JOB SHOP

Words: Mike “Otto” Deutsch | Photos: Geoff Kowalchuk

Behind The Scenes At Cafes Customs

The first time I met Casey “Café” Fernandez was at the starting gate of the BMX track in Perris, California. He said, “Hey, I know you. I work at the parts counter at the Harley dealership. You and Rob come in all the time.” I’d probably seen him before, but nothing rang a bell. The next time I was in, I made sure to wait for Casey to help me out. The bald guy with the goatee, coincidentally name KC, had been a bit of a jerk and didn’t know much, so anyone was better bet than him. That’s how our friendship started.

Not long after that, Café left the dealership to open his own shop. He’d gone to MMI as a young guy, worked as a tech in a few shops, and then as a parts guy at Temecula Harley. By then, he’d been building big HP motors in his garage for a few years and was tired of the usual bar-and-shield nonsense. This was the move that turned his part-time performance shop into the full-time tune and service center known as Cafes Customs.

Located in two nondescript commercial condos in Temecula, Casey has become the go-to guy for H-D’s Twin Cam engines and newer models. He built a name by crafting a customer experience that riders from all over the West Coast seek out. I know to be cautious of his upselling, but I also know that every bike I’ve gotten back from his shop has left me stoked. While Evo’s aren’t his usual focus, I’ve been ordering off his “secret menu” for years and have always been impressed with how OCD he is about dialing them in. He’s also worked his magic on my wife’s Lowrider ST, turning it into a reliable, mile-munching machine that’s quick, too.

BACKSTORY

How did he get into customizing bikes? Growing up in Tucson in the mid ‘90s, Casey was introduced to dirt bikes by a friend. Casey convinced his dad that he needed a knobby-tired freedom machine, and the rest is history. With a garage full of his dad’s tools and a curious obsession with how things worked, he was tearing apart and rebuilding bikes to ride with the neighborhood kids. Soon, those kids were bringing their bikes to Casey for help, and the obsession with internal combustion engines took root.

Fast forward a few years, and after working in a powersports shop, Casey got bit by the Buell bug. Not quite a dirt bike, not your typical Harley, but a Buell Ulysses came across his radar and he snatched it up. Before Harley’s Pan America, there was the Ulysses. A more dual-sport bike than a canyon carver, the Ulysses was ahead of its time and short-lived—but it allowed Casey to hone his tuning and customizing skills away from the service writers and judgmental customers. While Buells still hold a spot in his heart and shop, these days you’ll mostly find M8-powered bikes on the lift at Café’s. The predecessor to the Twin Cam engine, M8s have quickly become the go-to for riders looking for speed and reliability. Casey’s got the hop-up formula down, and he recommends at least a cam and a tune to really amp up the riding experience. If the budget allows, he’ll be more than happy to go bigger with aftermarket throttle bodies, upgraded headwork, and, of course, one of his custom tunes.

Having invested in a dyno a few years ago, Casey’s OCD kicked into overdrive as he moved away from off-the-shelf tunes and started creating custom setups for his clients. Want low-end grunt for your track bike? No problem. Big bagger for hitting Sturgis with your ol’ lady? Easy. Daily rider that just needs a little excitement? He’s got that covered, too. While dyno sheets aren’t my thing, after seeing a dozen of them on Casey’s desk, it’s clear that he’s passionate about the service he provides and loves getting feedback from customers after they’ve logged some miles on their bikes.

Casey’s also one of the first in the game to invest in drivetrain alignment tools and equipment. As a fan of the FXR platform, I know how tricky it can be to align a rubber-mounted motor. With the newer H-Ds putting out way more horsepower and torque, aligning everything with lasers and fixed points beats the old-school methods of welding rod and tape measures. Café’s perfected this service, making subtle adjustments even to bikes that just rolled off the showroom floor, improving the riding experience in ways you wouldn’t expect.

HABITS, NOT CHORES

It’s these “habits, not chores” that Casey applies to everything in his shop. Whether it’s mopping the floor or tuning a new motor, that what make Cafes Customs stand out. When you drop your bike off, there’s no service writer—just Café. When you pick it up, he’s the one who explains the work done and how it should perform. When it comes to fast V-Twins, Casey’s a one-man powerhouse and a true professional. I’m lucky to call him a friend.

@Cafes_Customs on Instagram