AMERICANRIDER. COM JUNE 2026 | 51
In an industry that often gravitates toward large- scale production, Nesbitt leaned further into a boutique, atelier- like approach to motorcycle design. That independence would define everything that came next.
BIENVILLE STUDIOS & THE CENTURY CYCLE
Operating his own design firm, Bienville Studios, Nesbitt has built a body of work that feels less like a product catalog and more like an evolving conversation.
Through sketches, prototypes, and video journals, he’ s documented not just what he builds but how he thinks. Influences span New Orleans culture, Japanese swordcraft, aviation, and the work of great designers like William Henderson, Ettore Bugatti, and John Britten. There’ s a recurring theme: respect for lineage without being bound by it. That philosophy comes into sharp focus with the Magnolia 4.
At first glance, the idea sounds almost academic: an American- style longitudinal inline- Four, a deliberate throwback to early U. S. motorcycle design. The Pierce Four, built in 1909 by the Pierce Motorcycle Company, was the first production 4- cylinder motorcycle in the United States. The last was the Indian Four, produced from 1928- 1942. This distinctly American design was renowned for its remarkable smoothness, delivering a level of comfort and luxury rarely found on prewar motorcycles.
When asked why the American 4- cylinder went away, Nesbitt said,“ I lay the blame for that squarely on a poverty of the imagination by those who are in control of this industry. There are plenty of other interesting American motorcycles that have been designed in the past 84 years, and none of them have bothered to revisit their heritage.”
Resurrecting the longitudinal Four is an idea that’ s been slowing evolving in Nesbitt’ s head for decades. The Magnolia 4 is the first American interpretation of this configuration in more than eight decades. That alone makes it noteworthy. But the significance runs even deeper.
Most American motorcycles are defined by their V- Twin architecture. Iconic, yes, but also limiting in certain ways. The
The Curtiss One became the fourth motorcycle platform that Nesbitt designed in New Orleans. This futuristic looking machine is built around its exposed battery and beautifully machined components.
“ THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS TOO BEAUTIFUL, NOTHING THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE.” – Ettore Bugatti