Jake Keough (Highwayman Company) - Profile Of An Artist
When and where were you born?
Born in Weymouth Massachusetts, June 18th of 1987.
Are you originally from Oceanside, Ca?
Negative Ghostrider.
What was growing up like for you?
Absolutely hated school, I just wanted to ride my bicycle as much as humanly possible. Me and my four brothers would build dirt jumps, travel to BMX races together and tear shit up haha!
Do you have any siblings?
Yep 4 younger brothers, they are all rulers.
When did you first begin to have a fascination with motorcycles and that culture?
I have a photo of me as a newborn in my dads gas tank bag on one of his sport bikes. It’s in my blood I guess!
Who were some of your biggest inspirations growing up and why?
Definitely my Dad, Smokin’ Mike and my Uncle, Tuff Guy Jeff! They both rode motocross my dad had sport bikes and always rode a ton of miles and Uncle Jeff had Harleys and rode all over the country.
Who are some of your favorite builders?
My Friends for sure! Canyon, Kyosuke, Oliver Jones of the Cut Rate, and then the legends Indian Larry, Steg Von Heintz, Dave Perewitz, to name just a few...
What would you and your friends do for fun in the early days?
Always building bikes, early on it was chopping up bicycles and stealing parts from other bikes to make the coolest bikes we could.
When did you first get into building bikes and developing that passion for motorcycle culture?
Hard to say cuz like I said I grew up dreaming about building bikes and hot rods, but I’d say around 2010 things really got going...
Do you have any other interests outside of motorcycles?
Does riding dirt bikes count hahaha I can never surf enough I try to get in the water every day. Love riding the BMX bike still. My girlfriend Haley and I always find fun stuff to do even if it’s not on the bike.
Tell me about starting Highwayman Co. You have your own shop, correct?
Yes I own Highwayman Company. I always hesitate to cal it a “shop” even tho that’s what it is. I always had the vision that my interest in vintage bikes, cars, vans etc was much more about the places they take you and the people you meet along the way. Much more so than a repair order and some money exchanged.... That’s what I’ve based my business on. Pure passion for this old stuff and getting others out on the Highway!
Our mutual friend DeVingy mentioned your shop is located behind an old HA hangout?
Not exactly, my shop is an old hotrod machine shop (Smokey’s) the boys up front Ghetto Choppers work on mostly newer model Harleys. We have some good friends that are in the Club and we all get along great.
When you're asked, or approached to do a build/restorations ,or any work for a client, how do you generally approach that project? Do you have a particular process?
I usually preface any talks about a job with what I said here previously. I’m not a normal shop, the vintage machines we build and love require much more than a mechanic and a rider. They require a near full time commitment to keeping them on the road. If people are cool with that (and they usually are!) then we start talking about what they want built and off we go.
What have been some of your most proud builds, or projects you’ve worked on?
My brother Jesse and I built The Sorceress and full show long bike in my old shop in our back yard. It was one of the hardest things to do and in a really tough time.
What are you currently working on for 2022 and how have you wanted to approach this year and work differently than that of last year?
This year I told myself I’d stress less on the shop,. I’m a one man deal and can only do so much. At this point all of my customers are awesome and I’m working on their bikes not because it’s the most convenient, or cheapest but because they dig what I have going on. The more builds I can do like that for friends, or people who really value the small operation I have going the better.
What are you most eager to express and explore with your work?
Probably just my take on what’s tuff and whats cool and the opportunity to do that without restraint and get paid for it. Also to keep progressing my welding and machining skills so I can continue to create what’s in my head.
How has your style/approach changed since you’ve first started out on this journey?
It’s definitely gotten much more function over fashion. When I started out, coming from a high performance athlete background I was intrigued by the wild nonsense builds of the 70s, and just doing it because you can. Now it’s come full circle and I get inspired by the no bullshit builds and everything on a motorcycle having a purpose and a place. The Harleys on the east coast and the sport bikes and dirt bikes my dad had when I was a kid inspire me just as much as anything nowadays
How has the pandemic impacted your life these past few years? What have been some ways in which you’ve managed to stay positive and optimistic during this time?
I opened my new shop in the first week the entire world shut down from this pandemic. I think it’s shed some light on how people can’t think for themselves and they just eat up what they are fed in the news... The most positive thing that’s come out of it is that the people in my circle of friends and family all have a very similar viewpoint of this whole thing that’s going on, and it’s really cool and reassuring that instead of this bullshit dividing us up it’s made us all closer. When you know you stand on common ground with the people you associate with it’s easy to be yourself.
Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?
I broke down one time in Fate, Texas. My brother and I were driving cross country with nowhere to go, or be in my Dodge B200 “The Sorcerer” towing choppers behind us. The tow truck driver thought we beamed in from another planet... When we jumped in the rig with him he was loving that we were just out there following our dreams, even tho he was happy with his life having a wife, kids and family. His words stuck with us and Highwayman Company started right there broke down in the middle of nowhere...
“Ain’t Nothin Better Than Leavin’ Behind Where Ya Already Been”
-Highwayman Co.
