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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.


MORE RESOURCES:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (blog)

Senate Votes Against Motorcycle Helmet Bill
MyFox Illinois
Trotter said his previous attempts at motorcycle helmet bills have been aimed at residents of all ages, but this year, his bill targeted just those younger ...
Bill Brady Votes NO On Child Helmet Safety BillHuffington Post (blog)

all 14 news articles »


The San Francisco Appeal

SF motorcycle cops collide during training exercise
San Jose Mercury News
SAN FRANCISCO — Two San Francisco Police Department motorcycle officers who were hospitalized after crashing during a training exercise this afternoon are ...
Two SF motorcycle officers hurt in crashSan Francisco Chronicle
Two officers hospitalized after training exercise crashSan Francisco Examiner

all 16 news articles »


Reuters

Harley-Davidson Rises on Buyout Chatter
New York Times (blog)
Harley-Davidson shares rose sharply on spiked Tuesday on speculation that the motorcycle maker was the target of a buyout bid, Reuters reported. ...
Heavyweight Motorbikes, RVs -- Biting the Bullet: 2010 ScenarioCNNMoney.com (press release)
Harley-Davidson for Sale?AllAboutBikes
Rumors lift Harley-Davidson stockYork Daily Record
Sun-Sentinel -MotorcycleUSA.com (blog) -Article Ant (press release)
all 105 news articles »


CBC.ca

Motorcycle licence rules to change
North Shore News
LICENsING and helmet regulations for motorcycle riders are getting an overhaul by the province, but some of the proposed changes miss the mark, according to ...
Motorcycle riders may be sent to driver schoolVancouver Sun
BC to change motorcycle licensingCBC.ca
BC plans tougher motorcycle lawsGlobe and Mail
Opinion250 News (blog) -News1130 -CKNW News Talk 980
all 8 news articles »


Friday Flyer

Letter: Street legal motorcycles
Friday Flyer
Our family has lived in Canyon Lake since 1986 and, as a lot of people would say, “you knew the rule against motorcycle riding in Canyon Lake when you moved ...

and more »


4 motorcyclists killed in crash identified
MiamiHerald.com
Authorities have identified the names of the four motorcyclists killed following a collision on a central Florida road. The Florida Highway Patrol says the ...
4 on 2 motorcycles killed in Fla. collisionThe Associated Press
Four motorcyclists killed in Sumter accidentTampabay.com
FHP: Truck Hits Motorcycles On CR 476; 4 KilledWESH Orlando
Tampa Tribune -Orlando Sentinel -ABC Action News
all 228 news articles »


Hartford Courant

Motorcycle Crash Victim Ran Glastonbury Restaurant
Hartford Courant
The Glastonbury man who died Wednesday in a motorcycle crash in Mansfield was the general manager of Tango, a Glastonbury restaurant. ...

and more »


Pickup truck smashed into two motorcycles, killing 4 in Sumter County, FL
NewYorkInjuryNews (press release)
Legal News for Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorneys. A crash involving a pickup truck and two motorcycles caused injuries ranging from minor to fatal. ...

and more »


Denver man held in string of motorcycle thefts
Denver Post
By The Denver Post A man accused of stealing Harley Davidson motorcycles across the metro region the last nine months was arrested Wednesday evening by ...

and more »


Missing the point about too-loud motorcycles
Morning Sentinel
This writer of the letter, "At least motorcyclists don't text while driving" (March 15), seems to be missing the point. We are not talking about cell phones ...

and more »

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