Reader’s Ride – Farrel’s Custom Touch
Farrel Bernstein has lived an amazing life and has had an illustrious career. Born in New York and now living in Port Richey, Florida, self-proclaimed CEO, designer, craftsman and chief cook and bottle washer at Custom Touch Biker Jewelry, Farrel is a lifelong biker who has motorcycle oil runnin’ in his veins. His old school jewelry is made by bikers, for bikers. We’re talkin’ hand-made, unique fine jewelry and motorcycle accessories. You could say that he’s been involved in a lot of skullduggery as much of his biker art is adorned in sinister skulls.
Farrel tells us that his parents weren’t into bikes or anything like that. In fact, his father owned a jewelry store on 47th Street in Manhattan. That’s how Farrel got into making amazing motorcycle-inspired fine art jewelry in the first place. He remembers hangin’ out with some hoodlums in Queens as a teen where he got into racing old British bikes. In fact, his first motorcycle was a Norton Atlas.
Creating incredible jewelry has been a big part of Farrel’s life. He has designed fine jewelry for royalty and such musical gods as Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Those were back in the days when he hung out with art icons such as Andy Warhol.
Around 40 years ago, Farrel got into Harleys and bought a 1981 Lowrider Shovelhead. He still owns a 1947 EL Knucklehead that has been with him all these years. He got into designing points cover, inspection covers and stuff like that and his skull-adorned motorcycle parts were in the Drag Specialties catalog for many years. At one point he had over 30 motorcycle parts and accessories available through Drag.
About 16 years ago, Farrel moved his family to Florida where he still creates amazing moto-art. Another interesting sideline is that Farrel’s brother is none-other than Perry Farrell of the band Jane’s Addiction. When asked about his every day ride, Farrel told us that his brother gave him a 2013 Harley Road King. Sweet!
Farrel Bernstein welcomes custom jewelry orders and you can find him on Facebook or call him at 727-848-5466. Tell him Born To Ride sent ya. Maybe you and he will get into some skullduggery!
—Dave Nichols