Rusty Wheels

A more cashed-up than usual Russell Crowe – he recently sold his 50 per cent share in NRL club South Sydney – has revealed he’s entering the custom motorcycle business.

And the 48-year-old is calling his new emporium “Rusty Wheels”, playing on the nickname that the New Zealand-born Australian-based film star has had for many years.

Crowe’s custom business will be based at Nana Glen, near his NSW country estate where he’s often seen out and about on a multitude of motorcycles.

“I’ve been thinking about this for years, but it just hasn’t been possible because of my commitments with South Sydney and being out of Australia for such long periods,” Crowe told the Bikesales Network while shooting a sci-fi thriller in Mozambique.

“But now the time is right to make a move. I’ve seen what Jesse James has achieved – and he’s moving back into the custom game – but I am under no illusions that we are going to have to really push the design envelope. If you go through the motions in this game you’re more exposed than a full back under a spiralling bomb.”

Rusty Wheels will operate under two separate streams: it’ll customise customer bikes on a case-by-case basis, and at the same time have a separate team building chassis from scratch, complete with donor engines.

“It’s an exciting time,” said Crowe. “We have acquired a top notch facility in Nana Glen, and we’ve hired five of the best custom builders in Australia --  they have tools in hand ready to go.

“Launching the business on April 1 probably isn’t the ideal timing with winter coming on, but we’re looking to take this business international – Rusty Wheels is here to stay.”