| by, Ian Parish | | | | metal, or other parts. |
| So you want to build a custom chopper? I do too, so | | | | Option 2) Start with a Rolling chassis, this is the |
| the first question I asked myself, is where do I start. | | | | middle of the road option, spend a lump sum of |
| Should I make a business plan, a schedule, a financial | | | | money, about 1/2 of what the overall bike will cost |
| statement, or should I just buy my wife some | | | | and get a basic setup that all works together. |
| flowers and blindly proceed? I guess I should do all of | | | | A Rolling chassis kit consists of a Frame, 2 wheels, |
| the above but not necessarily in that order. | | | | the forks, and triple clamps and bars, all build and |
| I will start by trying to justify this purchase and or | | | | configured to work together. Add a motor and a |
| endeavor, to do this I will make a list of my reasons? | | | | transmission and all the major workings of the bike |
| 1) I want to ride a custom chopper, a totally cool | | | | are in place. This setup helps avoid some of the |
| stretched out, fire breathing, gas eating, pavement | | | | major work needed to mix match and fit these items |
| pounding, old lady scaring, 2 wheel monster. 2) I want | | | | together. This option also allows for a ton of |
| to be able to say \"I built that\" when someone asks | | | | customization in the parts that people see and the |
| me where I got that totally sick bike. 3) I want to be | | | | parts that give a bike it\'s personality. For me this is a |
| able to customize the bike beyond the standard add | | | | very serious option to consider. I would only have 1/2 |
| on parts I can get for my current bike a Harley | | | | the cost and 1/2 the parts sitting around and |
| Davidson Fatboy. 4) I want to be able to make this | | | | gathering dust until I get time to get it together. |
| dream come true, meaning I need to be able to pay | | | | Option 3) Find each and every part one at a time |
| for it. A $35,000 chopper is out of my current | | | | and build a completely custom motorcycle. I know I |
| budget. 5) I have been talking about this for 5 years | | | | could do this, but I also know I will encounter more |
| so why don\'t I get to it and stop doing all the talking | | | | unexpected and possibly expensive issues with this |
| and start doing some building. | | | | type of build. This option would give me a bike that |
| Now I have a few reasons on paper a will look at | | | | no one would ever duplicate. This could be very good |
| my options, then make a plan, a schedule, and find | | | | or this could be very bad. What if some possible |
| some extra money. | | | | combination of frame, motor, forks, or wheels didn\'t |
| Let\'s start with a my build options, and plan on a | | | | work together? It would not be discovered until the |
| slow and steady approach. I realize I will need to do | | | | motorcycle was all together. I think this option is |
| a lot of research before I start. I have 4 basic | | | | better left to the serious professional who build bike |
| options, a kit bike, a rolling chassis, a start from zero | | | | all night long, as the are working on other peoples |
| build, or an extreme makeover of a current | | | | bikes, and running businesses during the day. I may |
| motorcycle. | | | | consider this for my second custom chopper. |
| Option 1) If I start with a motorcycle kit I maybe | | | | Option 4) Take an existing bike and start cutting and |
| the farthest ahead from a mechanical perspective, | | | | changing it. This is maybe as involved as chopping and |
| and farthest behind from a financial point of view. | | | | re-welding the frame to create a new rake and |
| What do I mean by this, well a kit bike has all the | | | | angles. Or it could mean just getting a new frame |
| parts it just needs paint, labor, gas, oil and some love. | | | | and using the engine, transmission, and various other |
| The problem a complete kit bike will cost me $12,000 | | | | part to build a new machine. I like this idea, and I |
| dollars right up front. This is a bit out of my spend a | | | | think it would be a lower cost alternative to all new |
| ton of money now then not be able to ride a bike | | | | custom parts. With this option you are also able to |
| for a year or two thinking. If I get a kit, I maybe | | | | keep the current registration and title if the frame is |
| able to get it together faster, as I will be motivated | | | | not replaced. This is also a lower cost option because |
| and have all the parts ready to go. As a first bike I | | | | a lot of the miscellaneous parts can be reused. |
| think this is a very good option, when you consider all | | | | I know that in one page all the possible combinations |
| the expensive mistakes I may make along that way. | | | | of Custom Chopper build can\'t be completely |
| One drawback to this option is the amount of | | | | explained, I just hope this information give you |
| customization I can do to the bike as it is put | | | | something to start with and build on. It has help steer |
| together. Because all the parts are in the kit, I may | | | | me in the direction of a rolling chassis, so I better get |
| resist the urge to get new bars or different sheet | | | | shopping. |