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In the News

Concerns about motorcycle customization

Motorcyclists like tinkering with their rides, but experts say some after-market parts do not meet safety and environmental standards.

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Rick Doyle stands next to his 2005 Venom Pro Street Big Bear Chopper, left, and 2004 Custom Chrome Nemesis in Hamersville, Ohio. The building Doyle is standing in was once the home of his prosperous motorcycle business, the Hog Farm, which sold after-market parts.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle opened the Hog Farm in 2002, but it has since closed. In 2005, he began to get concerned about some of the parts he was selling. He started researching the fine print of federal law after a series of after-market parts broke while he was customizing bikes. He was concerned that some of the parts didn't meet federal safety and environmental standards.

Rick Doyle opened the Hog Farm in 2002, but it has since closed. In 2005, he began to get concerned about some of the parts he was selling. He started researching the fine print of federal law after a series of after-market parts broke while he was customizing bikes. He was concerned that some of the parts didn't meet federal safety and environmental standards.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Several packages of after-market motorcycle parts still hang in Rick Doyle's barn. Customizing bikes has been a popular part of the culture, but air-quality experts cite an environmental toll when bikers tamper with certified engines, fuel and exhaust systems by substituting after-market parts, such as air filters, ignitions and pipes.

Several packages of after-market motorcycle parts still hang in Rick Doyle's barn. Customizing bikes has been a popular part of the culture, but air-quality experts cite an environmental toll when bikers tamper with certified engines, fuel and exhaust systems by substituting after-market parts, such as air filters, ignitions and pipes.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Several bins of after-market motorcycle parts still sit in Rick Doyle's barn. Many after-market parts sold online and in catalogues fail to comply with federal safety standards or the Clean Air Act, according to safety and environmental experts contacted by The Washington Post. Other parts not covered by standards are widely considered dangerous, such as passenger seats stuck to motorcycles with suction cups.

Several bins of after-market motorcycle parts still sit in Rick Doyle's barn. Many after-market parts sold online and in catalogues fail to comply with federal safety standards or the Clean Air Act, according to safety and environmental experts contacted by The Washington Post. Other parts not covered by standards are widely considered dangerous, such as passenger seats stuck to motorcycles with suction cups.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle locks the doors of the barn that once housed the Hog Farm. It was once a $3 million-a-year business. It's closed now, but Doyle still pushes for better regulation of the parts he once sold.

Rick Doyle locks the doors of the barn that once housed the Hog Farm. It was once a $3 million-a-year business. It's closed now, but Doyle still pushes for better regulation of the parts he once sold.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle researches information on the computer as his wife, Tanya, twirls their daughter, Sammi, 7, in their home office in April in Hamersville, Ohio. The family lives in a 70-foot trailer on family land next to the barn.

Rick Doyle researches information on the computer as his wife, Tanya, twirls their daughter, Sammi, 7, in their home office in April in Hamersville, Ohio. The family lives in a 70-foot trailer on family land next to the barn.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle eats dinner his wife, Tanya, and their twins Sammi, 7, left, and Malcolm, 7, in April at their farm in Hamersville, Ohio. The Doyles say they worry that millions of problem parts are still on the roads.

Rick Doyle eats dinner his wife, Tanya, and their twins Sammi, 7, left, and Malcolm, 7, in April at their farm in Hamersville, Ohio. The Doyles say they worry that millions of problem parts are still on the roads.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle's wife, Tanya, spins her daughter, Sammi, 7, as twin Malcolm watches television. 'Imagine how we feel knowing we sold these dangerous parts to people?' said Tanya, a former Army veterinary technician. 'We tried to make it right, to make sure people were safe. But we can't make people safe.'

Rick Doyle's wife, Tanya, spins her daughter, Sammi, 7, as twin Malcolm watches television. "Imagine how we feel knowing we sold these dangerous parts to people?" said Tanya, a former Army veterinary technician. "We tried to make it right, to make sure people were safe. But we can't make people safe."

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle helps his son Malcolm, 7, with brushing his teeth before putting him to bed.

Rick Doyle helps his son Malcolm, 7, with brushing his teeth before putting him to bed.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle, seen in his kitchen, said: 'I felt like my chest had a piano on it when I realized the number of products I had sold, as well as countless ignorant dealers. But no one wanted to hear it. No one wanted to investigate it. The government was letting these companies sell anything they wanted.'

Rick Doyle, seen in his kitchen, said: "I felt like my chest had a piano on it when I realized the number of products I had sold, as well as countless ignorant dealers. But no one wanted to hear it. No one wanted to investigate it. The government was letting these companies sell anything they wanted."

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick and Tanya Doyle walk past a sign that advertised the Hog Farm. Doyle got involved in the industry at 17 when he bought a classic orange and black Harley. A certified addiction therapist, he turned his passion into a business in 1995 when he bought his first bike shop from a man named Rat, who had bought it from a man named Rooster.

Rick and Tanya Doyle walk past a sign that advertised the Hog Farm. Doyle got involved in the industry at 17 when he bought a classic orange and black Harley. A certified addiction therapist, he turned his passion into a business in 1995 when he bought his first bike shop from a man named Rat, who had bought it from a man named Rooster.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle steps off his John Deere tractor while removing the cutting blades. In 2005, Doyle started worrying about the parts he was selling at the Hog Farm, which came from 54 different distributors and hundreds of manufacturers.

Rick Doyle steps off his John Deere tractor while removing the cutting blades. In 2005, Doyle started worrying about the parts he was selling at the Hog Farm, which came from 54 different distributors and hundreds of manufacturers.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle grinds down and sharpens his tractor's cutting blades.

Rick Doyle grinds down and sharpens his tractor's cutting blades.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle walks with his son, Malcolm, 7, on their farm in Hamersville, Ohio.

Rick Doyle walks with his son, Malcolm, 7, on their farm in Hamersville, Ohio.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle, right, stops his truck as his daughter, Sammi, 7, greets Doyle's father-in-law, Malcolm Reed, after a trip home from school.

Rick Doyle, right, stops his truck as his daughter, Sammi, 7, greets Doyle's father-in-law, Malcolm Reed, after a trip home from school.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Rick Doyle drives an ATV with his wife, Tanya, and twins Sammi, 7, up front, and Malcolm, 7, between his parents, at their farm.

Rick Doyle drives an ATV with his wife, Tanya, and twins Sammi, 7, up front, and Malcolm, 7, between his parents, at their farm.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

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