Episode Summary
On this episode of Utah Business Spotlight, host Peter Anthony sits down with Austin of Salt City Builds, the South Salt Lake motorcycle shop Utah riders trust with the bikes almost nobody else will touch. Salt City Builds is the shop for vintage Japanese, Harley, Ducati, Montesa, Bultaco, and a long list of rare European brands that dealerships stopped supporting decades ago. Austin walks Peter Anthony through the reverse engineering he just finished on a 1974 Indian 50cc, a bike small enough to sit on the table between them, where the electronic components had to be imported from Italy and the stator had to be rebuilt using scooter parts from a different bike that spun the opposite direction.
Austin traces the story back to a four year old kid on an old Honda his dad handed him and how a lifetime around dirt bikes turned into a shop dedicated to keeping vintage motorcycles alive. Salt City Builds specializes in old Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, and Yamahas, but Austin is not a brand loyalist. He just finished a 2006 fuel injected Harley the same morning of the interview, does full restorations on Ducatis old and fairly modern, and takes on the Bultacos, Montesas, and other rarities most Utah shops will not consider. He shares the story of the 1977 Capra 360, one of only about a hundred imported to the United States that year, that stopped Supercross pros in their tracks at a recent event.
Park City Live Event
Market Faster: The AI Mastermind
An invite-only live experience for Utah founders at the Park City Marriott. Strategy, AI, and the room you've been looking for.
Reserve Your SeatWe fill the market where most shops will not deal with this old vintage stuff. The skill and the knowledge to work on them is disappearing and we are here to keep them going.
The conversation turns into the reality of the work. Austin explains why he takes pride in tracking down the strangest and hardest to find parts, why sentimental bikes handed down from a father, grandfather, or grandmother make up a huge share of the shop's work, and why so many auction bikes coming out of Mecum in Las Vegas look beautiful on the outside and hide a 1960 engine that has been sitting underwater on the inside. Peter Anthony pulls out Austin's three bike dream garage, a 1990 to 1994 Harley FXR, a mid two thousands KTM 950 adventure bike, and a Ducati 916 holy grail, and Austin explains why the shop happily works on bikes that are older than the dealership across town.
The episode closes on the philosophy behind Salt City Builds. A dealership is there to sell you a bike. Salt City Builds is there to fix your bike. Utah riders sitting on a garage bike that has not run in years, a father's old Triumph, a grandmother's Honda, a Ducati nobody else will look at, can reach Salt City Builds in South Salt Lake at 2212 South West Temple, Suite 41. Utah Business Spotlight is produced by INCubator Marketing Agency and filmed in Sandy, Utah.
Voice AI Receptionist
Never Miss Another Lead Again
AI-powered virtual receptionist that answers, qualifies, and books — 24/7, in your brand voice.
See How It WorksI take pride in being good at tracking down the strangest and the weirdest parts.
Want this kind of distribution for your business? Apply to be a guest, join us at a Tuesday night marketing event, or explore our marketing services.
