Custom chopper build help?

Message

SympleTruth316 · Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:39 am

I have no idea if this is the right section so please feel free to yell and scream and throw tomatoes at me. Im getting tired of my old honda because as soon as I fix one thing something else goes wrong. So before it finally dies on me, Id like to start a custom chopper build to replace it by the springtime. However I have no idea how to go about doing this. Does anyone know of anywhere that sells kits or something realatively inexpensive to do? My funds are kinda limited as I just got a house.

BuzZz · #2 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:58 am

'Custom Chopper' and 'Limited Funds' are a bad combination.

There are many places that will sell you anything from a bare frame to a rolling chassis to a complete bike-in-a-box, or any combination of the 3 you desire. But unless you install used components(like engine, suspension, ect.) it is very, very rare that these bikes end up costing less than buying a new bikw from your favorite dealership, no matter what brand.

Google up any custom chopper maker's website and they will probably have frames and chassis for sale listed and ready to sell you. They won't be cheap. And there is an endless list of 'stuff' you will need to complete a functioning bike, from nuts-n-bolts, to clamps, holders, spacers, cables, wireing, ignitions, gauges, bearings and on-n-on it goes. And all that stuff costs money.

TechTMW · #3 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:18 am

Yeah ... what's "Relatively Inexpensive" ?

And ... you don't like fixing a bit here and a bit there but you want to build something from scratch !!!???

Why not just tear down your bike, Fix everything that needs it in one big project, and put it back together ... you'll save yourself thousands.

Or. Look on Ebay. Alot of guys have the same Idea that you do ... and then never finish it because they realize what a PIA it is to build a bike

Someone elses loss could be your gain, etc ..

nitrus · #4 Unread post by **nitrus** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:41 pm

custom chrome sells kits, if you've got the loot

SympleTruth316 · Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:24 pm

relatively inexpensive is like $10,000 or so. I see all these custom bikes built going for like $30,000 or more and I dont want to pay that for something I can build myself prolly cheaper. As far working on the bike I have now, I see it as a waste of time if I keep putting money into something thats never going to run right nayway unless I rebuild the entire bike spending over time what it would cost to build a custom bike that more than likely will not give me all these problems for a good many years. Wow that was a long sentence. Was that a run on?

TechTMW · #6 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:20 pm

If you spend 10,000 to fix up an old honda, you're doing something reeeally wrong

Anyway. If you are set on the idea, I still think E-Bay is your best bet. The cheapest kits out there are still around 15k.

Have you ever even ridden a chopper? They Suck if you are actually into motorcycling. If you are into posing, then they are perfect

Seriously - the dynamics and ergos of the bike may not be to your liking. It would suck to drop that kind of dough on something you don't like to ride anywhere but down main street once a week.

SympleTruth316 · Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:47 am

I dont know, I just want the experience of building one. Something I can take to shows with me and say look what I did. But something id ride around too. Theyre really not good for riding around? Ok thanks for all the replies and help everyone.

TechTMW · #8 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:04 am

Well. What kind of bike do you want to build?

The choppers w/ the huge front forks and no rear suspension are about worthless. That being said ...

The last one is freaking SWEET. If you can keep an old school bike on the road, you'll get plenty of attention and you should be proud of your accomplishment. Besides they are better than kit choppers and more authentic...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-Tri ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1953-HAR ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Triumph- ... dZViewItem

canuckerjay · Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:08 am

I've seen frames alone going for $8000CAD up here in the AutoTrader.

Higher of course for a rolling chassis.

And I'm with the others; choppers would not give me the kind of comfort I like on a bike. That looks like it would just kill your back.

SympleTruth316 · Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:38 pm

Thanks again guys, this is the type of bike im looking to build. Something along these lines.