Modeled after a similar club in London, the Shed is cool with or without two wheels.
Los Angeles has had a diverse and lively motorcycle culture for almost as long as the world has had motorcycles.
Way back in the dark days before sport bikes, large Harleys and Indians and their owners cruised up PCH (not “The PCH,” please) to Neptune’s Net for fried clams that would stop their hearts as quickly as the drum brakes (on the older models) stopped their bikes. (Dom and Brian paused there before blowing the doors off the Ferrari-driving yuppie in the first Fast and Furious. Johnny Utah talks with Tyler at Neptune’s in the epic surf boondoggle Point Break, too.)
With the rise of performance cycles, the Rock Store up in the hills above the beach on Mulholland, or Newcomb’s Ranch in the pine trees up at the tip top of Angeles Crest Highway became destination lunch spots for bikers in full one-piece leather suits and Troy Lee-painted Arai helmets.
The Bike Shed, shortly before opening night.
Mark Vaughn
There was never a biker bar, though, that matched the clean, well-lit place in Hemingway’s short story. Okay, maybe Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon down in the OC? Defiant Ones? Slipper Clutch? But you could argue there has never been a hangout space made specifically for motorcycle riders and their significant others quite like Bike Shed Moto Co. in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles.
Open only a week—after a COVID-caused delay of a year and a half—Bike Shed is a place to lower your kickstand and kick back for a while. Founded by a London couple, Dutch and Vikki von Someren, it is based on their other motorcycle hangout, also called Bike Shed, in London. The goal was to create a welcoming space where bikers from all backgrounds could come and share their mutual enthusiasm while maybe having a few Bike Shed Burgers ($16) with Mac & Cheese Croquettes ($12) while quaffing a Guinness on tap ($9 for 16 oz.).
Bike Shed welcomes all.
Mark Vaughn
With 30,000 square feet, it’s spacious, not sardine-mashing-crowded like a lot of places in the City of Angels on a Saturday night, with a welcoming staff and even a helmet check (though they managed to lose one of my favorite Dainese riding gloves when I was there, my favorite!). Regardless, the staff is remarkably friendly and the crowd is unpretentious, both welcome traits in this sometimes-shallow city.
“We wanted people to walk in here and be blown away,” said Dutch, who carved out a surprising slice of time to talk on opening night. “I mean, when somebody thinks of a destination themed around motorcycle culture and motorcycle people, they don’t expect great service, great food, a high level of comfort, gorgeous cocktails, and amazing curated retail and events.”
Yes, there’s a barber shop, a tattoo parlor, and retail space to buy everything from a Bike Shed T-shirt to a Bremont watch, among other clothing and moto gear. Ducati’s Scrambler brand has a presence, as does Indian and even Super73.
One entrance fronts on the parking courtyard full of bikes.
Mark Vaughn
“We really wanted to blow people away because motorcycle riders kind of deserve better,” Dutch said. “I think the industry, the scene, the media, they focus on the one-percenters. They focus on Sons of Anarchy, and they focus on people doing things they shouldn’t do on motorcycles. But 99% of us who ride motorcycles, we don’t necessarily even call ourselves bikers, however passionate we are. But we like good food and a nice cocktail. And we want somewhere we can bring our better half who may ride as well—and somewhere we can just hang out and get a tattoo or a haircut. And we just kind of thought, ‘Why doesn’t this exist?’ And so our goal was to create a home for people who are like us.”
“Basically, we were very selfish,” said Vikki. “We created a space that we wanted to hang out in, with the food that we wanted to eat, the service we like, we felt we would love being greeted with a virtual hug as you walk through the door. And yeah, just somewhere we could just enjoy our passions.”
If you really like the place, you can take another step and become a member for $1500—peanuts compared to prices of most private clubs like, say, the Jonathan Club or the California Club, both just a short ride away on the other side of downtown Los Angeles but light years apart in their attitude toward wearing motorcycle leathers at the bar.
Club members get access to a private bar in the back that looks like someplace James Bond would meet Tatiana Romanova. There are also club rides, and you never have to change out of your Dainese riding gear.
The Bike Shed is located at 1580 Industrial St. in Los Angeles. If you ride there you can park inside the courtyard and sit at an outside table and just admire your own motorcycle and those parked around it.
Keyword: Los Angeles’ Bike Shed Is the Cool New Place to Park Your Motorcycle, Hang Out