build a kit bike

[windrider]

I've been looking for an ideal kit bike by the process of elimination. I first thought of the El Dorado type but they're too much like the one I've got.
Choppers and bobbers are not for me--neither are sports types.
So what does that leave? The Kiwi Indian, a replica of the 50s Chief would be great but it's way too expensive for me.

I found a place to get a 1948 Panhead replica kit or a chopper version. Something in between seems like what I want.

Has anyone built a bike (kit or other)? What kind of ??? should I be asking before I buy it. Would a kit have a VIN #?
There are no instructions with the kit and I have never done wrenching on bike except the easy stuff but I'd love to give it a shot.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[windrider]

Well it seems that no one TMW is interested in kit bike building

or maybe you took offense to my giving my preferance of bike by elimination of others.
that did not mean I was dissing them.
Everyone has their likes and dislikes--we dont even have a choice in that It is what it is.
At different times in my life I might have chosen any of those bikes
I was able to find a very good bike building forum and I know that this is a excellent forum . It is as total as it can be
There are unending topics to discuss that we all have in common as bikers
no offence meant
Ride safe

[Skier]

Has anyone built a bike (kit or other)? What kind of ??? should I be asking before I buy it. Would a kit have a VIN #?
There are no instructions with the kit and I have never done wrenching on bike except the easy stuff but I'd love to give it a shot.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

I believe the kit should have some kind of indentifying marks on it, so when you register it as a kit vehicle you can license and insure it.

My opinion on making a kit without really tearing into a bike: don't try it. Get some more serious wrenching under your belt first. If you pick up a $300 to $600 bike and tear it down and rebuild it, you should have a much, much easier time putting together a kit bike. Having at least some experience putting a bike together would be ideal and this would get your this experience.

However, take my advice with a grain of salt - I've never attempted a kit vehicle before.

[rhost]

Your going to pay so much more for a kit bike that its not worth it. Its going to be almost as much as if you bought a ready built custom. I would suggest that if your really interested in building a bike, you do your reasearch and build one yourself. It takes a little extra time to select your parts and get a fabed rolling chassis, but youll be happier in the long run and youll learn more too.

Just my 2 cents.

[windrider]

Thanks for the advice guys.
One good thing about a complete kit is you start with everything and it should all fit together. With a rolling chassis a lot of the work is already done.
Working on it would be the fun part (I have a bike to ride in the meantime) and the satisfaction of doing the whole thing myself--when frusteration takes over I might have other ideas.
I'm considering a V-Twin replica knucklehead bobber from the late 40s but with modern engine, tranny, controls etc.
To buy the bike finished they want about 6K more for it so it seems that when I sell it I'd recoup my money anyway.
Cant start untill summer so plenty of time to decide.
Ride safe

[Scott58]

Don't forget the "Certificate of Origin". You'll need the year, theframe #, the motor #, manufacturer, weight and displacement. Invoive # too if I remember right.

[windrider]

Thanks Scott58,

Because the bike I'm interested is a replica of an existing bike model with no changes that affect the performance it should be just a matter of getting all the paperwork and #s together
But I've got time on my side since I cant start it untill summer.
Ride Safe!

[Crovello]

Building a kit bike seems rather ambitious for someone that does not do a lot of wrenching. It is something I would love to do but not sure I have the know how. I have an old bike I am tearing down and rebuilding now. It is not worth much so I don't have much to loose. If this works out perhaps I will try a more ambitious build. When you do proceed, keep us posted.

Dave.

I see you are in Massachusetts, what part?

[Scott58]

Best way to learn is to dive in. My spitfire was a kit. Nothing like your talking about, but to get it plated for the street it's all the same. My next 'big project' will be making a replica from scratch and I have no idea what it's going to take to get that plated. I'll have a motor #, but as far as the frame i'm wondering if i'll have to get the heat #'s from the steel used and have it certified to some ASME or ANSI spec. Not sure how that works. I'm not that high tech when it comes to what I like in motorcycles so that will work in my favor also (I hope). My thoughts are somewhere between a 1910 and 1929 replica. Much easier to engineer then a modern chopper. The hardest thing i'll have to do is finding an engine that will look right in place of an actual old motor. i have access to a good machine shop (no laser cutters or anything like that, but adequate to do a build of this type). Some of this stuff i've never done before, but most of it I have. Got most of it in my head right now and am slowly accumulating the pieces. See how things shake out after i get my garage built. My trip to the motorcycle museum in iowa should give even more ideas. It may not be an exact cannon copy, but it should be alot of fun and that's the main thing.

[windrider]

The good thing for me is I dont mind attempting somthing I ve never done before and know nothing about--that's kind of exciting to do. I did that with a Classic car from the 50s. Everything needed to be rebuilt except the interior engine and tranny and I litterally knew nothing--if I had I probably would not have done it.
But there is a big difference in an old car and a modern bike. The thing I like is youre working with new parts--no rust or old parts and hard to get at etc. I've checked out a few good books on building a kit bike and I think I can do it. There's sure to be problems but that's part of it.

Crovello, I'm 15min. NW of Northampton -- what about you?

Scott58, From what I heard, it may cost a lot if you have to get a certificate from the EPA but right now there are a lot of "ifs" "buts" and rumors and it should be all straightened out before summer (I hope).