Since 1977
About Creative Cycles
Our Philosophy
We Don't Make Claims.
We Let the Work Speak.
While some shops make great claims about this, that, and the other thing — many find it hard to live up to the reputation they create. At Creative Cycles, after five decades in business, we simply don't feel the need to make claims.
We want your business, and we will work hard to earn it — and harder still to keep it. That is, after all, how a family-owned shop remains in business for nearly half a century.
We take genuine pride in our work and in the trust our clients place in us. Every motorcycle that leaves our shop — whether it came in for a routine service or a full custom build — reflects that commitment. Doug is straightforward and honest in everything he does, and that's not something that gets switched on for a sale and switched off afterward. Riders who come in as customers have a way of leaving as friends — and staying that way. Many still call, message, and check in years later. That kind of relationship doesn't happen by accident.
Our History
Five Decades
of Craftsmanship
Founded in New Jersey
Creative Cycles was established in southern central New Jersey — built from the ground up on a commitment to craftsmanship and honest service.
Expansion & Recognition
Relocated to a larger facility in western Wall, NJ. Our reputation for custom builds, high-performance engine work, and precision tuning earned national and international press coverage.
Bel-Ray Lubricants Display — Motorcycle Industry Dealer Show
Creative Cycles supplied the hand-crafted "Playstation" motorcycle to Bel-Ray Lubricants for use in their display at the Motorcycle Industry Dealer Show in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Exclusive Billet Components Line
Doug Keim Creative Cycles introduces its exclusive line of billet components — precision-machined parts engineered and crafted to the same uncompromising standard as every build that carries the Creative Cycles name.
Checkmate & CrossCheck Exhaust Pipes
Creative Cycles introduces its often-imitated Checkmate Exhaust Pipes and CrossCheck Exhaust Pipes — two original designs that would go on to influence the industry and cement Doug Keim's reputation as an innovator as well as a builder.
A Landmark Facility
Expanded into an adjoining building, creating a flagship shop that enabled increasingly ambitious custom work and drew attention from magazines and television worldwide.
ICON, Top Fuel & DoubleDown Rolling Chassis
Doug Keim Creative Cycles introduces three highly limited, hand-crafted rolling chassis packages — the ICON, the Top Fuel, and the DoubleDown — each a purpose-built foundation for serious custom work, available in strictly limited numbers.
LMF & MMF Exhaust Systems
Doug Keim Creative Cycles develops and introduces the LMF and MMF Exhaust Systems — two designs that quickly became among the most popular and most imitated in the custom motorcycle industry.
Weld Racing Master Bike Builders Series
Doug and Creative Cycles are chosen as the first builder featured in the Weld Racing Master Bike Builders Series — selected to showcase Weld's new line of motorcycle wheels, rotors, and pulleys, a recognition of Creative Cycles' standing among the top custom builders in the country.
Weld Racing "ICON" Debut — Daytona Beach Bike Week
Doug debuts the Creative Cycles-built Weld Racing "ICON" at the Weld Racing display trailer during Daytona Beach Bike Week — putting the hand-crafted machine in front of thousands of enthusiasts while showcasing Weld's new line of motorcycle wheels to the industry.
BMF Exhaust System
In the spring of 2003, Doug Keim Creative Cycles designs and introduces the BMF Exhaust System — another bold original from the Creative Cycles workshop that would leave its mark on the custom motorcycle world.
First Artistry in Iron Invitation
In the summer of 2003, Doug receives his first invitation to compete in Artistry in Iron Las Vegas — one of the most prestigious and exclusive custom motorcycle competitions in the world, with fewer than 20 builders invited worldwide.
Tetanus Chassis & Sheet Metal Package
In the spring of 2004, Doug Keim Creative Cycles introduces the ultra-limited, hand-crafted Tetanus Chassis and Sheet Metal Package — the very frame and fuel tank that form the foundation of the iconic Hard Rock Casino Tour Bike.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Roadhouse Tour
In the fall of 2004, Doug is selected as one of only four motorcycle designers and builders chosen to participate in the 2005 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Roadhouse Tour — a national showcase that would put Creative Cycles in front of audiences across the country.
Hard Rock Roadhouse Tour — Winner
Doug Keim and his Creative Cycles-built Hard Rock bike are chosen as the winners of the 2005 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Roadhouse Tour — a defining moment that validated decades of craftsmanship on a national stage.
Fastenal — Official Hardware Partner
In the spring of 2005, Fastenal becomes the official provider of hardware and hardware storage systems to Doug Keim Creative Cycles — a partnership that reflects the shop's commitment to precision, organization, and professional-grade standards at every level of the build process.
