We’re saddened by the passing of our friend Rick Whitehead of Custom Cycle Engineering (CCE).
After attending Chico State Business College, he joined his father’s company DEW (Donald Edward Whitehead) Manufacturing in 1979.
Custom Cycle Engineering began making motorcycle parts in the 60s. In the early 80s DEW and CCE came together and started developing and manufacturing such parts as the temperature gauge dipstick (Baja Products), steel triple trees, spool hubs, close ratio gear sets, intake manifolds, and more. They supplied parts for catalog companies such as Drag Specialties, Custom Cycle Delight, Motorcycle Goodies. The company was passed over to the brothers Rick and Jim Whitehead in the 90s.
Rick ran CCE until his passing, and Jim will keep it going. Rick is survived by wife Sandy, daughter Heather and three grandchildren.
Robin Bradley says: “Rick was a really good guy, and the business he operated with his brother will always have a very special place in the history of the custom motorcycle industry; any business that Randy Smith could regard as a safe home for his creativity had to be the real deal, and Rick was just exactly that - I always enjoyed spending time with him when I could.