MILTON — Dan Kramer is a man of many talents.
In addition to regularly building motorcycles, he has a knack for creating metal sculptures, some of which are on display in his front yard.
WATCH: Part 1 – Kramer share insight about his unique yard art >
Over the years, the Massachusetts native has built around 30 motorcycles while working with fellow enthusiasts. Kramer also has turned metal and vintage parts into yard art.
WATCH: Part 2 – Kramer shares insight about his unique yard art >
Here he shares some insight into his hobby.
No degree required. “Some people can pick it up quickly and some people can’t,” Kramer said. “Everything you want to know about anything is on YouTube. You will know right away who knows what they are doing on there and who doesn’t.”
Father knows best. “My dad (Frank Kramer) was a plumber and, as a kid, he would drag us out of the house,” he said. “I got to learn from him how to solder and weld, and I always watched him work on this stuff.”
Learn at a young age, and stick with it. Kramer said he, along with his two brothers and neighborhood kids, would build things when his father was away. One such item? A go-kart. Kramer continued to tinker with metal while enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While serving overseas on a naval ship, Kramer said he built metal stick figures — he would refer to all of them as ‘Stickey,’ and he even created a few small-scale model metal motorcycles in his spare time.
Find inspiration from a friend. Kramer was inspired and motivated to educate himself on building a motorcycle after meeting the late Jim Bernier, of Bernier Vintage Motorcycles in Henniker, New Hampshire. Kramer had previously bought motorcycle parts from Bernier and wanted him to build a front end of a motorcycle. Kramer said Bernier challenged him to learn how to do it himself. Bernier invited him to motorcycle swap meets, which is where Kramer would learn how to exchange, buy or sale motorcycles or motorcycle parts.
Learn to barter skills, parts. Kramer said a fellow motorcycle enthusiast would purchase two of the same motorcycle parts for himself and Kramer. He would install a part for the friend while receiving the same part at no cost. “Amongst my friends, there is no money passed,” he said. “You use what you have and what you know and branch out from there.” Kramer said he also learned about the usefulness of bartering from his father.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Motorcycle enthusiast has been a DIYer since childhood (VIDEO)