The One Million Dollars Chicara Traveling Art

chicara11chicara2All of us make daily decisions with the choice of either a small reward in a short span of time, or a more valuable reward after a long period of time. But in our society delayed rewards are most often viewed as less than the value of immediate rewards. 7500 hours to build a custom motorcycle means religiously persevering in the face of fabrication and mechanical problems, ignoring delays, not becoming annoyed and upset. Japanese patience is legendary and custom builder Chicara Nagata, with each of his creations, demonstrates his exceptional endurance as facing the challenges of building “Traveling Art”. Former graphic designer, 46 years old, having built only 14 motorcycles in his life, Chicara creations brought him a legendary status. I don’t care if some are saying that this “mobike” built a couple of years ago is now worth 1 million dollars. All what I know is that his style is not old school, nor it is new school. Just Chicara Art. To be recognized as a true original is the  greatest reward that a custom builder can ever get. Chicara Nagata.

21 Responses to “The One Million Dollars Chicara Traveling Art”


  1. 1 John E Adams Nov 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 am

    Gorgeous and inspirational work Cyril – love it and his site is well worth a peek.

    Cheers,

    John E Adams

  2. 2 ian Nov 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am

    Seeing his bikes in real life is a great ambition of mine – they are unbelievable

  3. 3 Big Will Nov 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 am

    Like they say: “Art is in the eye of the beholder.” It is a very nice bicycle, ah motorcycle, I suppose. And, a bargain at a cool mil.

    BIG WILL

  4. 4 maroco Nov 23rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    Hello, from Portugal “art on wheels”,I belive we can say that, many people agree this kind of motorcycles are a supreme form of Art, if we includ the tecnics,paints,mecanics,knolege,work,imagination,originity etc. it´s easy hunderstend that fact.

  5. 5 A$$HOLE Nov 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Well it IS interesting. I like how the angle of the backbone, slants so ever gently from the seat to the nut cracker, testicle grater device on top, which would then lend to a flawless front flip if you had to smash your front brakes. Looks like a torture device. Painful!

  6. 6 Brenda Fox Nov 23rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    Ian – You’re right!
    His work is incredible and as Cyril put well “his style is not old school, nor it is new school – its Chicara Art.

    The concept, engineering & craftsmanship is absolutely amazing.
    You get to looking and go into a moto trance as the bike unveils itself.

    Although his bikes seem to already be booked for their tour, I would be happy to connect him with the Peterson Automotive Museam

    Much respect to Mr. Chicara Nagata

  7. 7 Wikked Steel Nov 23rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    Truly inspirational. I love the lines and the relocation of the trans to fit HIS design rather than conform to the standard primary relationship. Executed magnificently!

  8. 8 sammyd Nov 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    Very beautiful, but it’s called “Chicara Art” for a reason, I wouldnt call these motorcycles.

  9. 9 Brandon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Motorcycle art at its best. So just look at it for what it is.

  10. 10 Dave Blevins Nov 23rd, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Art… no, craftmanship… yes. There is a difference.

    A million bucks? C’mon…..

  11. 11 dgbyers Nov 23rd, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    moped.

  12. 12 just my opinion Nov 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    Worth a million dollars?
    possible; but lets be honest everything or anything in this world is only worth what someone else is willing to pay.
    This piece of art may well be worth that kind of money to somebody but unless someone has already paid that much for it, then who is to really say what it is worth? When it gets auctioned off or sold then we will know the true value. I personally don’t think anyone would pay that kind of money, but I am no art schollar either. Just one more fun fact before I get back to work. During the chopper craze of yester years I had the opportunity to be talking with a biker build off winner and we were talking about how people at that time were paying so much for these winning bikes. I said to him do you honestly think any of the winning bikes were worth a hundred thousand dollars? and is there even such thing as a hundred thousand dollar bike? His answer was this and I quote ” The only way I know how to build a bike that is actually worth a hundred thousand dollars would be to stuff the gas tank full of hundred dollar bills” end qoute

  13. 13 David Nov 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    I dont think he can hold a candle to Leonardo Da Vinci “The Master”….. but let the people in 500 to 1000 years decide. It will probably be growing rust by then if we are even still here to see. Dont you know Al Gore who invented the internet and Global Warming says we’ll all be scorched to death by then!!!!!!

    David

  14. 14 Chopper Kid Nov 24th, 2009 at 12:17 am

    I checked out his website, I really like the 1942 the best and I also liked the 1950.

  15. 15 jatinder pal Nov 24th, 2009 at 2:07 am

    Great work….very true and original.

  16. 16 ian Nov 24th, 2009 at 5:22 am

    Its quite interesting the way the art market works, in that often it creates its own market – look at Damien Hirst’s last collection which sold in 2008 for nearly $200Million – much bought by his own dealers to reinforce the value of the rest of his work.
    Maybe Chicara ought to auction a bike at Christies and get an art dealer to buy it for $1 Million (or more), which means with his other 13 bikes will be worth a total of $14 Million – nice business – maybe thats a plan for me in 2010.
    I am also thinking that if a bike is art it must not actually work – but if it does work but you choose not to let it work, then its true art!
    Keep Riding

    IAN

  17. 17 Doc Robinson Nov 24th, 2009 at 7:44 am

    Having seen several of his bikes up close I can say simply that Chicara’s work is unparalleled and wish him the best of luck on his road less traveled.

  18. 18 Dr Robert Harms Nov 24th, 2009 at 9:38 am

    It is art .At 1 million he is likely to have all of the sales successes of Van Gogh .

  19. 19 Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles Nov 24th, 2009 at 10:37 am

    Mr Chicara does outstanding work and his level of detail even in the smallest of parts is incredible. And to top it off he’s a super nice gentleman and its fun communicating with him between our language barriers.

  20. 20 E.H-57 Nov 29th, 2009 at 3:54 am

    Honda P50 rear wheel, and probably engine as well?

  1. 1 Tweets that mention The One Million Dollars Chicara Traveling Art at Cyril Huze Blog -- Topsy.com Pingback on Nov 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze