In 2008 our founder - Megan Williams-O’Mara, started to experiment with bike renovation from her basement workshop in Hastings Old Town. Bikes were found in skips, car boot sales and sometimes donated. Bit by bit Megan learnt the skills to return these classic machines to (somewhere near) their former glory. Over the last decade we’ve perfected these skills, built a team where we can share our different specialisms and fully immersed ourselves into the world of classic bike restoration.
We have a dedicated London restoration workshop which is set up to see projects through from concept to final product plus a network of partnering companies who we work with to provide chroming and specialist paint finishes.
We work to harmoniously balance function and form while delivering outstanding results. A meticulous eye for detail and high levels of craftsmanship are key to the foundations at Bell’s Bespoke.
The Restoration Process
Each project starts with the client making contact to discuss their idea. From the outset we place huge importance on collaboration and communication. So, in the initial stages we swap photos of the unrestored bike, ideas for the design and information relating to its history. Restoration at Bell’s exists on different levels.
A1 Restoration
Where we get the bike back to its original A1 showroom condition. This generally involves removing all existing paint and chrome and reapplying. We recreate all signage, coach lines and each mechanical part is preserved and restored.
Preservation
Where we’ve decided that the original paintwork and or chrome is important to the integrity of the bike. In this case, the frame is treated and sealed. How we treat all other parts are decided at the design stages. This restoration is common either with bikes that hold historical significance, the paint itself holds sentimental value to the client or the paint is still in reasonably good condition and just needs preserving.
Once we’ve agreed and formed a plan and estimate for the project we ask that the bike is brought to the workshop in Hastings or we arrange to have it collected. Our client base in global so wherever the bike is currently we’ll be able to work the logistics of getting it to us and returned at the end of the restoration.
Once we have the bike it’s thoroughly checked so that we can be sure the basic structure is strong enough to undergo each process.
The whole process takes between 6 - 16 months depending on the scale of the project. Regular updates and contact will be kept with the client and tweaks to the process / budget discussed along the way.