Jeroen’s journey as a motorcycle saddle-maker started some 8 years ago when he, working at a BMX dealer but trained as a tailor, crafted a motorbike seat for a colleague. This guy was happy with the result, showing it to his friends, which led to more requests, which led to even more demand, and what began as a hobby has since evolved into a full-fledged business. Three years ago Jeroen moved from cramped quarters in Amsterdam to the quieter Veluwe in the east of the Netherlands, where he found a much bigger workshop in Ermelo.
Jeroen’s clientele today consists of a mix of local and international motorcycle enthusiasts, custom builders, as well as collectors.
While he started building his network in the riding community of Amsterdam, right from the start he posted photos of his creations on Facebook – and later Instagram – and soon orders started to come in online as well. Today, Jeroen’s custom saddles are finding homes not just in the Netherlands, but also in the US, as well as in far-flung places like Dubai, Japan, Singapore, or even Kenya…
Jeroen is the saddle-maker of choice for renowned builders like Arjen van der Boom, Timothy Somers of Powerbrick Performance and Ronna Noren of Unique Custom Cycles. He builds the custom seats to fit their custom projects, ranging from BMW K100 series, all types of Harley Davidsons to Indian prototypes and much much more. More recently, his work for collectors of antique motorcycles has even led to building complete interiors for cars like vintage Porsches.
But the bulk of Jeroen’s business remains to be custom motorcycle saddles. While this mostly concerned cafe racers when he started, today most of his projects are saddles for choppers and for more contemporary models of in particular Harley-Davidson, such as Road Kings or Pan Americas.
Silver Machine customers have been and still are very positive, with many sending photos of their completed rides with new saddles in place, proud and happy…
Jeroen produces several hundred saddles per year, each one a labor of love…. There is always a stack of seat bases, ready to be built up with foam and leather, waiting for Jeroen to get to, so turnaround time is typically around four weeks.
So what sets Jeroen apart? For one, it’s his dedication to quality. “I love working with real, full-grain leather,” he says. Using the best materials ensures that each saddle not only looks great but will age beautifully over time.
And, in his own words, “It’s all about simplicity and attention to detail.” His philosophy is to keep his work clean and simple, focusing on precision and excellent workmanship.
All in all, Silver Machine saddles are proof that true craftsmanship never goes out of style.
