Although Jerry Covington had already built his first chopper when he was 18 and was continuously feeding his passion for motorcycles with frequent trips to the shop of Denver’s Choppers to admire their long creations, he professionally entered the custom world by working on hot rods and muscle cars. Building custom bikes for himself remained his hobby until he realized that each of them got offers from buyers and that he could nicely complement his custom car business with the creation of one-off custom motorcycles. It was 1993, perfect timing to ride the big wave of motorcycle customizing that started at this time…
Strong of his experience with metal fabrication acquired on cars, Jerry had no problem being noticed by the motorcycle industry when he started demonstrating his skills at building from scratch 2 wheeled creations. Although his bike culture was acquired around long choppers and low riders Jerry’s shop, Covingtons Cycle City in Oklahoma, is now very diversified offering both customized Harley-Davidson models, hand built one-off custom motorcycles in all styles, a Nada listed production line of Bobbers and also a quite extended catalog of proprietary parts from triple trees to exhausts to billet wheels.
Family life is extremely important for Jerry. So, not surprisingly, Covingtons Cycle City is a family business where wife Kathleen is deeply involved in its management and development with 4 sons also working at the shop: Jerry Jr. (Pee Wee) doing all the drivetrain & service work. David being in charge of design, fabrication & assembly. Dusty handling all the body work & paint and Cameron doing services and other odd jobs. All working together without family drama, never screaming at each other, because as you know great work is always done in a peaceful atmosphere… (top picture copyright James Photographics)
Cyril. In High School, what your teachers said about you? Jerry. That I would wind up working on cars & motorcycles. (Wasn’t interested in too much else)
Cyril. Who were your childhood heroes? Jerry. Don Garlits, Don Prudohm & Johnny Cash
Cyril. What was your 1st vehicle? Jerry. A satin black 1954 Victoria that I bought when I was 11
Cyril. If you were not working in the motorcycle industry, what would you do? Jerry. Hot Rods, I’ve always loved cars right along with the motorcycles
Cyril. What is your favorite way to relax? Jerry. Hot rodding in one of my cars.
Cyril. What is the last music you downloaded in your iPod? Jerry. Don’t have one, CD’s or satellite radio are fine with me. Last CD I bought was Tom Petty Mojo. I like blues music.
Cyril. What are you afraid of? Jerry. What our country will be like for our grandkids.
Cyril. What is the person you would love to meet? Jerry. David Letterman
Cyril. Which film made you cry? Jerry. Footage of the Oklahoma City bombing, so many innocent kids & so close to home.
Cyril. Do you have any tattoos or piercings? Jerry. Yes 5 tattoos (my “Family First” is my favorite). One ear pierced
Cyril. Name five things you hate. Jerry. People knocking off our parts, lazy people, fuel prices, speed limits & whistling gophers
Cyril. What is your best life achievement? Jerry. My kids
Cyril. What do you miss most at home when you are on the road? Jerry. My grandkids, you can be having the worst day ever, see them & nothing else matters.
Cyril. What was the last book you read? Jerry. A 1955 Wurlitzer jukebox service manual
Cyril. Where is your favorite vacation place? Jerry.Colorado, riding in the mountains
Cyril. Do you have any guilty pleasures? Jerry. My wife Kathleen’s home made German chocolate cake
Cyril. Do you collect anything? Jerry. Muscle cars
Cyril. What was your worst buy? Jerry. An off brand used CNC machine
Cyril. How do you take your coffee? Jerry. I don’t, never liked it
Cyril. What was the most embarrassing thing you have ever made? Jerry. A bike that the customer got a little too invovled in the paint color & design
Cyril. What is the best thing you can cook? Jerry. Anything you can heat up in the microwave
Cyril. When was the time you were really angry? Jerry. When we had to drive 90 miles out of the way going to Vegas because you couldn’t take a trailer across the dam after 911
Cyril. What is your perfect weekend when you are at home? Jerry. Taking the grandkids. Cruizin’ in my 67 Chevelle convertible & going for a motorcyle ride
Cyril. What is your preferred rally? Jerry. Sturgis, especially if I get to ride.
Cyril. What is the worst question a journalist asked you? Jerry. Why do I live in Woodward, Oklahoma
Some of the finest work around, quality, innovation and inspiration second to none!
You are right Cyril. No BS, no Drama. Great builder. He deserves to be featured in your blog.
Teddy Bear among custom builders. Like his work, very detailed and rideable.
Saw his bikes during biketoberfest. Nice.
I like his bikes and the fact that Jerry Covigton didn’t participate in the show biz bullsit that some other builders enjoyed doing during the custom boom. Where are they now?.
I didn’t know he was doing parts. A few nice ones in his site.
I love to go by Jerry’s shop! He’s 90miles away but it’s right on my way to see my kids and new grandson that all live in OK. Sometimes he’s open and there when I go through and other times I just stop and look through the windows at his handywork. It always makes the trip shorter.
SSDD; David
Very nice family. Beautiful work to be continued, like Ness, by the Covington children.
Hey Adam, guess you missed this bullsit (sic) episode?
Biker Build-Off (TV series documentary 2004–2005)
Jerry Covington vs. Warren Vesley
The real deal….
Whistling gophers… very clever. “how much does it go fer?”, one million, now beat it…
Keep up the beautiful work without the bs, Jerry
Great pieces of work and a nice guy!
Covington’s ROCK!
First rate operation headed by the ultra talented humble leader Jerry.
Consistently creating bikes that are outstanding, highest of craftsmanship with fit and finish second to none.
Love them
Brenda
ps: they make a damn good billet magic wand!
On the subject of Biker Build-Off that Doc mentioned, it would be nice to see how many of them are still in business…
Jerry is at the Top of the industry as far as I’m concerned. It was an honor to be in the Lichter exhibit this year with Jerry. Super clean and stylish bikes. Keep them Rollin.
Top bikes they all looks great.