If you want a more concrete guide, try this. An experienced kit builder (though not a professional) I spoke to reckons it took 10 full days to build his last chopper from a kit. For someone less experienced it could take a couple of days longer. Twelve 9 hour days works out at 108 hours. Over evenings and weekends, this could drag out to three or four weeks of living in a pile of motorcycle parts! So be prepared to literally live experience if you are going to take plunge.

What about practical side? Well, there is no substitute for experience. The place to start building up your experience with mechanical side of building to kit bike is with your current ride. Make sure all you can do basic maintenance on your motorcycle, and then start to do some simple disassembling. Take off tires, take off exhaust, real basic stuff; all of this will help to build a new confidence in shop side of things. You can also get some great videos on maintenance, and even on building custom bike of your dreams. Read books, watch videos, and buy t-shirt! Believe me, all preparation you make will stand you in good stead.

If you really are hopeless at mechanical side of things, why not pay someone else to help you build it, or even get them to build whole thing for you? The cost of kit plus labor could well work out cheaper than buying a chopper “off shelf”.

And of course, when that beautiful chopper is standing on your driveway, and your friends are asking you “Was it worth it?” you can turn to chopper, drag your hand across flames on tank and polished chrome, turn back to them and say, “What do you think?”

Copyright (c) 2004, by Michael Holmes This article may be freely distributed as author's information provided an active live link to http://www.motorcycleparts-accessories-andmore.com is published with article.

A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to site where article is posted is greatly appreciated. Please contact me at articles@motorcycleparts-accessories-andmore.com

And although four-wheel and all-wheel drive provide better traction and braking in certain driving conditions, weight and friction of additional drivetrain parts may increase fuel consumption by up to 10% over a two-wheel drive vehicle. Most often in SUVs and pickup trucks, four-wheel drive is enabled at will by driver when additional traction is necessary. All-wheel drive is an option on some SUVs and a minority of passenger cars. Full-time all-wheel drive, however, makes for least fuel-efficient car, because all four wheels are always being driven, drawing power from engine and thus using more gas.

Another way to be a fuel saver, is by limiting options you select for your car. You may not have realized that many conveniences from power windows, seats and mirrors to air conditioning and seat warmers decrease fuel efficiency and cost you more in fuel consumption. They add either weight, increase aerodynamic drag or pull extra power from engine or through alternator. Aluminium wheels are one of few options that actually reduce weight and thereby increase fuel efficiency.

Obviously, considering other fuel options such as a hybrid electric car, is another choice for a fuel-efficient car.

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