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JUNE 2026 | 49
The Bonneville Salt Flats seemed like the most fitting place to test the Wraith’ s first prototype. Bottom: Katrina may have destroyed the studio, but it didn’ t destroy Nesbitt’ s passion for designing motorcycles in New Orleans.
STAYING BEHIND AFTER THE STORM
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, countless residents and businesses had to make impossible decisions. Confederate, thrown a lifeline by Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum founder George Barber, relocated its operations to Birmingham, Alabama. Nesbitt chose a different path.
“ I stayed here in New Orleans because I felt like I had unfinished business,” he said. That unfinished business was the Magnolia 4.
Walking away from Confederate Motorcycles was a pivotal moment for Nesbitt. He had finally gotten recognition for his innovative design work. By venturing out on his own, he leapt into the unknown with no safety net.
Those who stayed in New Orleans after Katrina were dedicated to rebuilding their city, and Nesbitt was one of them. He took jobs here and there to help support himself and his community. From serving drinks to cleaning bathrooms, the work wasn’ t glamorous, but he endured for the sake of his life’ s mission. After work, he would go back to his studio and draw motorcycles. It was all he could afford to do.
His main focus during this time was an early- 1900s American longitudinal 4- cylinder engine, which he worked with obsessively in his sketches and had since he started working for Confederate in 1999.
“ It was the worst time of my life,” Nesbitt explained.“ That pain still lingers. It’ s still here. The funny thing is when
Photo by Greg Drevenstedt