How It Started
My name is Ferry Westerlaken, and I am the owner of Altena Classics BV.
Coming from a true motorcycle family, it was inevitable that I would end up doing something in the "motorcycle world." At 47 years old, I am the fourth generation in my family to ride motorcycles. My father's grandfather was a rider, my grandfather never even owned a car—only motorcycles. My father still rides his Harley, and I am an avid rider myself, a passion I am passing on to my daughters.
It all started early for me. As a child, I would always pretend to be racing on a motorcycle. When I turned 21, I got my motorcycle license, and my first bike was a gift from my grandfather. It was his last motorcycle—a Honda CB250N. It had been sitting unused in his pigeon shed for five years, had fallen over a few times, and needed some work to get it roadworthy again. Once I got the Honda running, I modified it slightly into a "cafe racer style." At 23, I sold the Honda to buy a Suzuki GSX-R750W.
In 2006, I started my own racing team and competed nationally in the Supercup 1000. Until 2012, we raced with Suzuki, achieving a solid position in the championship's upper mid-tier.
In 2013, Ace Cafe Racer Parts was born. Alongside a full-time job as a steel trade representative, I ran an online shop selling quality parts for cafe racers, with several dealership agreements. Under the name Beemerboys, we made exhaust systems and developed parts, mainly for BMWs.
Occasionally, in my daily job, I would come across a motorcycle that had been sitting idle for some time. I would buy it, fix it up, and sell it.
By 2020, balancing all this with a family of three daughters became unmanageable, so I sold the webshop to make more time for my family and hobbies. That lasted about a month before my motorcycle trade began to grow rapidly.
Despite having a great job, in 2022, I took the plunge and went full-time into the motorcycle trade. It paid off, as in 2024, I sold almost 300 vintage motorcycles as a one-man operation. I travel extensively across Europe to buy motorcycles and sell them worldwide, both in bulk and individually. Over time, I have built a strong network in this exciting industry. I visit incredible places, meet wonderful people, and see stunning collections. Sometimes, communication happens through gestures when we don't share a common language, but it always works out.
Here's to many more great years ahead!