Over the coming weeks we'll be featuring some bikes & builds we love from all over the world & the women who ride, design & build them. First up is absolute mega babe Manon Hache & her incredible Honda 125cc custom chopper.
Ever since she popped up on our instagram feed (thanks to the ever amazing Dice Magazine who's next issue she'll be gracing the pages of next month with her chop) we've been pretty obsessed with the awesome bike she built with her dad & brother at home in Belgium. With another build already on the go for this winter (this time a 79' Harley Ironhead) we had a chat to her all about her first bike build & her ideas behind it, chopper shit & her dream road trip.
Enjoy! x
GEMMA: So where are you from?
MANON : I'm a 24 years old girl from Mons, Belgium, EU. My dad is Belgian and my mom is Italian from Sardinia.
G: How did you first get into bikes?
M: My dad and my brother run a garage. They work on cars and bikes, mostly on Harleys and choppers. That's where my love for choppers comes from.
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"I spent my all days with him learning and helping him in the garage. That's the best part of building a bike- the memories and hours spent in the garage together"
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My Honda is my first bike. I decided to start with a 125 to be comfortable on the road beforebuying a Harley. When I bought it, I knew I wanted to build a chopper: A Tall sissy bar, ape bars, super tall fishtail pipes and colour would be orange. Those are the first things I was sure about. My brother @mauro__hache always has good advice - he decided about the line of the bike, also the seat was his idea, fender too, and he also did the all paint. He's the master of paint of this house! My dad did everything else, by hand: The sissy bar, pipes & the electrics. The ape bars are from a good friend of ours @alexdew. Apart from that everything was made with old parts we had at home. My dad disassembled and rebuild everything. I spent my all days with him learning and helping him in the garage. That's the best part of building a bike- the memories and hours spent in the garage togheter. I'll say it's really the result of our 3 minds. Dad, Mauro and I made my dream lil bike come true. Now I've got an original 1979 Iron head which we're staring to build this winter. Fun time again!
G: How long did it take to build from start to finish?
M: We just did it when dad had a bit of free time in the garage so we didn't work on it everyday. We started like 6 months ago.
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" That's the funny thing. Your bike ends up looking like you and your personality. The end of 60s - 70s is my favourite era for just about everything i'd say."
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G: So what made you go for this model of bike & what made you go for a chopper style rebuild?
M: Choppers are my favorite style of bike. My first influences about choppers was definitely from my brother and my Dad. I start to get into it a few years ago then really wanted to start my own project. I'm always searching for vintage pictures of choppers. I'll say I had my idea of my dream bike in my head before to start the project, but when it came to real life, it's even better than what originally I had in my mind. I was the happiest girl in the world when the bike was finished, and I am still.
To me if you own a chopper, you can make your bike very personal. That's the funny thing. Your bike ends up looking like you and your personality. The end of 60s - 70s is my favourite era for just about everything i'd say. Choppers, music, fashion, furniture, style, womens liberation. I was born too late!
G: Whats your dream bike?
M: I've got a little preference for Panheads. But I'm pretty sure i'll own a knuckle too one day.
G: If you could go on any dream motorcycle trip where would it be?
M: I'd like to travel America on a bike. I will one day. I'd love to be lost in the mountains in the middle of nowhere and thinking: damn, i'm at the other side of the world and I'm so happy and free. We did a lot of EU bikes shows this year so it was an amazing summer. I love meeting new people who have the same interest. I can't wait for next summer!
G: Favourite thing to wear when you ride?
M: My everyday to go outfit: flares with a band or printed t-shirts from small businesses . Also my vegan leather jacket customised by pins and patches from small business too. My favorites brands for the coolest t-shirts or the best vintage custom are places like @Shopbadrevival @Shopthecreatures @Shophellbound @Backbite_ @Velvetcaveclothing @Bornabadseed and so many others....Go girls!
G: Favourite helmet?
M: My Biltwell Gringo full face. Ride safe!
G: Tell us about your business - Le rendez-vous vintage!
M: Le rendezvous vintage is my vintage shop that I opened 2 years ago. It's my dream job! I need freedom in my life. I could never wake up every day & do something I'm not happy with. I wake up with a smile everyday thinking how lucky I am to be an indenpendant women who loves her life and work.
Go follow Manon on instagram HERE & checkout her vintage store Le Rendez- vous Vintage on facebook HERE
A big thanks to Manon & Dylan Mura! Go see more from Dyan on insta HERE