MEDIA
Iron & Air interview
September 2012
CROSSROADS
ALTHOUGH THE IDEA AND CONCEPT OF MARIA MOTORCYCLES HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW,
the company was officially founded in 2011 and the men from Lisbon, Portugal, have made a dramatic impression on the custom scene in a very short time. While it’s not easy finding old classic bikes in Portugal, they’ve worked hard to find what they need, scouring the Internet and finding leads for that long forgotten barn find. To date, they have completed four stunningly beautiful bikes and have a number of projects in the making.
We sat down with headmaster mechanic and designer Luis Correia to hear what he had to say about the company.
IRON & AIR: How did Maria Motorcycles get started?
LC: It is not bullshit to say that Maria has always existed inside of ourselves since the beginning of time. The feeling of freedom, the wish to be different and unique, the sports we engage in, the trips or the type of friends and places we hang around are just some examples of things that have been a part of us. It’s funny that today we still find things in common like we did when we were kids such as riding our bicycles and breaking our arms skating.
I think we have been riding four different roads on our lives just to get to this main crossroad where we met and Maria was naturally born. We were in the perfect place at the perfect time and had the luck to work in the same city area and business. You get four designers/ advertisers/marketers together talking about the love of bikes and you have a brand instantly. That’s what’s happened. Maria is a natural born brand. The rest is hard work and lots of time and money getting it grown with the values you’ve created for it. Hope our future sons-in- law won’t mess it up later!
I&A: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in bringing Maria Motorcycles to fruition?
LC: Besides doing it in a country where it’s very hard to find anything for motorcycles and we have to import almost everything, the biggest challenge is to get four brains aligned with all of the ideas for the next bike.
I&A: What is the most creative build that you’ve completed?
LC: Your first love will always be remembered for life with a special feeling. Eva is that first tattoo on Maria Motorcycles’ arm. Dedication met creativity and we had plenty of time to work on it without a budget. Those are things that make this unique bike so simple yet so different among so many other XSs. On the other hand, every love is being lived on the edge, so it’s unfair for the others because when you have a Maria in your hands and get it running, you forget all the other rides you have been on. And this is our purpose: not to have it one-up any other, but with a single and unique personality, be strong and confident for its owner.
I&A: Tell us about the Maria Motorcycles crew.
LC: Maria is made of four hearts, each one beating different from the other, yet with the same passion and genetics about getting to live it. Luis is the headmaster on mechanics and also bike and brand designer. Filipe is more on the marketing side and is a long time bike rider and surfer. He has pushed Rui into Maria because of his past as a surfer, musician and clothing designer. Finally, Diogo is more in the fashion area. That guy is impossible to follow and is always on the next move.
I&A: What are your goals for Maria Motorcycles in the coming year and beyond?
LC: In terms of business, we could say that it is our goal to go abroad and get international and we are already in touch with other countries in Europe and across the ocean. On the other hand, it is a mandatory goal to not lose our passion doing this and keep on riding with our friends. This is the only way to keep Maria’s true soul alive. Our fans feel that and that’s what they want to have for themselves when considering having a true Maria bike.
I&A: Where are you from? Tell us a little bit about your background.
LC: We are all from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. We all have a huge link to the ocean and all of us work in the design and advertising area.
I&A: What do you ride?
LC: We ride several Marias, all different on the outside, but share the same type of feeling. For now, a 1980 Yamaha XS650 (having its last rides because it’s on sale), Kawasaki W650, Triumph 900 (ex-Thruxton), Triumph 900 (ex-Bonneville) and a Harley Davidson 1200 (ex- 883). Soon, a 1980 Kawasaki Z750, a work in progress, will soon join the gang!
I&A: What music is playing in your garage?
LC: We have very different musical tastes from each other. From Slayer and Black Flag to jazz and blues, we listen all kinds of stuff.
I&A: Tell us about the Maria Motorcycles crew.
LC: Maria is made of four hearts, each one beating different from the other, yet with the same passion and genetics about getting to live it. Luis is the headmaster on mechanics and also bike and brand designer. Filipe is more on the marketing side and is a long time bike rider and surfer. He has pushed Rui into Maria because of his past as a surfer, musician and clothing designer. Finally, Diogo is more in the fashion area. That guy is impossible to follow and is always on the next move.
I&A: What are your goals for Maria Motorcycles in the coming year and beyond?
LC: In terms of business, we could say that it is our goal to go abroad and get international and we are already in touch with other countries in Europe and across the ocean. On the other hand, it is a mandatory goal to not lose our passion doing this and keep on riding with our friends. This is the only way to keep Maria’s true soul alive. Our fans feel that and that’s what they want to have for themselves when considering having a true Maria bike.
I&A: Where are you from? Tell us a little bit about your background.
LC: We are all from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. We all have a huge link to the ocean and all of us work in the design and advertising area.
I&A: What do you ride?
LC: We ride several Marias, all different on the outside, but share the same type of feeling. For now, a 1980 Yamaha XS650 (having its last rides because it’s on sale), Kawasaki W650, Triumph 900 (ex-Thruxton), Triumph 900 (ex-Bonneville) and a Harley Davidson 1200 (ex- 883). Soon, a 1980 Kawasaki Z750, a work in progress, will soon join the gang!
I&A: What music is playing in your garage?
LC: We have very different musical tastes from each other. From Slayer and Black Flag to jazz and blues, we listen all kinds of stuff.
I&A: Tell us something random about Maria Motorcycles.
LC: Maria is the name of almost every Portuguese woman. It is then complimented with a second name, giving it differentiation: Maria Leonor, Maria Manuela, Maria Rosa., etc. This is the main idea for our business: having a strong connection with our country, giving a good vibe with the sympathy and proximity of a name that is a part of us, complementing its simplicity with strong visuals and impacting people with a unique personality on every new bike.
I&A: Any personal fun facts?
Luis loves to climb and has a dog named Alfredo with the worst poop smell in the world. Filipe makes huge wheelies and has broken his arms six times skating. Rui is drummer of a band named ‘The Temple’ and Diogo has his body full of random tattoos with no special meaning!
Maria Riding Company and Maria Motorcycles are registered trade marks. All rights reserved.