Business customizes, builds motorcycles

Max Key's affinity for motorcycles began decades before he opened American Road Hog Cycles in 2001 with co-owner Jason Antonelli.

"When I turned 16 my parents gave me the family car because they didn't want me to have a motorcycle, so I sold it and bought a motorcycle anyway," Key said. "Now I've been riding more than 40 years. You just can't beat the freedom to ride."

A motorcycle repair shop, American Road Hog Cycles provides services such as oil and tire changes, brake jobs, custom paint jobs, motor packages, engine work and restorations.

"Customers feel like family when they come in here," Antonelli said. "We show them what is wrong with their motorcycle and really make them a part of it."

Key and Antonelli do 100 percent of the work and restorations in-house, with the exception of paint jobs, which they send out to be completed in a few days.

"People know our work and our quality in the biker community," Key said. "We are known first for our customer service and second because we do things that other shops don't do, like fix anything that a customer will bring us."

The shop was born in a two-car garage, which increased to a 2,000-square-foot space by 2007. Since an additional 3,000 square feet was added onto the business last fall, Antonelli and Key have expanded their services.

"Our business started growing to where we had to come in everyday and push motorcycles outside so we could have room," Key said.

One new feature is a showroom, in which used bikes are on display and for sale. The men also added a parts counter, so they can sell various items to customers who want to work on a motorcycle from home. There is also space with a television and chairs so customers can sit down and relax while waiting for work to be done.

Key's son, Jeremy Klintman, now runs an appointment-only tattoo shop inside the new space. Customers can bring in a design or tell Klintman what they want.

Ultimately, the expansion gives the men the chance to continue growing their business.

"We take a bike that is real hard for people to fix, and we get it done," Key said.

Typical projects

• Performance services
• Restorations
• Fix wrecked bikes to like-new condition
• Custom paint

American Road Hog Cycles, 11829 Dula LaneCypress, 281-970-1200, www.americanroadhogcycles.com