So you want to be a custom bike builder? Start with a motorcycle kit! |
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Written by Michael Holmes
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Monday, 30 July 2007 |
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 The step from reading about building motorcycle kits and watching bike builds on
television to the real thing is a little more difficult than it looks…
So
you want to be a custom bike builder? Well friend, before you rush out and buy
that motorcycle kit, the one that will set you on the road to riches and fame,
stop and think about the level of expertise and artistry the top builders have
attained. More importantly think about how long it has taken them to attain it!
Let’s look at a few key issues…
T
Education
You’d be surprised how well educated a lot of today’s top bike
builders are. Several of them have degrees (some more than one!) ranging from
mechanical engineering to business and marketing management. Billy Lane, the
founder of Chopper Inc, has several patents relating to motorcycle technology in
his name for example. What about someone a little more “old school” like Dave
Perewitz? Dave has accumulated close to forty years of mechanical, metalworking
and painting experience. Not theoretical, but genuine hands on, early morning
late night kind of experience. Could you put that kind of time in? Matt Hotch is
still only young, but has gained an incredible amount of practical experience
customizing first bicycles, then VW’s before moving on to custom bike
building.
Facilities
These guys are building choppers and custom bikes
that are state of the art. They don’t get thrown together in the yard; the
motorcycle shops have all the tools and equipment required to produce almost
anything out of metal, not just bikes. Just as important are the other services
these builders use; the local chrome platers, machinists, painters and so on.
These guys have just as important a part to play in the construction of these
one off bikes as the designer builders themselves.
Desire
All the top
custom bike builders live for one thing; building the best bikes they can. They
literally live eat even dream about custom bikes (and looking at some of the
more way out creations you can totally believe this from the designs they
produce!) They are constantly striving to build bikes better. Its not about
money for the top guys, I am convinced of that.
So where does that leave
Average Joes like you and me? Actually, I don’t think we are too badly off; in
fact if you want to build a custom bike, it has probably never been easier.
Here’s my take on it….
Education
There is an unbelievable amount of
information for the guys who want to start down the road to custom bike
building. Videos, books websites, all of them help to flatten the learning curve
for a novice. Most of the material out there relates to motorcycle kits, and for
the beginner, building a motorcycle kit is definitely the best way to go if you
want to get real hands on experience. After that there are motorcycle
maintenance courses, which again will allow you to get up to speed as fast as
possible in your quest to become the next Arlen Ness!
Facilities
To
put together a shop like the ones you see on television costs thousands of
dollars. But you don’t need all that stuff if you start with a motorcycle kit.
Motorcycle kits can be put together with some pretty basic tools, providing they
are of good quality. Two things that are an absolute must in my opinion though
are a torque wrench and a basic lift. With these two tools, you can tighten the
motorcycle kits fittings correctly, and not break your back while you are doing
it!
Desire
Well this is one area where you can match the pros, no
question. If you really want to be a custom bike builder, start doing it for fun
and put your motorcycle kit together.
We can’t all be Billy Lane, Eddie
Trotta or Russell Mitchell, but we can have a lot of fun
trying!
Copyright Michael Holmes 2005 Permission is granted to reproduce
this article provided a live link is provided to
http://www.motorcycleparts-accessories-andmore.com
About the Author
Michael Holmes is a enthusiast for all thing motorcycle. His website,
http://www.motorcycleparts-accessories-andmore.com, is a great resource of
articles aimed at motorcyclists of all levels.
Photograph by Stephan Pocula
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 13 January 2008 )
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