In Conversation With LA-Based Stuntman, Fred North.

He had barely been on the planet a decade when a young Fred North took in the sights of a helicopter landing at Saint Louis, Senegal. Fast forward to today, and with over 200 films to his name, North has become one of the world's most renowned helicopter stuntmen. His credits include blockbuster titles like Transformers, James Bond: Spectre, Mission Impossible, and Fast & Furious. Recently, Jeremy Tagand, Head of Workshop in Sydney, sat down to chat with North about his customised Deus Ex Machina XT500, the importance of character when it comes to motorcycle selection and why a shared vision proves to be the perfect ingredient for a build across continents. 

I'm born and raised between Africa and Eastern Europe. When I was thirteen or fourteen in Ethiopia, they had a lot of Suzuki 100 CC and 125 CC and that was my introduction to the motorcycle world. Very simple bikes and I loved them. I was riding those bikes until I was seventeen, and then when my family moved from Ethiopia to Germany, that's when I decided to go bigger and bought a V-max Yamaha 1200 CC. I've been riding ever since and I’m almost 64, so I’ve basically been riding all my life.

The thing about motorcycles to me, it’s the same problem with cars. For me, to connect with a car it can’t be brand new - there’s no soul. It’s not just the engine, it's the smell of the leather, the vibration of the drive. Of course the look is important but it can not be too clean - there has to be some character for me to connect with. And of course there has to be a stick shift. 

With motorcycles - I’m not the kind of guy that’s putting two hours in the garage for a half hour ride. I love to get an older one and transform it to brand new - by the end I’m still connected to the history. It’s important that when I start the bike, we go straight away. With the XT we designed together, and it was already an amazing bike. The history of XT’s at Dakar is amazing and I have covered the rally a few times as a helicopter pilot. That was a great connection to build on.

I am lucky enough to have a few customs from Deus. I also have two custom Triumph Bonneville - one of which I'm still modifying. I think I’ve spent the price of a Porsche on that bike and will probably never stop working on it. I’ve also got a TW200 Yamaha - for the beach - which is a little bit customised.

I had been looking at the XT for nearly ten years. To me it was never a pretty bike, the shape was too much for me and seemed slightly out of proportion, but it’s history was undeniable. Then four years ago, in Malibu, I saw a beautifully customised XT parked on the side of the road - the only one I’d seen in LA for 20 years. A year and a half later in Sydney my wife and I went to Deus and saw the XT on the floor next to a mechanic I could speak French with (Jeremy Tagand) and knew it was time.

We bonded immediately and there was great communication despite the distance between us. We made most decisions right away and shared a vision from the beginning. There were a couple of things that pictures couldn’t do justice, and even seeing the completed bike photographed beautifully… it’s still night and day to the real thing.

To have a custom bike like this, built with someone you don’t know, it’s a bit like building a house with an architect. He has to honour your vision and at the same time make it technically correct and beautiful. With this motorcycle I had to make sure Jeremy was aligned with me to keep the soul of the XT500. Some builders go too far from the original product - it’s very easy to transform the bike to something new, something that is too shiny. For example, an inverted fork is amazing, it’s there on this bike, but I don’t want to see too much, so we painted it black to blend in with the bike.

The exhaust was a big conversation. Something too big and loud would take away from the beauty of the bike, making it all about the noise - probably annoying anyone who sees it. This one is perfectly proportionate and I commend Jeremy for choosing it. It was that series of choices: the seat and the tank that created the streamlined silhouette of the final build. It’s easy to say everything's perfect after the build is done but these decisions are all crucial in the process - Jeremy did a great job working with me on those.

Seeing pictures for two years - even the beautiful ones done by Deus in Sydney - it is still night and day to seeing the bike in real life. The character of the bike and the details can be appreciated up close. As a pilot, I have a soft spot for zooming in on the switches and such. Of course I now get to ride it as well. I know it’s going to be a lot of fun especially up in the canyons around Malibu where it’s miles and miles of endless turns. I’m sure I’ll get a few thumbs up on the road.

It’s amazing to have it delivered by Jeremy. It was such a personal experience and we worked together so closely, it shows that Deus and Jeremy really care and are passionate about going all the way. It’s a big deal to come all the way (from Sydney to the U.S), it’s not next door!

I definitely have a few more ideas and I'm sure it won’t be the last time we meet.