Ace-It Polishes — Brand Ambassador
Doug and his Creative Cycles-built "The Rising" become the faces of Ace-It Polishes, appearing in media advertisements and autograph-sized product posters — a natural fit for a builder whose finished work demands nothing less than a flawless shine.
RAACE Foundation Spokesperson
Doug becomes a spokesperson for the RAACE Foundation, a child abuse awareness and prevention organization — using his platform and passion for motorcycles to help shine a light on a cause that matters far beyond the shop floor.
Levinson-Axelrod Attorneys — Brand Ambassador
Doug and his Creative Cycles-built "Agnes" become the faces of Levinson-Axelrod Attorneys of New Jersey, appearing in media advertisements and autograph-sized promotional posters — a testament to the recognition that Creative Cycles' work had earned well beyond the motorcycle world.
Second Artistry in Iron Invitation
Doug receives his second invitation to the prestigious Artistry in Iron Las Vegas — a rare distinction that places him among an elite group of builders worldwide ever invited back to compete a second time at this invitation-only event.
Gators Eyewear — Brand Ambassador
Doug becomes a brand ambassador for Gators Eyewear — a partnership that extends the Creative Cycles name into the lifestyle space and reflects the broader influence Doug had built as one of the most recognized figures in the custom motorcycle world.
Maxi-Blast, Inc. — Official Equipment Supplier
Maxi-Blast, Inc., a manufacturer of media blasting equipment and abrasive media, becomes the official equipment supplier to Doug Keim Creative Cycles — bringing professional-grade surface preparation technology to every build that comes through the shop.
IMBBA Master Bike Builder — Level 2
Doug receives the International Master Bike Builders Association's prestigious Master Bike Builder Level 2 Award — a formal recognition from the industry's own governing body that places him among the most accomplished custom motorcycle builders in the world.
Doug Keim Signature Series — Colonial H-D
Doug and Creative Cycles ink a deal to build a limited edition Doug Keim Signature Series of Harley-Davidsons for Colonial Harley-Davidson in Colonial Heights, Virginia — bringing one-of-a-kind Creative Cycles craftsmanship to a dealership audience for the first time.
Avon Motorcycle Tyres — Poster Campaign
Doug and his Creative Cycles-built "The Rising" become the face of Avon Motorcycle Tyres in an official poster campaign — further cementing Creative Cycles' reputation as a brand that commands attention both on the road and in the marketplace.
IMBBA Hall of Fame — Inducted
In the summer of 2013, Doug Keim is inducted into the International Master Bike Builders Association Hall of Fame — the highest honor the industry can bestow, and a fitting recognition of a career built on uncompromising craftsmanship, original design, and decades of pushing the boundaries of what a custom motorcycle can be.
A Deliberate Reinvention
We made a defining choice: sell the inventory, downsize, and relocate to Umatilla, Florida. Not to slow down — but to refocus entirely on the quality of the work itself.
Umatilla, Florida
A personal, hands-on shop where every build and every service reflects the same standard that has defined Creative Cycles for five decades.
Recognition
Featured in Magazines
& Television Worldwide
Our work has been recognized by national and international publications and featured on television — not through self-promotion, but because the quality of the builds earned that attention on its own merit. We remain proud of that recognition, and equally proud that it has never changed how we approach the work.
Umatilla, Florida
Built on Hard Work.
Focused on You.
In June of 2013, we made a purposeful move — selling our inventory, downsizing our equipment, and relocating our family and business to Umatilla, Florida. It was not a step back. It was a hard-earned decision to double down on what we do best: building and servicing motorcycles with the kind of care and attention that only a truly hands-on shop can offer.
At Creative Cycles, you are never a number. Every customer who walks through our door gets our full attention — a real conversation about what you want, what your bike needs, and how we can deliver something that is genuinely tailored to you. Whether it's a custom build or a routine service, the work we do for you is bespoke. It reflects your vision, your machine, and your standards.
That commitment to one-on-one service is exactly why clients from our New Jersey years still ship their motorcycles down to us. The shop may be smaller — the dedication never has been.
Conveniently located in Umatilla, we're proud to serve riders throughout Lake County and the surrounding Central Florida region — from Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares, and Leesburg, to Clermont, The Villages, Apopka, Ocala, and Orlando. If you ride a Harley in Central Florida, chances are we're closer than you think.
We'd Love to Hear From You
Ready to Discuss
Your Next Build?
We are looking forward to seeing you. Please give us a call or send us a note — and let's talk motorcycles.
— Doug Keim and Family