Weems.
With the conviction that everyone has a skill and that utilizing a gift can propel altruism forward, Weems was driven to complete the Mann tribute bike for Forgotten Angels. The charity focuses on assisting children that age out of foster care, working to provide safe housing and ease their transition to adulthood.
"I really believe that everyone has a special skill or talent and we should be using that to help people, not just ourselves. Can I build an awesome custom bike? Sure, and that earns pats on the back and respect but to complete a build for charity that helps others in need? That's powerful and makes all the difference to me," shared Weems.
The Mann tribute build earned well-deserved accolades and raised Weems' profile as a trusted authority on classic Triumphs. After completion, Weems was a featured guest on a motorcycle podcast, where he learned another charity inquired if he would be interested in their mission to raise funds for autism awareness and support. His challenge? Build the second featured bike in Mann's Dog Gone Hot Dogs!
"The charity was Autism Society for America and my son is autistic so how could I decline? The second bike was an Ironhead 1975 Sportster so I accepted the challenge even though I don't do Harleys. My condition was I would not accept any money, I was going to donate my time and they would pay for parts. It turned out to be my easiest build because I could source parts easier for that bike than a '50s Triumph," laughed Weems.
Weems stated Harley Davidson learned about the charity build and hoped he would display it during their 120th anniversary celebration in Milwaukee. Additionally, Weems is two-time invited builder for the prestigious Born Free kustom show, entering his David Mann tribute bikes for BF12 and appearing in Born Free 13 at the personal request of co-founder Mike Davis.
"I was happy to do it and then Mike Davis of Born Free asked if I was interested in building for Born Free 13. I jumped at the challenge and that's where I showed my '56 Triumph, in honor of my dad who was born in 1956. I built it as a drag racer and won best competition class, it was an honor. I love working on Triumphs and designing new ways to bring out their best. I don't care how long it may take to get things right. If I spend hours tuning carbs, I will put that time in because I know in the end it will be right," stated Weems.
Weems' newest build enabled him to design outside his familiar Triumph comfort zone. Drawn to the history of classic board track racing, he carefully studied the history behind Americana's early form of 'extreme sports.'
"I found the history behind the machines to be really fascinating. I had been talking with Billy Lane and wanted to get involved with Sons of Speeds, as he worked to bring back board track racing with these awesome, classic bikes. He only wanted American rides, which I understand. I had come across a really rare 1928 John Alfred Prestwich motor, they built engines in England from 1906 to 1950 and people used them in Harleys and Indians back then for speed. I asked Billy about it because it was a Brit motor but it certainly had Americana history so he was all about it! That was all I needed to go ahead," shared Weems.
Weems' tenacity resulted in the Dolly Mongrel, a hybrid of iconic UK style elevated by Weems and coupled with motor innovation, as Prestwich was a known supplier for Brough Superior, the Dolly Mongrel was a head turner and tire burner.
"I didn't wanna burn any bridges but Billy signed off on the build because of its heritage and history within board track racing. It was a fun build because I was putting my vision on something I don't normally build but I wanted to work within that history and create something built on that innovation of the JAP motor," said Weems.
Weems has taken his innovative Triumph passion to new heights by leveraging social media to inspire new builders, and also lend his knowledge to seasoned builders dedicated to preserving the iconic namesake. His strong social media presence has sparked his children to join him in the garage, offering Weems another avenue to bridge generation gaps while growing relationships.
"I love teaching, I love mentorship. It's not the easiest path to simply learn as you go but I am there to lend some knowledge and if you have the dedication, patience, and the money we will get your bike on the right path. The process of designing and building means so much me, I actually enjoy it more than riding! Once I complete a build and complete its shakedown, I am already off thinking about the next build," laughed Weems.
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