Built on a Love of Motorcycles

Brown’s Cycle was founded by Jessie “Tennessee” Brown, one of the original chopper builders of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

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Jessie’s love of motorcycles started not long after World War II, when his uncle bought two Army 45" WLAs from a used car lot and let Jessie ride one. That was all it took. Motorcycles became a lifelong passion.

Jessie attended trade school and learned sheet metal work, a trade he practiced for 27 years. But when he wasn’t working, he was riding, wrenching and learning everything he could about keeping his Harley-Davidson motorcycles running at their best.

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When the chopper scene took off and riders began extending forks, adding sissy bars and building bikes that reflected their own style, Jessie knew he had found his calling. He worked at the sheet metal shop until 2 p.m., then spent his evenings working on motorcycles until 10 p.m.

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Eventually, Jessie took a leap of faith and opened his own motorcycle shop while continuing to work his day job. He worked six days a week building the business, and as his sons grew older, they joined him in the shop on evenings and weekends.

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In 1976, Jessie’s youngest son, David, left college to come home and work alongside his father. His oldest son, Gary, joined the family business in 1990.

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Jessie eventually sold Brown’s Cycle to his sons for $1, but retirement never really suited him. He continued coming to the shop every day, visiting with customers and staying connected to the business he had built.

Jessie passed away in December 2013 at the age of 86, and Gary passed away in March 2016.

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Today, David Brown continues the family business, carrying forward his father’s legacy and the company he and Gary helped build. Brown’s Cycle remains rooted in the same things it was built on from the beginning: motorcycles, craftsmanship, hard work and a genuine connection with the people who ride them.