After suffering through another atrocious Tobey Maguire performance in Spiderman 3 most moviegoers would agree on two things: Tobey should call it quits as an actor and Venom is one of the coolest villains ever.
Making a Spiderman-themed bike might seem an obvious option given the huge popularity of the films, but Pitstop Motorsports' Dennis "D-Man" Vasquez chose the famous arachnid's darker side instead. "There have been so many traditional Spiderman and spider-themed bikes that to go that route seemed pointless. A lot of people know about Venom, and I chose to use it as the theme while making the bike my own canvas to show my art."
You were likely expecting a response along the lines of "because Venom is a badass" or something to that effect, but it turns out that D-Man's mind and motivations run much deeper than that. This bike is the product of a man with an agenda-a very positive one. His struggle to stay afloat has finally ended in success, but it was a rocky road getting to where he is today.
D-Man remembered a special time two years ago: "I was about to close the shop because financially it was hurting, and I told myself that unless I got a sign from God that Pitstop Motorsports was finished. That sign came in the shape of a beautiful new shop, and here we are today. It took some major sacrifices, but God told me it was time to move so I did."
Although sinister in appearance, the Venom-inspired ZX-14 holds a much more positive position than the death and destruction it implies. D-Man's faith and beliefs have motivated him to build it, and if it all goes to plan the community will benefit. "This whole bike has been a blessing because so many good people have helped me out along the way. It started with North American Warhorse getting me the bike, and then Ego Tripp wheels stepped up too-there has been so much support in this build I just can't believe it.
I want to give something back. God gave me abilities to build motorcycles, and that's what I want to show to the kids in the projects. I want to tell them to put down the guns and gang signs and pick up a wrench, an instrument or a paintbrush. If I could do it they can do it, and this bike is the proof."