Marcus Walz. Hardcore For Life.

marcuswalzatcyrilhuzeblog

My first contact with Custom Builder Marcus Walz was in 1993. He wrote an email congratulating me about my James Dean tribute bike called “Deanager”, telling me that he was also a huge Jimmy Dean fan. As a proof he also emailed pictures of his residence in Ockenheim, Germany showing black & white Dean’s pictures adorning most of his home walls. Then we met for the 1st time years later in Italy where he was like me exhibiting his bikes. At the time, he swore that his Drag style custom motorcycles – his trade mark- will always be black or silver (only the exact the silver of James Dean Porsche). Well, when we met once again in Daytona during Bike Week he introduced a few touches of color on his paint jobs…16 years later a beautifully illustrated hard cover book celebrates the professional life of Marcus Walz, one of the most well known European Custom Builders. 

From his first bike (Zündapp CS 25), to his first Harley when he was 20, to the creation of his shop “Walz Harcore Cycles”, to his win in the series “Biker Build Off” (he was the 1st non American to win), to his most recent customs (not only American types, but also Kawasakis, Hondas, Ducatis…). His biography is extremely detailed and this book contains a lot of never published pictures, many testimonies from his friends and of course many written and visual explanations of Marcus influences and style. A comprehensive portrait, body tattoos included…224 pages In English & German and available at Amazon Germany and Walz Hardcore Cycles

9 Responses to “Marcus Walz. Hardcore For Life.”


  1. 1 Robin May 19th, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    I’ve photographed the Hardcore bikes at their display during Daytona Bikeweek over the years and was always very impressed at the attention to detail and how “clean” the design is. His bikes are primarily in the Pro Street/Race style with a typical Euro/German perfectionist mentality in parts selection/construction. I was a little shocked with the lime green single-side swing arm example in 2005, a touch of color is an understatement with this bike as it almost glows in the daytime, not just the night time, as if carved from a block of enriched uranium. From my observation of his creations, Mr. Walz richly deserves the accolades and competition wins that have come his way. And he has done it his way, with a style that blazes a new path rather than following the crowd. Keep up the good work.

  2. 2 American Flyer May 19th, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    I hope that he is not following the OCC book club deals. We don’t need any more “self-proclaimed” rock stars, we’ve all had enough.

    I’ve seen the bikes at Daytona. I appreciate the work but, I am a traditionalist and I don’t particularly care too much about the euro style. They are very, very expensive and I seriously don’t see the value.

    I wish him the best on his career and I hope that he carries product liability insurance in the US so that the same thing that happened to BBC does not happen to him.

  3. 3 Ricardo May 19th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    I know Marcus as we have met & talked a few times over the years & beside the fact that he is (one of) the Greatest Bike Builder that we have in Europe, he is also one of the nicest & coolest Guy I have met in this Business,
    Keep it on Marcus !

  4. 4 Brian May 20th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    Does Marcus have something to do with http://www.toughcustoms.com? They used to advertise in Robb Report MC mag and the bikes look like Marcus’ bikes but they’re based out of Canada and I thought Marcus was in Florida and Germany.

  5. 5 Brandon May 20th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Brian. Tough Customs seems to build only “copy machines”. By the way, Marcus is only in Germany, not in Florida. He came to Florida just the time of a Biker Build Off

  6. 6 Stefan May 21st, 2009 at 1:33 am

    You’re not right, Brandon.Of course Marcus’ Headquarter is still placed in Hockenheim, Germany.But he runs WHC-Stores in a few countries, one Department is in Miami, Fl.
    Indeed he is not only a Masterbuilder but also a guy who has not become arrogant and “blind” because of success.
    Keep it on, Marcus!

  7. 7 jatinder pal May 21st, 2009 at 2:29 am

    Truly one of my favourite designer and builder,clean drag style bikes with black and matt finishes.
    for instance they r good but he is struck in his own designs,never experimented with any thing new,also very expensive.

  8. 8 Conrad May 21st, 2009 at 3:37 am

    Marcus builds some great bikes but Macrus want to give me the Flat Black Tu Neco Ferrari 430??? Please? lol Great job man

  9. 9 Mario Van den Broeck Jun 21st, 2009 at 3:52 am

    Respect !

    Mario Van den Broeck
    H-D Capital Brussels

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze