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Tim Harney

Tim Harney is a designer and fabricator of high-end cars and motorcycles. He lives and works in New York City. We caught up with Tim to talk about his career, interests, and get some thoughtful advice.

Photography by Adam Lerner @adamlerner

You are a product designer turned motorcycle builder. Tell us about that career path.

I started fabricating as soon as I could hold a hammer. I was born into a family of writers and learned most of my mechanical know-how from the mistakes of my younger self. I found a deep sense of contentment from figuring out how something worked and how I could potentially do it better. Not once in my life have I thought a product could not be improved, which turns out is a career in itself. I graduated college with a bachelor degree in industrial design. I tried to stretch that title as far as I could by getting deeply involved in jobs that I either didn't understand or wasn't familiar with. Just like a foreign language, immersion seemed to be the best technique. I was everything from a lighting designer to structural engineer to a shop foreman to a shoe designer before I arrived where I currently am now, which I’m not sure has a title. I am typically designing and fabricating high-end cars and motorcycles, but I try to get my hands dirty in just about anything that looks difficult.

Any noteworthy career stories?

A lot of baptism-by-fire. The first time I showed up at a job site as the "lead" structural engineer was on a $38 million home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, not having practiced a lick of what I was now the "lead" on. I nervously commanded a jobsite of 30 workers while on the phone with my good friend, who was an actual licensed engineer. He was nice enough to dedicate an entire day helping his wet behind the ears 20 something year old friend on his first job.

Any heroes along the way (aside from this savior of a friend)?

A life without a hero is a life lacking true inspiration. It’s like the volume can never truly be turned up if you're not striving for something bigger than yourself. That being said, I don't think I could stay I idolize one particular person. Too many to count.

So how do you jump from a steady design job to making a living off motorcycles? Were there any moments where you doubted your decision?

The transition from design job to fabricator was solely based in ego. I, like a lot of people in New York City, don't enjoy the idea of propelling someone else’s creativity while stifling my own. It’s gut wrenching to get your designs torn down by logistics and money. I took the message I was given when I was laid off in 2008, which was, it’s time to start you and stop them...It was an easy decision to make. Imagine waking up tomorrow and just declaring you were never gonna eat meat again. Sounds hard until you start. Then it’s just moment-to-moment until months and years go by and you've been a vegetarian for 10 years. Life is about perspective and if you can find some in your younger years, then things will turn out okay.

Any tips for people looking to do something similar?

I'm not sure what my career would be called, but I can speak to the sense of self-worth you get from working for yourself. It is terribly satisfying. You'll never work a day in your life if you truly appreciate why and what you're doing. Also, I am a big advocate of asking questions. For someone who wants to get started in anything, there aren't enough questions in the world that you can ask.

What are some projects you have in the works currently? What was the bike we saw in the photos?

Currently I'm working on a 1978 Ferrari GT4 Dino, a 1990 Japanese Suzuki Carry food truck, a couple race bikes (one for myself and one for my wife), a 1995 BMW K100 RT, a 1976 BMW 2002 with a Skyline GTR motor in it, a building in Manhattan, and a building in Dumbo, Brooklyn. The bike in the photo is a 1945 Harley Davidson Flathead WLA.

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Who inspires you?

I volunteer at Columbia University's Formula SAE program every other Monday teaching kids the racing dynamics of cars. Once in a blue moon I do the same for Formula 1 in schools. These experiences inspire me.

What are some of your favorite places in NYC?

I'm a creature of habit. Immortalizing my younger days in New York City is almost the same emotion you get when you're at a flea market and you find a toy you use to have as a child. It's a rush of surprise and happiness. Katz's Deli, The Met, Barnes and Noble, any fabrication shop, and Classic Car Club to name a few.

Favorite books or films?

Anything by Elmore Leonard.

Hobbies?

Building things out of my depth.

What are ways that you find to relax and re-charge?

I relax when I'm on a racetrack. My heart calms itself and life gets really simple, really quickly. It’s something I need in my life or else it bleeds out into my daily life which means someone is getting a ticket (me).

Tim is 5’10, 200lbs, and wears a size large. See more of Tim’s work here:  timharneymotorcycles.com/


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