Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey all I'm new to the forum, and I thought I could get some good advice here. So i'll get to it.
Ok I now have a house with garage. And you probably know what that means. And your right. I want to build/restore a bike. I've always wanted to do this and now I have the place and time.
A little about me; just turned 30, getting married to a great girl soon, just bought a house, two stupid dogs, a custom bike shop within walking distance of my house and a friend whose doing his own bike with me.
I've been doing research and been thinking about what I want. I will mostly be town crusing as I live in Raleigh, NC and can ride about 10 months a year. I will not be riding more than two hours a leg. I don't want a chopper or a rocket more of a caferacer style.
So yesterday I introduced myself to the guy at my local custom bike shop with my ideas. He builds the customs that I've seen on tv shows as well as some very slick looking manufactured that he customs. His advice was not to restore, says it a huge pain in the "O Ring", which I thought it would be. Build from the frame up he says, that way I get exactly what I want. What does this collective think? Ok my first post is getting long so I will leave links to my favorite bike right now. Thanks, Mothman.
The Italian Borile, by Umberto Borile. My favorite!!
http://www.caferace.com/cafepix.html
The 1986 Yamaha SRX-6.
http://www.caferace.com/cafepix2.html
A CB 400F, scroll down.
http://www.caferace.com/cafepix4.html

Those are some cool looking bikes, make sure you keep us posted on progress. As far as ideas, I would listen to the custom bike builder. I am sure he has built enough of them to know what he is talking about.
Good luck!!!

Thanks, I'm sure I'll need as much advice as I can get.

My pa is working on building a custom bike from the frame up...he's the man with the plan, i dun know much about it...But good luck to you (and to him)

i think it's an awesome idea if you have the patience, money and time...after it's done, i could not imagine the big grin on your face....

This is hardly a dumb idea!

I've got it in my head to do something like this as well, but I've got no mechanical knowledge. That is to say, I don't now, but I'd probably be able to figure it out if I was putting a bike together.

thats awesome...good luck...those bikes are totally my bag too btw.


also...cafe racers are becoming a new fad latley as well...you can buy some sweet ones brand new.



and

\

and lots more...the bottom one not so much a cafe but can be easily adjusted...and almost any 70/80's japanese bikes with a little love can be spiffed up to look the part.

it may be easier and quicker to get started.

Hello Mothman and welcome .
Building your own scoot is the only way to fly .
For years I was partial to British bikes like the Triumph pictured above . Will have to upload some pics of some of my other bikes . Just as soon as I get
a round tuit .
Kind regards, Wizzard
PS; anyone have any spare round tuits?

Personally, I wouldn't build my own until I've rebuilt at least a couple. After all, do you really know that much about designing a performance machine? Do you know the effects of adjusting rake and trail? How about weight distribution? Different tire designs and sizes? Horsepower, torque, gearing? Carburetion, fuel injection? Wiring harnesses? Fluid storage and line routing? Braking?

The bike builders on TV don't give a squat about performance. The bikes they build are done for looks. Doesn't matter if you can't sit on them for more than 15 minutes without crippling yourself. Doesn't matter if they can turn in an area less than a Wal-Mart parking lot. Doesn't matter if they can stop when an SUV is running the intersection in front of you.

They're all about eye candy for noodling up and down the main drag on Saturday night.

Sounds to me like you're much more concerned with something that might work right when you get done. An old 70s or 80s Japanese bike could cheaply teach you a lot about how bikes perform. Then you can execute a masterpiece to be proud of.

Of course, that's just my opinion. The proverbial grain of salt is recommended.

Yes this is what I need, as much info as I can get and thanks Aquaduct. You are right I have a lot to learn. Here is the thing though, I know at least exactly what I want and what I want to do with it. If I get this guy at the custom shop,, my friend who's been a street bike builder for ten years, my friend who's just as project obsessive as me and my girl to push me I should(with time) get there. This is not a project I'm taking weekends with. I will have the most rideable and slick feeling bike that I can handle. I found a rolling Yamaha frame that I'm looking at right now that could be very flexible.
I've also decided to write a haiku poem every morning just so I keep my mind right, here's the first example:

Wake up new cables
Bright chrome, brushed aluminium
I'll dream about frames

Here's what my color scheme is shaping up to. I play guitar pretty well and I got a new one this last christmas from my girl and brother. It looks so nice and plays like a brick, that means it's everything it needs to be and nothing more....lets see if I can find a picture.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sea ... ID=1735539
Click larger picture.
Imagine chrome frame, bars suspention, brushed engine, grey fleck tank and fenders with white accents around the bike... yes I dig it.

So with that said give me your guidance and forgive me if I get in over my head, like I said I have a garage and about a year to do this. I look forward to all your help and support, I'l certainly return it, Mothman.
Ohh, I forgot to mention I rode dirtbikes and raced for about six years and some working knowledge, some.

If you want a perfect condition 1960 Your-Fav-Bike-Here after many hours of cleaning, wrenching and chasing down hard-to-find parts, restore a bike. Many people have wanted 'that bike' for years but could never afford one, so years later they restore thier dream bike. That's cool.

If you want a brand new bike that's built just the way you want it with all the stuff you want on it, build from the ground up with the stuff you want. You end up with the bike of your dreams. That's cool too.