Can you build a bike from scratch?

[bornl33t]

anyone know ANYTHING about building your own motorcycles? what I mean, is what if I got a frame, how hard would it be to put the rest together? Keep in mind i'm an experianced mechanic, just not with motor cycles. I think the hardest

I'm thinking like a chopper type thing. Anyone try it? or know someone who has? Maybe a harley mechanic?

And my second question, can you buy just plain welded steel frames, no chrome, just steel and alot of work?

I've been told be somone who wouldn't have a clue that it's really though AND expensive. The expensive part is a given, bikes aren't cheap. But hard.. I dunno, but I may be missing something.

[DukeNukem1287]

Have u ever watched the show American Choppers? its on Discovery Channel (i think) and they always build there custom bikes fromm scratch, so i am sure u can

you should watch it a few times if u have cable, u learn a lot

[bornl33t]

don't have a TV, lol, I really hate that thing, I wast so much time infront of it I just got rid of it. That's why I'm asking, cause I'm looking for anew projects. My custom mustang will be sold ealry next spring. So I need a new toy, I think I can have a frame built to spec for under 1000$ long story & good friends

here's what I found browsing the net. I am STILL looking for comment on this topic. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to do with AND Need about 100times more info before I ever start.

http://home.cwru.edu/~jvs4/Chopper/chopper.htm

Thanks for any help

[ZAust]

head here for all your chopper needs...

https://www.arlenness.com

holy crap, i like this one

[stondroopy]

there is all sorts of place where you ca get a frame made to any strech or ar rake you like.they usually come bare metal seeing as you dont paint before you make sure everything fits.
if your an exp mechanic im sure youll have no problem.they also have complete bike kits you can buy as well.hope that helps i forgot to say check your local bike shop they may make frames or might know a good shop,if your into choppers just type into your search engine chopper frames.
Are you planning on something to ride or show?Also ive seen kits for mild to sorta trick looking bikes go from anywhere as low as 5000.00 to 15000.00

[RRfireblade]

Re: Can you build a bike from scratch?

Originally posted by Heat
anyone know ANYTHING about building your own motorcycles? what I mean, is what if I got a frame, how hard would it be to put the rest together? Keep in mind i'm an experianced mechanic, just not with motor cycles. I think the hardest

I'm thinking like a chopper type thing. Anyone try it? or know someone who has? Maybe a harley mechanic?

Built 3 over the years,ride a crotch rocket now.

And my second question, can you buy just plain welded steel frames, no chrome, just steel and alot of work?

Yes there are quite a few out there,quite better than HD all ready cleaned up w/ internal wire chases and such.

I've been told be somone who wouldn't have a clue that it's really though AND expensive. The expensive part is a given, bikes aren't cheap. But hard.. I dunno, but I may be missing something.

No real biggie,probably the wiring the only real time consuming part.(some times wheel spacing depending on your primarty/wheel combo)

Jay.

[bornl33t]

both, I'm a huge fan of bikes in general. I really like a couple on the wcc chopper website, that opne up there is wicked cool too, just a little tooo nice looking in my opinion. See the thing is I don't and never will have 70000$ + to spend on a bike. A regular harley just isn't worth the price tag. Plus seing as how I rather be in my garage then anywhere else, I have the tools, I have the skills, it only seems logical.

There are a few problems though, I don't own a mill. So the parts will have to be made by different manufacturers. I may be able to borrow a mill for small bits of mashining, but that's pushing it there.

The one thing I'd like to point out though is that I am sure it won't be cheap. I'm thinking in the area of 10,000$ over the next couple years. Anyway, thanks for the linking, I'm off to work for 16 hours today

[CameraGuy]

I worked in a custom shop for a summer and saw/ worked on several bikes being built from the ground up with a mix of stock, aftermarket and custom built parts . The Arlen Ness link posted above gives some idea of just how wide a variety of different parts are available, either finished or unfinished, from a number of sources. If you pick and choose the right combination of parts, a great deal of custom fabrication can be avoided.

As for difficulty, a bike has most of the same basic systems as a car, but far fewer pieces in a smaller package generally = easier to work on . Not to mention that with the engine, brakes and most other major parts hanging out in the open (at least on many of the Harley styled cruisers - racing and touring bikes can be a somewhat different story) you don't have nearly the same problems with trying to cram yourself into tiny compartments to work on stuff.

Of course, I'm glossing over all sorts of details and a few potential problems, but seeing as you have experience with cars already, I wouldn't worry too much about putting together a bike. Just see if you can find a decent bike mechanic or an aftermarket parts shop in your area that's willing to help answer questions as they come up (might also want to look into what it takes to certify and register a custom built bike in your area - scratch built frame and such might cause problems with a safety check).

[bornl33t]

Originally posted by CameraGuy
(might also want to look into what it takes to certify and register a custom built bike in your area - scratch built frame and such might cause problems with a safety check).

GOOD Point!!! I'll be 25 next year, so inshurance is the least of my problems. Registration is a different story. Pry be more then my mustang and jeep together Oh well mustang has to go anyway

[bornl33t]

Oh yeah, and i found out today that my grandpa, ower of Fletchall pipe and steel happens to have a pipe bender and a good selection of chrome molly barstock on hand, I so I might be building the frame afterall. It's nice to have friends in high places

[Pokaris]

I'm in Ames, and while I have no real certifications as a Mechanic, I have a propensity to destroy things and rebuild them. My college bike is in pieces after a car decided to play tag with me(it doesnt matter if you had the right of way when they dont stop). So from doing some guttwork on it I think it would be an interesting project. My biggest concern would be making sure you understand the wiring, shouldnt be that complex with a twin hopefully.

[giblit]

i built a mini bike if that helps any, it took me about 3 months in my auto class, what we did was my auto teacher broke our 2.5 hp engine (he dropped it and ruined the cylinder) and replaced it with a 5 hp engine and it ripped for a mini bike.

[e mag]

Wow, on a side note i just saw the guys from the show American Chopper on The Daily Show and apparently their custom bikes sell for around 175,000$.

[bornl33t]

you think that's bad, wcc has an even steeper price tag. They really aren't that hard to make from everything I've read and seen so far. It's just alot of work. But it's not 175000$ worth of work.

[headcase]

Originally posted by e mag
Wow, on a side note i just saw the guys from the show American Chopper on The Daily Show and apparently their custom bikes sell for around 175,000$.

That is their "theme bikes", not their normal everyday choppers. A West Coast Chopper starts at 60,000. FYI I've priced out about 95% of the parts for a chopper, and I was over 25,000, that was without paint, assembly, and all the nice little "custom" touches these places put on.