Chris Callen: The Life Motorcycles Saved and a Legacy of Passion

Chris Callen’s life story is a testament to the transformative power of passion—particularly, a passion for motorcycles. Growing up on the gritty outskirts of Pittsburgh, Callen's early life could have easily gone down a different path, but motorcycles became his saving grace, giving him purpose and a community that would shape his future. Today, he stands as a Publisher, Editor, Journalist, Motorcycle Builder, Artist, and Innovator, driven by a love for two wheels that has shaped not only his life but the lives of many others.

In March 1997, Callen and his lifelong friend Lou started Cycle Source Magazine in the back room of his shop, Fat Cats Cycles, with nothing more than a borrowed computer. It was an ambitious move, and the first issue nearly proved too much. With no prior experience, the results were far from ideal. But Callen’s undeniable passion for motorcycling shone through, and the motorcycle community saw his dedication, giving him the chance to try again. And try again he did.

From these early days, Callen would go on to become a pivotal figure in the motorcycle world. He was the first to recognize and champion "the Next Generation" of young builders, many of whom might have gone unnoticed if not for his platform. His work led to the creation of the Limpnickie Lot in 2008, a traveling group of up-and-coming builders who made waves on the national circuit.

Riding has been at the heart of everything Callen does, and competition runs through his veins. Growing up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, he inherited a love for woods racing, and his racing spirit never left. In 2010, he participated in the inaugural Hoka Hey Challenge, a grueling 10,000-mile race from Key West, Florida to Homer, Alaska. He has raced flat track, motocross, dragstrip, and vintage bikes, including in the Sons of Speed series. His riding achievements are staggering, with more than two dozen "thousand miles in a day" patches and a dozen or more "1500 in one" patches to his name. Notably, he once rode a Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle coast-to-coast in 63 hours on a bet from the company itself.

In his early days, with limited resources, Callen’s dedication to his craft was evident. He would ride his motorcycle to cover events, often with cases of magazines strapped to the bike. In true biker spirit, he'd crash on spare couches at places like the Broken Spoke or by the Wall of Death—always finding a way to keep going.

Though Callen had already achieved what many would consider a dream motorcycle life, something was missing. In August 2015, he married his longtime friend, Heather—whom he affectionately describes as "equally as crazy" as he is. Together, they became an unstoppable duo, pushing Cycle Source to new heights and exploring new media avenues.

In 2016, the pair launched Grease & Gears Garage at the Broken Spoke in Sturgis. What started with a simple cellphone taped to a bucket quickly evolved into the first-ever live stream from a motorcycle rally, featuring live tutorials and broadcasting on Facebook and YouTube. The show’s production quality steadily improved, and by 2017, ShopTalk was born—a new type of motorcycle programming that tapped into the growing demand for digital content.

This knack for innovation paid off when the world locked down in 2020 due to the pandemic. Callen responded by launching five new shows and even created the world’s first Cyber Rally—a 17-hour live stream featuring stunts, bartenders, and a virtual bike show. The goal was simple: keep the motorcycle community united during one of the toughest times in modern history.

Throughout his life, motorcycles have been the constant thread connecting all of Callen’s interests—whether it’s his oil painting, his music, or his public speaking, where he’s delivered monologues to audiences of over 60,000 people. He has ridden through 49 states, most of Canada, and parts of Europe, all because the motorcycle community—those outsiders the world so often dismisses—welcomed him in.

Today, as Chris Callen is inducted into the Hall of Fame, it marks the crowning achievement of a life defined by passion, perseverance, and the open road. It’s an honor he deeply cherishes, placing him among the heroes who inspired him as a young rider, and affirming his place as a leader and innovator in the motorcycle world.

Sidebox: Chris Callen’s Achievements

• 1997: Founded Cycle Source Magazine from a back room at Fat Cats Cycles.

• 2008: Co-founded the Limpnickie Lot, supporting young motorcycle builders.

• 2010: Competed in the first Hoka Hey Challenge (10,000 miles from Key West, FL to Homer, AK).

• Racing Achievements: Participated in flat track, motocross, drag racing, and vintage racing, including the Sons of Speed.

• Riding Feats: Over two dozen "thousand miles in a day" patches and a coast-to-coast ride in 63 hours.

• 2016: Launched Grease & Gears Garage, pioneering live streaming from motorcycle rallies.

• 2020: Created the first-ever Cyber Rally, a 17-hour live stream to unite the motorcycle community during the pandemic.