Last Sunday, the custom motorcycle community lost Joe Palermo, one of the most creative bike builders and a dear friend to many among us. Although building bikes after hours alone in his modest personal garage of Edgewater, Florida, each year he was able to surprise us with a new very unusual project mixing pure art and advanced technology. An amateur builder who wanted to stay amateur, he was more talented and knowledgeable than many respectable well known professionals I know. Above all, he was a superb human being, extremely humble, generous, always ready to help others and share his unconventional ideas about how a motorcycle should look, start, run, shift, brake, etc… He was a fierce competitor during all Daytona bike shows, but the most loved by all competitors for his genius and gentle manners. Joe, we have so much pain that you left us. Thank you for all you gave and shared with us. My deepest condolences to Mary, Kate, all his family and friends. (photos @ H. Roesler)
We seem to be losing too many of the good ones lately .. from music to M/C’s to cars and everything in between . And now this .
R.I.P. Joe … or raise ___ …what ever your preference .. you’ll be missed
GREAT GUY..WILL BE MISSED…UNIQUE AND TALENTED AND ALWAYS WILLING TO SHOW YOU HIS NEW BIKE….R.I.P. JOE P. YOU WILL BE MISSED..GLAD WE TALKED AT THE BOARDWALK THIS YEAR..TILL WE MEET AGAIN.GOD SPEED
Knew of no one that devoted his time and efforts into building motorcycles on a limited budget and with used part s from tractors to race cars and the shop a one car garage. Traveled to many of shows with Joe and Mary and spent numerous hours with him that were some of the best times of my life. A gifted and talented individual that will be missed by numerous people he came into contact with. He always told me he wanted to be the best in the bike building industry, well he achieved that!
You will be missed dear friend! RIP brother.
Over & Out,
Jeff
This hit me so hard, joe was a very close personal friend and fellow builder. Joe and I judged a lot of bike shows together and I will miss that. RIP my friend.
Joe and I were good friends. We judged a lot of bikes together at the Rat’s Hole and the Boardwalk Show. I will definitely miss him. Rest in peace, Joe.
Joe was a fellow bike builder, he never disappointed us at the Rats Hole Bike Shows with his
Inexpensive custom builds. He used a bicycle rack from a school and built a Orange motorcycle from it with many hidden features. He was always part of the team after joining us as a judge. Joe will be greatly missed by all those who knew him! RIP Joe we will see you again!
I was shocked to learn on Monday of Joe’s passing. He was a long time friend and someone who I loved kicking around design ideas with. Always willing to help or share sourcing info on unique parts. A very creative builder who always thought outside the box. We were looking forward to competing in Dubai this fall. His easygoing personality and sense of humor will be sorely missed. RIP Joe, till the next build.
very good guy, and a pure inspiration to me….
Thanks Joe….
Steve Carr
Wow ..what a loss , so early in his years , it was just a couple of months ago we were sitting in my shop doing what he loved …talkin bikes ….Fly with the Angels Joe….
The loss of such a great talent, role model, and mentor is a tragedy to motorcycling.
My condolences to all.
-nicker-
I’ve been out on the road all week, and only just heard about this today. Very sad, indeed. Joe was an original, supremely talented, and forward thinking builder. Not a trend follower, but a leader. He is missed already.
Joe we will miss you badly. Beside the most outstanding bikes you brought to the shows, we can prize you as a smart and wholehearted friend. Judging bikes together was always a pleasant. RIP Joe.
Joe was a very talented and knowledgeable bike builder that was always willing to help in any way he could. But most of all he was an awesome person!! I became a judge under the encouragement of joe and I’m glad I did because I got to spend time with him and know him better. Joe you will be missed and remembered always! Rest easy my friend!
Ride in Peace, Joe !!!
I worked with joe on the bmw doing the paint and body he was a very good and dear friend to me and agreat guy he will be missed always and forever rip joe I will never forget you
Cyril, you couldn’t have said it any better. I know Joe from buying his cops and robbers bike that was a complete work of art.. I was there when he just finished his first tankless board track racer which he called ” rocket ship” In fact the engine that went into rocket ship came from me which was a part of the deal when I purchased the cops and robbers bike. I had always told Joe that his work could stand up to the best builders in the world he would shrug and say I am just doing what I like to do most and build things that no one else has done. Joe will be very much missed not just for his talents as a bike builder but as a superb person who always wanted to help people. My condolences go out to his wife Mary and his friends and family .. Rest in peace Joe…