John Ryland’s Classified Moto Stars In The Walking Dead
“We are big fans of bringing old, discarded things back to life,” John Ryland introduced his company, Classified Moto, which is based in Richmond, VA. They went from his residential garage to a former mule barn sans heat or air-conditioning. “But it’s home and it’s just the way we like it.”
(Image: Gene Page/Richmond Times-Dispatch)
The custom motorcycle house was not Ryland’s first choice of career, however. He only started Classified Moto the day he got laid off from an 11-year advertising job in 2011. “Staring an uncertain future in its scary face,” Ryland said, “I decided to roll the dice and turn my newfound love for motorcycles into a full-time job.”
And he has not looked back since.
(Image: Alexa Welch Edlund/Richmond Times-Dispatch)
No retail showroom or storefront, Classified Moto does not even receive public visitors. Their niche is ‘Classified’ motorcycles. Not café racers and definitely not choppers. Neither are they bobbers, street trackers or rat bikes. What they are is Frankenstein – “a combo of old and modern components that hopefully add up to something fun and unique”.
The guys at Classified has a YouTube web series called Restricted, the recent episode of which is aptly named Frank from a 2007 Triumph Speed Triple they turned into one of their own. Frank is well-dressed in a custom upholstered seat, custom stainless steel exhaust, a custom single-sided swing arm and a thick gold chain.
Bikes like Frank, an amalgamation of steel and fiberglass and other unimaginable parts, are what caught the attention of The Walking Dead start Norman Reedus, playing the character of Daryl Dixon. Reedus recently bought a himself a Classified bike and even introduced Ryland’s work to the producers of the show.
Wherever you are, like Ryland said, it will be easy to recognize the CM spirit whether it is in custom motorcycles or other sorts of bikes. Even easier, you can find and reach out to them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and their Official Website.