So you want to be a custom bike builder? Start with a motorcycle kit!

Written by Michael Holmes


The step from reading about building motorcycle kits and watching bike builds on television torepparttar real thing is a little more difficult than it looks…

So you want to be a custom bike builder? Well friend, before you rush out and buy that motorcycle kit,repparttar 102707 one that will set you onrepparttar 102708 road to riches and fame, stop and think aboutrepparttar 102709 level of expertise and artistryrepparttar 102710 top builders have attained. More importantly think about how long it has taken them to attain it! Let’s look at a few key issues…

Education You’d be surprised how well educated a lot of today’s top bike builders are. Several of them have degrees (some more than one!) ranging from mechanical engineering to business and marketing management. Billy Lane,repparttar 102711 founder of Chopper Inc, has several patents relating to motorcycle technology in his name for example. What about someone a little more “old school” like Dave Perewitz? Dave has accumulated close to forty years of mechanical, metalworking and painting experience. Not theoretical, but genuine hands on, early morning late night kind of experience. Could you put that kind of time in? Matt Hotch is still only young, but has gained an incredible amount of practical experience customizing first bicycles, then VW’s before moving on to custom bike building.

Facilities These guys are building choppers and custom bikes that are state ofrepparttar 102712 art. They don’t get thrown together inrepparttar 102713 yard;repparttar 102714 motorcycle shops have allrepparttar 102715 tools and equipment required to produce almost anything out of metal, not just bikes. Just as important arerepparttar 102716 other services these builders use;repparttar 102717 local chrome platers, machinists, painters and so on. These guys have just as important a part to play inrepparttar 102718 construction of these one off bikes asrepparttar 102719 designer builders themselves.

Desire Allrepparttar 102720 top custom bike builders live for one thing; buildingrepparttar 102721 best bikes they can. They literally live eat even dream about custom bikes (and looking at some ofrepparttar 102722 more way out creations you can totally believe this fromrepparttar 102723 designs they produce!) They are constantly striving to build bikes better. Its not about money forrepparttar 102724 top guys, I am convinced of that.

Keeping used motorcycle parts as good as new

Written by Granny's Mettle


Even with regular maintenance and upkeep, our motorcycles tend to get used and subjected to different elements inrepparttar environment. To keep used motorcycle parts as good asrepparttar 102706 day when we first bought them, regular washing and rinsing will dorepparttar 102707 trick.

But you should take note how you do your washing. You might scratch parts of your motorcycle.

Top Rule: Avoid scratches.

Scratches arerepparttar 102708 biggest enemy of any bike's finish. The secret of keeping your used motorcycle parts as good as new is to avoid scratches in your motorcycle. Dirt and grime when rubbed in while washing or drying, act as sandpaper and will definitely dullrepparttar 102709 brilliance of your bike's paint.

To avoid scratching your bike, first, you need to remember that anything that comes in contact with your motorcycle's finish should be made of soft material. Take care that no harsh or rough surfaces will be able to connect with any part of your motorcycle. Zippers arerepparttar 102710 worst offenders.

Use only clean, freshly washed cotton cloths or towels to dry your bike after washing. When you need to put on any application to make your bike shine, again userepparttar 102711 clean cotton cloths and towels. Rinse thoroughlyrepparttar 102712 sponges or wash mitts, as well asrepparttar 102713 bucket, before and after washing your bike to remove any dirt or grime.

One ofrepparttar 102714 best advice I got from a used motorcycle parts site was to separate my bike's areas into normal and rough areas when washing. I usually considerrepparttar 102715 painted surfaces as normal areas, whilerepparttar 102716 tires, engine, and inner fenders arerepparttar 102717 rough areas. I use different wash mitts and sponges for each area to keep dirt and grime away fromrepparttar 102718 sensitive areas. This way, scratching would be avoided.

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