Joey Landeis

Bike: Moto Guzzi V7 Stone

Profiles: www.shittyhelmets.com @ShittyHelmets

When did you start riding and what inspired you to do so?

I started riding dirt bikes at a young age. My parent bought my brothers and I a 1993 Yamaha PW50, then a Yamaha RT100 to catch up with our growth. I'd ride all day long, taking breaks only to share with my brothers. While riding dirt trails was fun, by far the most exciting thing was riding to the end of our dirt road onto the street and opening the throttle wide open. That excitement laid dormant for 20 years until I finally had the balls to get my street license. I tried out 13 bikes before I bought my first bike, a Moto Guzzi V7 Stone. That transverse air-cooled V-Twin, low center of gravity, and hot rod sounding exhaust had me at hello.

What was your first bike?

My Moto Guzzi V7 Stone is my first street bike and current bike. It looks great stock, but it's on another level with my Dart Fly Screen, clubman handlebars, custom exhaust from GuzziTech, Cafe seat, and fender eliminator kit

What makes it special?

This bike is special to me because I made it my own. It's clean and retro, but has modern tech that makes it a smooth and safe ride. I love it, my buddies love it, and I've earned respect from fellow riders.

Do you have any favourite riding destinations?

Every ride is a great ride, but my favorite ride is Palm Springs. Part of the fun of riding is being immersed in the environment. The sounds, sites, smells, the feels of the wind makes you feel more alive than you could ever feel in a car. Palm Springs is on another level because of the expansive landscapes, the heat, and removal of all distractions and noise that comes with city riding.

What are your passions outside of riding?

Painting and design. I'm an Art Director / Designer for an automotive ad agency by day, and own/operate a custom helmet painting company, Shitty Helmets, by night. I truly get to live my dream of being an artist full time. This along with riding allows me to live 100% free.

Do you have any bike plans for the year?

I'm riding in Portland, Oregon and Mexico this month. Who knows where I'll be riding the rest of the year. Shitty Helmets is poised to grow bigger than ever. And not necessarily in terms of money, but in terms of community. We're acquiring artists, illustrators, fans, and supporters every week. I'm excited to meet more great like minded people who share my same passion for art and motorcycles and see where life takes me.

Check out ShittyHelmets if you