Meet Franco Factory and Adam Plax | Co-Founders, Beachside Moto Club (BMC)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Franco Factory and Adam Plax and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Franco and Adam, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
At Beachside Moto Club (BMC), our growth and influence within the Los Angeles motorcycle community stems from our commitment to putting riders first. Whether you’re a seasoned rider looking to expand your network, a beginner rider seeking a safe learning environment, or new in town looking to expand your social circle through a common interest, BMC is the place for you.

Our monthly group rides typically attract near 100 riders, which means safety and organization are paramount. Before every ride, we hold a riders’ meeting to cover important details like safety remarks, the route from start to end, and the roles of our BMC crew members. This approach ensures that everyone is aligned and collectively looks out for each other, fostering a smooth and enjoyable experience for all. Our level of organization has built a strong reputation, with riders consistently returning due to the camaraderie and safety of our group rides.

In addition to our focus on safety, we are proud to recruit a diverse group of crew members who reflect our inclusive values. BMC is like a co-ed social club that welcomes all types of riders, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or motorcycle type. If you have a love for motorcycles, you have a place in BMC.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Beachside Moto Club (BMC) has been a central part of our lives since 2021, and as co-founders, it has been at the forefront of everything we do from the very beginning. When riders join our monthly group rides, they often express their appreciation for the community we’ve built, where everyone feels heard and seen. However, this success didn’t come easily. We encountered many growing pains, some of which were difficult and painful to navigate. Finding BMC’s true identity was not a straightforward journey, and at one point, we hit an all-time low. This struggle arose from disagreements among former crew members.

As BMC grew, we realized that having too many voices in the decision-making process made it difficult to move forward and satisfy everyone. To stay focused and aligned with our vision, we decided to streamline the leadership, reducing the crew’s influence on critical decisions and reserving those decisions for Adam and Franco. While we continue to care for our crew, we believe that maintaining a clear and unified direction is essential to preserving the original vision. Every decision made by Adam and Franco is for the betterment of BMC, as they are committed to protecting the community and the brand that so many riders in Los Angeles have come to know and love. Keeping this focused direction ensures consistency, allowing us to stay true to our values and keep our attention on our crew, our group rides, and the community that supports us.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our day begins with grabbing coffee at Deus in Venice, the perfect spot to kick off a day of riding. Centrally located in West Los Angeles, Deus combines a motorcycle-inspired retail store with a cozy coffee shop. They’ve been an incredible supporter of BMC, donating merchandise for our annual campout and hosting evening meet-ups where riders can connect with others who share the same passion.

From Deus, we head to our first stop: lunch at The Old Place, tucked away in the Malibu canyons. We take Venice Blvd toward the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), a route beloved by Los Angeles riders for its breathtaking coastal views. PCH then leads us to a series of twisty canyon roads that are pure joy to ride. We make our way up Mulholland Canyon, passing by Victory Jon for a highway photo before reaching The Old Place, a western-themed restaurant with delicious food and a charming, small-town vibe.

After lunch, we head back down PCH, stopping at the iconic Neptune’s Net to enjoy the stunning ocean views and check out the collection of motorcycles parked by the beach. From there, we ride back into the city to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Blvd, home to an impressive motorcycle collection. The Petersen showcases some of the rarest bikes on the planet, from custom Falcons to motorcycles once ridden by the legendary Steve McQueen.

Next, we make our way to dinner at the Bike Shed of LA in the Arts District, the perfect spot for a meal and a drink surrounded by motorcycle memorabilia. After a full day of adventure, we cap off the evening at a local dive bar like The Short Stop in Echo Park, bringing our day of Los Angeles riding to a perfect close.”

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We hold a deep respect for the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club (VVMC), the pioneers of group rides in Los Angeles. Co-founders Adam and Franco first met during a VVMC ride and were instantly inspired to build their own community. VVMC has been around much longer than BMC and has mastered the art of organizing rides in LA. However, the founders of BMC saw a need for group rides on a different day of the week, leading to the creation of BMC. While VVMC hosts rides on Sundays, BMC offers rides on Saturdays, providing the perfect balance for riders who enjoy staying out late on Saturday nights and prefer not to rise early on Sunday mornings.

The leadership team at VVMC has been incredibly supportive of BMC from the beginning, and in a close-knit community like the motorcycle scene, it’s vital that both groups support each other. For example, we promote VVMC’s rides and special events, and they do the same for us. This mutual support shows riders in Los Angeles that there’s no competition between our groups — there’s more than enough motorcycle riding to go around.

Another major influence on BMC was our admiration for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR), an annual global fundraising event that unites the motorcycle community for a good cause. DGR Los Angeles organizes a large parade ride through the city’s most iconic neighborhoods, with participants dressing in dapper fashion and riding classic-inspired motorcycles. The event partners with the Movember Foundation, raising funds for men’s mental health resources and research into prostate cancer. The level of organization required to host the largest motorcycle group ride in Los Angeles inspired BMC’s co-founders to take a leap of faith and create a group that organizes similar rides on a smaller scale, but on a monthly basis.

Instagram: @beachsidemotoclub

Image Credits
Jonathan C. Ward
Lorenzo Basilio
Ahlyzik Monroe