So You Want To Be A Custom Bike Builder? Start With A Motorcycle Kit!
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?
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!
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, including a page specifically about the motorcycle kits resources available online.
Latest News
 Los Angeles Times | Motorcycles meet rock 'n' roll in new RockMoto videos Los Angeles Times, CA - But there's another, less-obvious trait each band shares: At least one of their members rides a motorcycle. Starting Friday, Green Day keyboardist Jason ... |
India's Bajaj to launch new bike a month from Jan Reuters - High interest rates and sluggish consumer spending have dented demand for automobiles in India, including for motorcycles and scooters that Bajaj Auto ... |
Motorcycles collide killing one, injuring two The Northwest Florida Daily News, FL - SANTA ROSA COUNTY -- A 22-year-old Pensacola man was killed Sunday night when he was ejected from his motorcycle after it struck a motorcycle traveling in ... Motorcycle Crash Kills 3 In Sumter |
Heater, gasoline ignite blaze, destroying Sharpsville garage ... Sharon Herald, PA - The garage, two motorcycles — one Melius’ Harley Davidson and another he was working on — and many tools inside were destroyed by the blaze, Totin said. ... |
Specialty dealer adds motorcycles Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - COURTESY PHOTO / PHILLIPPE DIEDERICH Mark Watmough, left, of Auto Marques of Sarasota, has joined with Johnny Cortese to open a motorcycle division. ... |
American Motorcyclist Association Welcomes Perry King to Board of ... AMASuperbike.com, OH - Motorcycles have played a major role in King's life for more than four decades. He owns bikes of all types, including vintage, dual-sport and sport ... |
Demand for Harley-Davidson XR1200 Sparks American Debut MarketWatch - Drawing significant styling influences from the successful Harley-Davidson XR-750 motorcycles that set new standards for dirt track racing success over the ... |
Steve McQueen was a pilot, not a celebrity, at Santa Paula Airport Los Angeles Times, CA - McQueen and his girlfriend, a stunning model who would become his third wife, slept on a four-poster brass bed amid his vintage motorcycles and airplane ... |
Biker recalls losing lower leg in accident Lower Hudson Journal news, NY - Sheridan, who has been riding motorcycles since he was 17, pulled up the visor on his helmet, and told Mallory that the teen was going to have to help him ... |
Just Motorcycles Wins Bike Tyrestore Christmas Hamper Tyres & Accessories, UK - Christmas may be even a touch more fun this year, at Just Motorcycles in Basingstoke, now that they have won a luxury Christmas hamper packed by Royal ... |
Resources
-
How To Turn Used Cars Into Ca$h With Your Computer
learn how to make money with used cars, used Motorcycles, used boats, used motor homes, scooters and more. Start your own used car business, profit from used cars. This is the perfrect homebased business.