Genesis

[BeerSlinger]

Hi All,

I was wondering if all of you had advice for a newbie. Basically I have ridden before and taken the safety courses but I've never worked on a bike and so I'm kinda starting from scratch. Frankly, I haven't been on one but I'm looking to start a makeshift work area for myself in my basement so that I can build a Harley from the ground up (before you even ask, yes my basement opens to the outside of the house). But when I say from the ground up I mean that in every direction from knowledge, tools and parts. So I'm wondering what all of you have experienced because I find it hard to believe that no one has done it before.

Basically, I have no knowledge of working mechanics so first I’m going to need some really good books. I'm not the typical stereotypical male that opens a box and tries to put something together and then reads the manual after cursing at it for three hours. Frankly, I'm the type that doesn't like to touch things without having a real good idea of what I’m doing so a real good step by step manual would help or just one that explains things really good.

Next, I know as important as the best parts are the best tools. Is there are resource for that? Also, where is the best place to go for Tech questions?

Last, I have only three concepts for a HD in mind to build and two are specific and the other is not. First are the Dyna Low Rider and then the Dyna Fat Boy. But the one that I can't nail down is an old hardtail that was a 50's model. Does anyone know a good resource for the vintage HD's so that I can see the pics and know the specs?


All Useful Help would be appreciated,
Thanx

[Aggroton]

ok first off i totally thought this was gonna be about sega.

second...if you ask me and i were to build my own bike for the first time and i wanted american style...i would build a "kit bike". for a couple of reasons. kit bikes come with very detailed instructions...and usually a dvd or at least a tech phone # so if you hit a wall(not while riding) you have knowledge staff to help you. and if you want a 50's hard tail style there are alot better looking, imho, and less costly kit bikes out there than a harley.

as far as tools go...some one else im sure will give you a hand...

but when i think 50's i think something like this...

http://www.bigbearchoppers.com/bikes/sc ... on/sd.html
or this is a little more harley esque...

http://www.customchrome.com/hr3eldo.html

and as far as harley snobs go...if they turn thier nose up at something you built with your own sweat...they aren't real bikers.

[BuzZz]

ok first off i totally thought this was gonna be about sega.

And here I was thinking Yamaha.......

[CentralOzzy]

Harley!

[Mintbread]

Just watch American Chopper. They have it down to a fine art.

[BuzZz]

Just watch American Chopper. They have it down to a fine art.

Holy Chit!
That's the worst one yet. Well maybe that Christmas bike they did was worse.... maybe. I can't believe those guys are getting rich and respected for junk like that.....

[BeerSlinger]

second...if you ask me and i were to build my own bike for the first time and i wanted american style...i would build a "kit bike". for a couple of reasons. kit bikes come with very detailed instructions...and usually a dvd or at least a tech phone # so if you hit a wall(not while riding) you have knowledge staff to help you. and if you want a 50's hard tail style there are alot better looking, imho, and less costly kit bikes out there than a harley.

Ok, I’m not going to disagree with you but just really make a different argument. My thought was to first, buy as many books as I could or about six or eight, which ever comes first and then decide on the model that I want to recreate and modify. Then I thought the first parts that I would buy would be a complete engine and a frame. Not because a Kit isn’t a better idea but because of sheer economics. I will be honest, it would take me more then 2 ½ years to save for a kit and it would only take a year or so to save for an engine and less for a frame. After that, it would be a world of nickel and dimming me to death, from tools to parts.

I know that I wouldn’t have the support…which is an issue…


as far as tools go...some one else im sure will give you a hand...

but when i think 50's i think something like this...

http://www.bigbearchoppers.com/bikes/sc ... on/sd.html
or this is a little more harley esque...

http://www.customchrome.com/hr3eldo.html


I don’t want to be crude but this is not what I have in mind at all. To be honest, if I had a choice of a chopper and a rice burner, I would be eating Chinese every night. Ok, when I think of 50’s I think of this:

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/album_sh ... ic_id=2396

Of course, I didn’t get this get this idea in a vacuum. Once, in my local store around town, I saw a 52 Harley and it had seen its day but it was a thing of beauty. For me, a chopper is more like “giving the statue of liberty a boob job.” In other words its just a lot of modifications on a bike style that didn’t need to be modified in the first place.

At this point I don’t know if this kind of idea is even feasible…I was just throwing it out…


and as far as harley snobs go...if they turn thier nose up at something you built with your own sweat...they aren't real bikers.

Really, my experience has been that the riders and their foreign bikes have been the ones to give me flack. The riders that I have run into have been more into the loyalty of the brand and the bike. I know if I was just looking or just wanting one, Harley riders have been an accepting lot for me.

_________________
thats a sweet bike.

[BeerSlinger]

Just watch American Chopper. They have it down to a fine art.

My cousin watchs that show. I don't like it, seems far to uneducational and far too reality spin. I probabily would watch it but the yelling gets on my nerves...

[BeerSlinger]

Just watch American Chopper. They have it down to a fine art.

Holy Chit!
That's the worst one yet. Well maybe that Christmas bike they did was worse.... maybe. I can't believe those guys are getting rich and respected for junk like that.....

Oh, so I'm not the only one who thinks that they put out some pretty F$%#&d up S#$%?

[CentralOzzy]

OK I'll admit it as well....that one looks Bad!

BUT:

Perhaps it was made that way because of customer demand....& that was their brief, ....build me a B&W shuttle bike!






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