Denver Chopper Mondo and IMBBA Honor "Sugar" Favre at Italy's Kustom People Show

BRESCIA, Italy - Denver Chopper's Mondo Porras flew to the Kustom People Show in Brescia, Italy with Jeff Starke of the International Master Bike Builders Association to present a lifetime achievement award to Italian bike builder Fabrizio “Sugar” Favre.

The IMBBA, based in the United States, has been organizing builders worldwide for more than five years, and periodically singles out top master bike builders for world recognition.

This event also formalized the partnership between the FIC and IMBBA that was announced at the recent European Bike Week in Faaker See, Austria - Europe's biggest bike rally.

  

"This agreement will open up international opportunities," said Favre. "We hope to bring other European member nations onboard, and we look forward to competing as a national team in a world competition in 2012 in Canada."

"I am honored to be included in the Hall of Fame, and honored to have met Mondo Porras and Jeff Starke, two great men."

"I would like also to thank the Kustom People Show organizers, who have shown great interest in the development of custom artistry within the industry."

Fabrizio Favre, affectionately known as "Sugar" due to his agreeable nature, was born on July 6, 1958 in Ivrea in north western Italy, where he first became an expert VW car customizer in his father's business. He established his own motorcycle fabrication company, "Tutto Guzzi Favre," which became "Favre Motorcycle" and is now operated by his son as "Favre RMB Custom Surgery."

Fabrizio fell in love with motorcycles as a teenager. His first bike was a 50cc replica Captain America chopper. At age 18, he graduated to a 1200 cc Harley Electra Glide.

The IMBBA Hall of Fame award was presented at 4 p.m. Oct. 17 during an on-stage ceremony at the Kustom People Show.

One of Italy's most respected custom bike builders, Favre began creating Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Triumph and BSA custom bikes in the 1980's and began competing in the 1990's at the annual Daytona Beach Rat's Hole Custom Bike Show.

His "Customizzati" show  on MotoTV presents the most famous and popular history of motorcycle customization with technical workshop-style shows as well as interviews with Italy's top builders. The show covers classic Harley-Davidson customizations to high-technology innovations, and includes coverage of major bike show competitions in the world.

In 2009, along with top Italian bike builder Jerry Caronte, they founded the Federazione of Italiana Customizers, an agency within the Italian Ministry of Transportation that oversees European standards within the Italian motorcyle customization industry.

Favre announced the FIC - IMBBA partnership at the recent European Bike Week in Faaker See, Austria.

The FIC will serve as the administrative arm in processing Italian builders and prospective Italian judges for IMBBA certification.

Mondo Porras, owner of Denver’s Choppers, started building custom bikes with his partner Denver Mullins in San Bernardino, CA in 1967 and was inducted into the International Master Bike Builder Association's Hall of Fame during the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Denver’s Choppers became famous worldwide in the early 1970’s. They were instrumental in starting the after market industry that is florishing today with custom parts including frames, custom choppers and springer front ends. Denver's Choppers was the first company to manufacture the long down tube stretch frames that are in vogue today. This was his first trip to Italy.

Jeff Starke, president of the IMBBA, also presented certification awards to several Italian builders during the Kustom People Show:

Fabrizio Favre - Master Bike Builder II

Jerry Caronte - Custom Bike Italy - Master Bike Builder II

Roberto Totti - Master Bike Builder II

Bori Giuseppe of Bepy Motor Service - Bike Builder II

Jonathan Minici - Bike Builder II

* Master Bike Buillder II is the highest IMBBA certification level.