DZ High Roller Kustoms' cycles build a reputation

By KALEA Hall

khall@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Behind a house on South Avenue is a place where Dennis Troll and John Seeger not only build award-winning motorcycles, but also enhance their reputation at DZ High Roller Kustoms.

They do it all, from oil changes to taking a bike apart and putting it back together into a masterpiece – a custom bike to fit the customer’s dream design.

“It’s hands-on with the customer,” Seeger said.

Seeger, a full-time electrician, and Troll, a former heavy-machine operator, recently received five awards for their custom rides at the International Master Bike Builders Association Power Piston Show in Cleveland.

The 2014 Indian Vintage motorcycle took the best in show with the Duck Award.

Troll was a little shocked by how well that particular motorcycle did. “They [the judges] were real impressed with it,” he said.

The awards didn’t stop there. Judges gave the shop’s orange and white 2013 Harley Road Glide known as “Punkin” second place, best in show; the ocean-blue 2013 Harley Road Glide known as “Big Girl” took third place, best in show; a deep blue Harley Street Glide took first place in the custom touring class; and a 1999 Harley Street Glide that was turned into a Road King, known as “Iron Man,” took first in the radical custom class.

The DZ (pronounced Dees) shop in the 5400 block of South Avenue has been a joint operation for Seeger and Troll since just this year. Seeger brings in his part-buying power and Troll his fabrication skills.

Seeger, a motorcycle enthusiast, started an online parts store in 2013, High Roller Customs.

Troll has been customizing cars and motorcycles for more than 19 years. In 2012, he formed DZ Kustoms. Frank Harnutovsky adds his touch to the custom pieces with assembly, radio and LED-light installation.

“I always liked the bikes, and once I built a chopper, it took off from there,” Seeger said.

Customers from the Mahoning and Shenango valleys and from Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina have come to DZ for either a complete build from scratch to a redesign or upgrade on their bikes.

Like the flaming red-headed troll painted inside the shop, business for DZ also is on fire right now. A long list of customers have bikes receiving custom work from DZ, and then there are others hoping to get their bike into the shop. Troll expects a total of 15 hand-built bikes to come out of the shop this year.

Although the end result is top secret, the DZ crew has an all-metal bike under construction for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota in August.

“I think it will give the shop a little more fire,” Troll said.