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So you would like to be a custom bike builder? Well!
before you rush out and purchase that motorbike kit, the
one that will put you on the road to riches and fame,
stop and think about the level of skill and artistic
quality 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 would be astonished how intellectual lots of
today’s top bike builders are. Quite a few 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 quite a few
patents relating to motorbike technology in his name for
example. What about somebody 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 type of experience. Could you put
that type of time in? Matt Hotch is still only young,
but has gained an unbelievable 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 up to date. They do not 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 essential are the other
services these builders use; the local chrome platers,
machinists, painters et cetera. These guys have just as
essential 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 most excellent bikes they can. They
literally live eat even dream about custom bikes (and
looking at some of the more way out creations you can
completely believe this from the designs they produce!)
They are continually 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 do not think we are too badly off; actually
if you want to build a custom bike, it has most likely
never been easier. Here’s my take on it….
Education
There is an incredible 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 beginner. Most of the
material out there relates to motorcycle kits, and for
the novice, building a motorcycle kit is absolutely 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 mission to become the next
Arlen Ness!
Facilities
To put together a store like the ones you see on
television costs thousands of dollars. But you do not
need all that stuff if you begin with a motorcycle kit.
Motorcycle kits can be put together with some attractive
basic tools, providing they are of top quality. Two
things that are an absolute must in my opinion though
are a torque wrench and an essential lift. With these
two tools, you can tighten the motorcycle kits fittings
properly, and not break your back while you are doing
it! |