Exile "Discovery Channel's Biker Build Off" Bike

Russell Mitchell's trademark "basic black bike" from his shop Exile Cycles in Sun Valley, CA, usually features a basic engine in a rigid frame topped with a sportster tank, wide rear tire, a solo seat and black paint. Simple. The bike shown here was built by Russell for the Discovery TV Channel's Great Biker Build Off during the winter of 2003/2004 and was premiered at Daytona Speedweek in March 2004. The Exile Discovery Bike is Russell's best bike yet, and its simple, clean, balanced design, together with extreme attention to detail has harolded Russell's evolution from just another eccentric builder to now legendary American bike builder status.

Jim Gianatsis photographed the Exile Discovery bike for the FastDates.com calendars and Website in march 2004 with beautiful brunette model Paige Anderson for the 2006 Iron & Lace calendar. This is the first of Russell's bikes to feature just a black fuel tank and rear, which is really set off by the matching brushed aluminum and painted finish of both engine, front suspension, wheels and frame. The simplicity of the bike's design is exemplified in the handlebars where there are no obvious controls. The clutch is incorporated into a right handed twist grip on the handlebar opposite the throttle. The front brake is operated by a foot lever. And like all Exile bikes the electrical switches and starter button are hidden, many times as small buttons on the underside of the handlebars.

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British expatriot Russell Mitchell first came to Los Angeles in the mid 1990s as an aspiring male model and was soon dating Argentinan model Nancy Flor. Jim Gianatsis hired and worked with Nancy as one of his models for the FastDates.com Calendars. It was through Jim's friendship with Nancy that he soon met Russell who also had a passion for bikes.

Russell and Nancy moved into a house in Van Nuys, CA in 1997 and were married a year later. Work was limited in Los Angeles for male modeling and Russell turned his spare time into building himself a custom bike in in the basic" bare bones" economical style that was popular back in Great Britain.

Just take an old Harley, strip off all the battered bodywork and chrome and paint it black. Russell enjoyed building his first bike so much he knew he wanted to turn his hobby into a business. He brought his friends over from England and they started building customer bikes out of his backyard garage under the name Exile Cycles.

Russell worded hard at promotion with the Harely magazines,exhibiting at Bike Shows and got Jim to feature his bikse in the Iron & Lace calendars over the ensuing years and Exile Cycles was on its way in creating an image that had many customers like famed Hollywood actor George Clooney paying $35,000 for his simple basic black bikes.

Exile Cycles
9249 Glen Oaks Boulevard
Sun Valley, CA 91352
ph: 818.768.7667
www.ExileCycles.com