Federal x trashhand: Chicago's finest bond over a BMW

Sometimes, a strange sequence of events sparks a lasting friendship. In this story, a sketchy eBay purchase and a work commission led the talented Chicago photographer trashhand to a local custom motorcycle workshop, Federal Moto. That connection led to a rock-solid relationship, built on mutual respect and trust—and this custom BMW motorcycle. It all started when trashhand bought a 1979 BMW R100/7 from an eBay seller in California. “The bike had some work done, so it was about half way to a café racer,” he says. “When it arrived, it was absolute shit. The whole thing was a mess—carbs, brakes,...