Mount Clemens

Wet 'n' Wild

By Sarah Cormier
C & G Staff Writer

Local motorcycle fabricator appears on Discovery Channel show

MOUNT CLEMENS — When local motorcycle parts fabricator Kevin Verkest heard that Motor City Motors was doing a casting call, he decided to audition to be on the show.

After all, Motor City Motors — which features brothers Dave and James Kaye, founders of Detroit Bros. Custom Cycles in Ferndale as the hosts — uses Michigan builders and technicians to put together unique vehicles.

Making unique parts for motorcycles is what Verkest does best, so he knew he’d be a good fit for the show. He just had one special request: As a Harrison Township resident who has always lived near the lake, Verkest asked that he be involved in building something that was water related.

“I just thought it would be a good fit for me,” he said.

Verkest, who has done some fabrication work for the Kaye brothers before, soon got the call that he would be cast for the show, but he didn’t know what project he’d be working on or if the producers would grant his wish. 

On the first day of the show, Verkest learned that he was going to be on a team that was charged with creating an amphibious motorcycle, meaning the bike would also be able to run in water if built correctly. 

Verkest said he was pleased with the task, but thought it would be nearly impossible, especially considering the team of four had five days to build the device.

“When we got there, I thought we’d never be able to do it,” he said. “I thought it couldn’t possibly be any better for me.”

The team had to use a Harley-Davidson Sportster and two Jet Skis to make the amphibious motorcycle. A second team of four was given the same task, but had different tools to do so — a Suzuki 600 and an aluminum boat.

The two teams raced their respective vehicles, doing a loop on land and in the Detroit River to prove that their motorcycles worked in the water. The team competing against Verkest experienced some trouble on land, then their vehicle sunk when they tried to go in the water, but Verkest’s team’s bike did well in both topographies. The entire process was taped and shown on the Discovery Channel the evening of Jan. 25.

Verkest’s said he wasn’t surprised that his team won the build. 

“There were doubts that the vehicle wouldn’t have enough buoyancy to float,” he said, adding that he didn’t agree with that diagnosis.  “I was very confident after the third day.”

Verkest, who is 47, did admit that being a part of such a task can be tough, because reputation is riding on the win.

“It’s very stressful, very difficult. There was so much to do. There’s no time to assess anything,” he said. “I would have been pretty disappointed if I didn’t finish it.”

Marty Rosalik of Oakland Township was one of the men on the same team as Verkest, who is an engineer.

“It was an interesting build. It was challenging to get it all done in the time allotted with the limited fabrication tools that they had,” he said.

Rosalik said that like Verkest, he thought the other team would have a more straightforward time building their amphibious motorcycle.

“I think, conceptually, the other guys had an easier build,” he said.

The winning team received $5,000 in tools and Verkest said that although he was certainly happy to receive the gifts, the challenge more allowed him, his wife and three daughters to gloat a little. 

“It was cool so that my kids could brag about it,” he said. “It’s a great challenge and great way to showcase your skills.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.