Photos: Deus Ex Machina motorcycles

Deus Ex Machina may be the only company making high-end custom motorcycles and losing money on them. Above, a BMW R100S built by Deus parked at the lifestyle brand’s Venice store in May.   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Inside the Venice shop of Michael Woolaway, who works as motorcycle design director for Deus Ex Machina.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

A Deus Boodaak is on display in Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop in May.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A vintage 1958 BMW R69 on display at Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop in May.   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Deus “the Bully” at Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop in May.   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop hosts a monthly Sunday “Mass,” which draws hundreds of “sinners, winners and hodads” -- translation: motorcycle riders and enthusiasts -- for a half-day of free music and food. Above, one of the gatherings in May.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A monthly Sunday “Mass” at Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop in May.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A monthly Sunday “Mass” at Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop in May.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A monthly Sunday “Mass” at Deus Ex Machina’s Venice shop in May.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Woolaway, Deus Ex Machina’s motorcycle design director, doesn’t work with CAD programs, design software or 3-D printers. He makes sketches with pen and paper, and works from those.   (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Deus Ex Machina’s artful retail spaces are part cafe, part music club, part hip urban haberdashery.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)