War-Torn Cycles: Building Custom Bikes and Community for Veterans
In Hartford, South Dakota, War-Torn Cycles isn’t just another motorcycle repair shop, it’s the product of two veterans turning shared service and passion into purpose.
Co-founders Andrew Hahn and Christopher Fischer first connected through their military backgrounds and mutual love of motorcycles. Andrew, who grew up in Humboldt, South Dakota, has served on Active-Duty and in the Army National Guard. Chris, the son of an Active-Duty Army member, spent his youth overseas before joining the military and later earning a prestigious certification as a Harley-Davidson Master Technician.
Today, Andrew manages operations while Chris handles the mechanical side, blending business savvy and technical skill to create a shop built on trust, quality, and camaraderie.
War-Torn Cycles specializes in custom Harley-Davidson builds designed to reflect each rider’s style and personality. Before any work begins, Andrew and Chris make time to learn how their customers ride and what makes their bikes special. At War-Torn Cycles, it’s not just about repairs and bike builds, it’s about connection.
The shop’s plans extend beyond the garage. The team is developing a “Motorcycle Ambulance” concept where a mobile repair truck that can travel to rallies like Sturgis, providing roadside service for riders in need.
Chris’s experience in large dealerships showed him what he wanted to do differently. While he valued the craftsmanship, he missed the personal connection with riders. That realization inspired the foundation of War-Torn Cycles, built on the same principles the two learned in uniform: teamwork, discipline, and service to others.
Like most new businesses, the early days tested their resolve. Owning a shop means doing everything, from sweeping the floors to balancing the books. Andrew and Chris admit, starting this venture has been ‘trial by fire,’ but also worth overcoming every hurdle.
Through the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) of the Dakotas and SBA resource partners, they received guidance on business planning and lender readiness; support that helped turn their idea into a sustainable operation.
Military service continues to shape their work. Inside the shop hangs a large War-Torn Cycles banner signed by every veteran who visits, a growing reminder of the community they serve.
War-Torn Cycles is more than a business, it’s a mission. Andrew and Chris envision a future where veterans not only ride together but build together, finding therapy and purpose in the process.
Andrew and Chris also plan to launch a nonprofit offering hands-on opportunities for veterans seeking new skills and purpose after service. They’re active supporters of Irreverent Warriors, a national organization promoting mental health and camaraderie among veterans.
Looking ahead, they hope to obtain a fleet of training bikes to help veterans learn motorcycle mechanics and rediscover the sense of teamwork that military life provides.
Their advice for other veterans looking to start a business is simple. “Go for it,” Chris says. “If you fail, learn from it and move forward.”
Andrew adds, “Don’t hesitate to use the free SBA resources out there, they exist to help small businesses succeed.”
With dedication and heart, War-Torn Cycles continues to grow; one bike, one rider, and one veteran at a time.