MOSIER — Situated along Mosier’s main drag, Roughcuts Rustic Furniture/Rods & Trikes boasts an impressive assemblage of scraps. Whole and dismantled vehicles, salvaged components and miscellaneous mechanical parts clutter the workshop’s interior and exterior.
But don’t get it twisted — this metal heap is no junkyard. For owner and award-winning craftsman Jim Wilson, it’s an ever-rotating treasury of functional materials used to convert motorcycles into custom, specialized trikes for riders with disabilities.
“I consider it a hobby versus work,” Wilson said. “To motivate others with disabilities to get back on the road and enjoy life.”
Wilson was born in California, but grew up in Oregon. Even as a boy, he loved getting his hands dirty, assembling hot rod cars, dirt bikes and whatever else he could find.
When Roughcuts opened its doors 20 years ago, it was primarily a furniture stop. Wilson built rustic beds, tables, benches, and other fixtures for a good 10 years, working on friends’ bikes in his spare time, before officially integrating custom builds into the business.
Today, while Wilson’s furniture work remains, his true passion — converting vehicles — has taken center stage. These specialized builds are tailored to the individual, many of whom are unable to operate a traditional motorcycle due to disability or age. Wilson, who is disabled himself, concentrates on trikes: three-wheeled vehicles that offer greater stability and make it easier to ride in harsh weather conditions. Such dedication shapes long, expensive processes. “A client drops off a bike, and I’ll order parts,” Wilson said. “Some of the trike builds take 30 days, others take 100.”
Oftentimes, Wilson has to wait and shop around the Pacific Northwest for specific parts. “If they need a body kit, fenders, paint and all that, like the one I’ve been working on for nine months, it’s going to be $50,000.”
To put Roughcuts on the map and connect with like-minded individuals, Wilson attends motorcycle rallies nationwide. He has already attended 18 in 2025, matching his total from last year. At the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, a major multi-day event and common destination for builders vying for a skin in the game, Wilson scored a couple of awards.
Later, while showcasing one of his trikes amongst 30 submissions at the Reno Street Vibrations rally in September, he earned another slew of recognitions.
“There will be a point where, physically, I don’t have the energy to go to rallies and shows all the time,” Wilson said. “But I appreciate the recognition, especially with the help I get from friends with invites to shows.”
Still, Wilson draws the bulk of his motivation from people’s reactions, whether a client turning the key and igniting a trike for the first time or a kid admiring one at a show. “I’m not doing it for the trophies,” Wilson said. “When kids see my builds, they get so excited. Keeping the art and motorcycle life alive with the next generation is a big deal.”
Moving forward, Wilson has high hopes for Roughcut’s workshop space, which he is in the process of buying. In addition to specialized work with disabled clients, he plans to sell “show-bikes” to businesses for display and start more projects from the ground up.
“I need to clean up a lot of junk and make it more presentable for customers,” Wilson said. “I want to add on to the shop, maybe a little retail area with gloves and bungee cords.”
Roughcuts Rustic Furniture/Rods & Trikes is located at 800 First St. in Mosier, where you’ll more than likely find Wilson out front, tinkering away at his next build.
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