Adam Gaspic Creates Vintage Motorcycle Magic at Gasser Customs in Hollywood

Ol’ Red is built around the venerable Honda CB750 engine

I first saw the bike at the Artistry in Iron custom motorcycle show at the Las Vegas Bike Fest. As I did tiny laps around the naked beauty, I realized that I was being watched by an unassuming guy at a table nearby. That guy was Adam “Gasser” Gaspic, the builder of Ol’ Red (the bike I was ogling). Just as Ol’ Red was a departure from the rest of the builds at the elite invitational show, the bike’s creator was a departure from most of the builders. Gaspic was devoid of bravado, tattoos, and ego. It turns out that he is an introspective, creative, and extremely intelligent fellow who happens to be obsessed with creating moto-magic out of vintage motorcycles.

Like every Gasser Custom, Ol’ Red breathes through K&N filters

Gaspic is part of a refreshing new breed of custom bike builders who appear to be unencumbered by the residual perception of his industry left by the proliferation of bolt-together, semi-scripted TV shows like American Chopper. Far from a ‘grease monkey,’ Gaspic holds a master’s degree in technology and is an ASE Certified Master Technician. That impressive level of education and skill is evident in every detail of his creations.

The first thing that I noticed about Ol’ Red is that it’s not…red. The bike is a monochromatic celebration of the color grey. The body parts, including the beautifully welded fuel tank, are displayed in the hue of natural aluminum. Gaspic reveals on his website that those parts were “done with inspiration from old WW2 aircraft photos provided by the client.” The frame, including the artfully hand-crafted single-sided swing arm, is powder coated a subtle grey.

That single-sided swing arm is a custom bent and welded piece of art

The vintage streetfighter is built around one of the most iconic engines in the world, the Honda CB750. The 70s era powerplant has been fully rebuilt by the master technician and now has a displacement of 836 cubic centimeters. The engine pumps out 20 more horsepower than the stock 750 and rumbles through a custom stainless 4-2-1 GP style exhaust system. Considering the builder’s technical credentials, I would trust that engine to perform and to last.

The bodywork was inspired by WW2 aircraft

Now back to the color red. My eyes were drawn to the only red that I could identify on Ol’ Red. The “CR” lettering on the carburetors is highlighted in red, and fitted just behind those carbs are four K&N pod filters with the instantly identifiable crimson hue of the K&N filter element. When I asked Gaspic if he normally uses K&N filters on his builds, his response was instant and clear, “I use them on every single build.” He continued that he just finished his latest custom project and clamping on the K&N filters was the final touch. It speaks volumes when a guy like Gaspic, with all his technological acumen, puts his faith in protecting his creations with K&N filters. Clearly the performance advantage of K&N is also a factor. Maybe the builder’s strongest statement of trust in K&N’s products is that he has become an authorized dealer.

A visit to Gasser Customs in North Hollywood would certainly be a great visual treat filled with moto eye candy. However, Gaspic’s creations are not meant to gather dust. He says, “Building bikes for me is a true passion and it feels more like creating a form of art that can be enjoyed both statically and in motion.” There is a great mission statement.