| Meet Russell Mitchell |
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Host Of Exile Cycles On The Speed Channel
Russell Mitchell, who describes his company, Exile Cycles, as "the bastard child of the motorcycle industry," has a full-body tattoo, spiky blonde Mohawk and British accent. A true Renaissance man, this "bad boy" biker practiced as a veterinary surgeon before coming to the states to pursue a career as a model. Today, Mitchell is the host of his own TV show, "Build or Bust", and the proud single father of a six year old boy.
The Show
Russell Mitchell has a personality as bright and colorful as the tattoos that cover his body, and his weekly show "Build or Bust" on the Speed Channel is as big a hit as his own line of Exile motorcycles. The show begins when a builder/contestant (who Mitchell nicknames "The Wrench") is supplied with the parts and tools necessary to build the motorcycle of his or her dreams and is given only 30 days to complete the task. If the build is a hit and receives Russell's seal of approval, The Wrench gets to keep the $50,000 bike. If the build is a bust, The Wrench leaves the shop with nothing - not even his self esteem! "Build or Bust" is now filming its second season. Russell and his colorful crew are also constantly featured on the Discovery Channel, as major characters in the Great Biker Build Off as well as the World Bike Build Off.
The Man
An Exile Cycle is instantly recognizable for its industrial European styling, but with his Mohawk mane and wall-to-wall tattoos, Russell Mitchell stands out even more than his bikes! A colorful character with an interesting back story, Mitchell has been a veterinarian, a punker, a model and an actor, but always a biker. These days you can add loving father and TV celebrity to that list. Born in the West of England, Russell started customizing motorcycles at the tender age of 16, just as soon as he got his motorcycle license. Even his early machines received widespread press, and the love of two-wheeled machinery has remained his life-long passion. He actually qualified as a veterinary surgeon and accepted a position at a practice in London, where he immersed himself in the local punk scene. Dr Mitchell soon became the TV vet on London Weekend Television's popular breakfast news show. Russell realized he enjoyed show business more than dogs with diarrhea and cats with colic. An invitation from a top Los Angeles modeling agency resulted in Russell's so called "exile" to L.A Instantly a fan of the warm weather and the beautiful women, Russell now considers California his home. Predictably, modeling led to acting, but Russell's true passion remained motorcycles and he always made time to feed his addiction to building huge, powerful V-Twin machines. He continued to hone his skills, mastering all the varied disciplines required to become the world-renowned master bike builder he is today.
The Bikes
All of Russell's bikes are clean and tough, usually sporting black paint and brushed metal surfaces. The minimalist styling that has long been popular in Europe is now catching on fast here in America, and Exile Cycles leads this movement. Mitchell founded Exile Cycles in his Los Angeles garage as a part-time venture to satisfy demand for his unique custom parts. In its new 20,000 square foot facility, Exile Cycles manufactures nearly every component on a motorcycle, and sells these parts both direct to the public and through its network of over 1,000 dealers. Mitchell builds about twenty ground-up custom bikes each year. He has recently built bikes for the likes of George Clooney and rock stars Chris Cornell and John Mellencamp.
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