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