We Tour High Performance Motorcycle Shop: Motorsport Exotica

From a basement in Connecticut, to a specialized garage in downtown Los Angeles, Motorsport Exotica has its sights set on the high-end performance motorcycle market in southern California.

Jarred Fixler wasn’t always involved in the motorcycle industry. Growing up in rural Connecticut, Fixler first got involved in motorsports when he started ditching middle school to sweep the floors of a Porsche shop. He did this so he could be around the automotive artwork and hardware he had admired since childhood. This lead to a short car racing career before jumping on his first two-wheeled machine at age 17. Ever since, motorcycles has been his true passion.

Fixler founded Motorsport Exotica in the basement of his house after observing the high demand of repair and modification in the local sportbike market. The shop regularly housed nearly 10 bikes and averaged three custom build projects per year.

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Expansion moved operations to proper shop facilities accompanied by capital investments in multiple bike lifts, tire changing equipment and even a DynoJet dynamometer. Last year, the decision was made to take the company to the next level. Fixler left the comfort of his private office and quit his managerial position at a large, stable corporation to pursue his passion and devote all of his resources towards the bike shop. In order to strategically position itself in a very opportunity-rich market, Motorsport Exotica was uprooted from the east coast and headed west. The company set up shop is now in downtown LA and fully operational.

Motorsport Exotica, LLC is a performance-based retail shop catering towards the high-end motorsport enthusiast that specializes in high-end sportbike builds and race bikes. The shop also engages in bike sales, consignment, parts sales, routine maintenance, full rebuilds, extensive modification and dyno tuning. Remote services include track-side bike service, suspension tuning and riding coaching.

Like other shops and dealerships in the area, the company is also a licensed distributor for numerous parts and chemical manufacturers such as Bridgestone Tires, Arrow Exhaust, Ohlins, Brembo, Marchesini Wheels and Lucas Oil. However, Motorsport Exotica’s introductory service special is its $25 front and rear off-bike tire change in an attempt to attract customers to the new shop in town and begin to build a local client base. With this very common job calling for $40-50 at other shops in the area, Motorsport Exotica shouldn’t have a problem getting new faces in the door.

After moving its operations to its new location on the west coast and getting back up to speed, the company has set a goal of completing 5 ground-up custom bike builds for 2015. Projects are imagined by the Motorsport Exotica team or its client—aesthetics are rendered, Motorsport Exotica confirms feasibility and then goes to work to make the renderings a reality. Currently, there are three projects in the works.

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One that we received permission to discuss is a 1987 Cagiva Alazzurra (AKA Ducati Pantah) with a Ducati ST4 swingarm, 180-sized rear tire, and a Yamaha YZF-R6 front end. This bike will retain the dual rear shock format with hardware replaced by Ohlins components and a custom JUB tail. All engine case and valve train covers have been sandblasted and polished. The electrical system and wiring will be completely redone and routed through a Motogadget m-Unit digital control box. The rear sets and custom chain guard have been CNC milled in house. We will definitely be stopping back by once this beauty is complete.

Finding a reliable, knowledgeable and friendly shop in town to handle all of your moto needs can be a difficult task, but once an establishment that meets this criteria is located, it makes the hunt worthwhile. Surprisingly enough, there hasn’t been many full-service sportbike shops in the LA proper or high-profile westside area lately so Motorsport Exotica’s move to town might have been right at the opportune time.

Regardless of market saturation, when passion meets expertise, a business is bound to flourish and outmaneuver the competition. We are excited to follow the shop’s custom build projects in the future so stay tuned for coverage!

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Photos courtesy of RideApart staff, Motorsport Exotica and Dustin Coury.

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