Mid-Century Moto Mecca
In a mid-century garage tucked away in the Pacific Northwest, he forged a workshop as exacting as the motorcycles he crafts by hand.
Photos by Gregor Halenda | Portland, OR | October 21, 2025
“The trouble with champagne tastes and a beer budget is that the only option is to homebrew.”
When Gregor left behind his sprawling New York City motorcycle shop and downsized into a 485-square-foot garage, he had his work cut out for him. Seven motorcycles, a mill, a lathe, a welding table, and the gear from an entire warehouse… all condensed into less than 500 square feet.
So, he wired in 144 electrical outlets and built floating torsion-box benches. With little room to spare, every inch of the space had to be reimagined. Staying true to his roots and the Saul Zaik mid-century architecture, he rebuilt the entire home in the same spirit.
He has the résumé: a leap from amateur to expert motorcycle racer in a single season, podiums at the national level, stunt work for BMW, and custom builds that pushed the envelope of both design and performance. Today, Gregor runs Saku-Moto in Portland, Oregon, a blend of motorcycle craft and guided adventure tours that carry his philosophy onto the road and the trail.
“Saku is Japanese for blossom,” he explains. “I like beautiful things that can be used hard. Nothing I build stays pristine because the experience is what matters.” This garage is the embodiment of that ethos.
