Keep eyes peeled: Thieves nab unique, custom bikes – UPDATED

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This is artist and bike builder Neal Fegan in September 2008, riding one of three of his bikes that were stolen from an art gallery in St. Johns last week.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)


UPDATE: Neal says he got the bikes back! “Very happy to get all my bikes back. I guess they stayed in the neighborhood and enough people I know knew they were missing so got lucky. No harm to bikes, seems like whomever took them tried riding them but couldn’t figure them out (or sell them). Thank you very much for the help.”

People list bikes on our Stolen Bike Listings every day; but when I hear about special bikes being nabbed — especially bikes that are custom and one-of-a-kind — I like to highlight them in hopes that it helps lead to a recovery. In the past few weeks I’ve heard of two such thefts.

On March 2nd, Matheas Michaels had his black tandem stolen from N Alberta and Interstate Ave. while he was participating in a bike move. The bike is a custom-build created by Adam George of Bound Bikes. We featured it last June after seeing it on a Pedalpalooza ride.

Michaels says the bike is “very near and dear” to his heart and he now fondly reminisces about its many amazing adventures including; bike moves, dance parties on Mt. Tabor (where he’d haul up a 300 pound sound system), hauling 400 pounds of wine from Salem to Portland (up and over the West Hills!), and the many bike dates he’s enjoyed on it with his significant other. “We had it built specifically for the two of us and we’ve put incredible amounts of time, money, and love into it — it’s totally heartbreaking to have it gone, but it’s distinctive enough that I’m hoping a little publicity in the cycling community could get it back for us!”

Michaels’ missing tandem is full of distinctive features like HALO wheels, disc brakes, single-side drive, integrated air compressor trailer hitch, and more. Below are two photos of the bike:

BikeBOT Radio Ride-28

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

On March 13th, thieves stole three art bikes from the C3 art gallery in St. Johns. The bikes were built by artist and fabricator Neal Fegan of Montana Transit Authority. We’ve profiled Fegan’s work several times here on BikePortland. His bikes are very hard to miss and I can’t imagine anyone getting away with selling them.

Fegan says two of his lowrider long bikes were taken (including the blue one in these photos) as well as a big, upright creation that’s unpainted and has suspension (his bikes are hard to describe!).

Here are a few more photos of one of the three stolen bikes:

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All of these bikes should be very easy to spot. If you see them, please call the police non-emergency line (503) 823-3333 or drop us a line and we’ll connect you with Michaels and Fegan.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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K'Tesh
K'Tesh
11 years ago

Bike Thieves SUCK!

Urban Lace
11 years ago

We are so sorry Neil! You are an amazing artist and we can not imagine how you are feeling right now. Hopefully with the word out, you will get your amazing sculptural bikes back. xo

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
11 years ago

I’ve done a few bike moves, and I’ve always been weary of my cargobike. If it’s not within reaching distance, I lock it so it at least someone cannot ride away on it. I’ve noticed that a lot of others do not do so.

dan
dan
11 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

Moving heavy objects with your bike can definitely be tiring! 😉

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
11 years ago

That chopper, I sat on it at Pedal Nation a couple years ago. What a tangible sense of power it gave me! I hope that sensation is kryptonite for the thief.

dan
dan
11 years ago

Stealing that chopper is crazy…it’s way too recognizable to ride around or sell. I bet that even up and down I-5 there are enough people reading Bike Portland that you couldn’t even sell it in Seattle or San Francisco. So…what are they going to do with it, ride it around inside their house?

Richard Allan
Richard Allan
11 years ago
Reply to  dan

Hard to imagine a more conspicuous bike than that one. Kind of like stealing the batmobile and hoping you won’t be noticed.

A
A
11 years ago
Reply to  dan

Keeping an eye out in Seattle, but this piece of art has sadly not unlikely already found its way to a metal recycler.

was carless
was carless
11 years ago
Reply to  A

That would be like showing up at the scrap dealer with a brand new yellow Lamborghini to sell for scrap.

A
A
11 years ago
Reply to  was carless

True if you actually believe metal recyclers care more about bikes than making a quick buck off tweakers.

Ted Buehler
11 years ago

Hope they all come back home.

Keep your bikes locked, folks.

& if you’re surfing craigslist looking for these beauties, Adam mentioned that the wheels on the tandem are valuable enough to be sold separately from the easily distinguishable frame.

Ted Buehler

Ted Buehler
11 years ago

More pics of Matheas’s tandem here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregraisman/8522529431/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregraisman/8522527791/sizes/o/in/photostream/
(hit “original” for detail on the distinctive drive train)

Marid
Marid
11 years ago
Reply to  Ted Buehler

If you have any familiarity with tandems, the drivetrain definitely sets it apart.

Matheas Michaels
Matheas Michaels
11 years ago
Reply to  Ted Buehler

Thank you kindly Ted, the wheels were worth more than most of my other bikes combined… I’m hoping my baby comes back to me. Or at least parts of her. And thank you so much for the write up Jonathon, I can’t express my appreciation enough.

Opus the Poet
11 years ago

Stealing those art bikes is like stealing the Mona Lisa and expecting to fence it on e-bay.