Who is this Gerhart Design Studio guy anyway?

I grew up in Alaska with a skilled mechanic biker dad, who really has the touch for motorized vehicles. My mom is creative and artistic. I related to both of them and so gained a knack for mechanics and design.

I've been riding on motorcycles since I could walk, maybe even before that. There was at least one 40 mile trip done on a bike when I was 1 year old where I was stuffed inside my dad's jacket on the way to the hospital to meet my new baby brother. Got my driver's license motorcycle endorsement in 1991.

Constantly looking for ways to improve or change things, I can't leave anything alone.  I've dabbled in musical instrument repair, bicycle repair, custom car audio and alarm installation, building custom VW beetles, electric vehicles, and of course, riding and working on motorcycles. I've spent the last several years working in architectural engineering firms as a mechanical designer.

Then I discovered Ducati. It took a few years to finally get one, but once the bug bit I could not get the idea of a great handling, uniquely engineered, torquey twin cylinder motorcycle out of my head. Purchased a 2007 Ducati Sport Classic GT1000 in the fall of 2006, and have been modifying it slowly ever since (in between putting on lots of miles as well).

Working on the air cooled Ducati, sharing notes with fellow owners, and looking for solutions to problems that either need fixing or just need to look right has finally allowed me to really explore design ideas, and even get some of them produced to share with others. The most fun for me is prototyping the solutions, and eventually seeing the final product put to use. Hope you like what you see.     ~Dietrich