Ever built your own bike?

[dandydan]

I'm just curious, anyone here built your own bike? I've thought about it before but have never had the time/ resources. I did find this site though perserverence. Check it out, looks pretty cool. And let me know of any bike building stories y'all have.

[Road Rash]

I'm working on chopping one out now.Hopefully it'll be done soon.I'm gonna start on one from scratch when I get through.Building the frame and everything.:cool:

[laughlin81]

I've built quite a few bikes? What are you trying to build?

[Capt.]

I've built a few over the years (since the early 70's) and still do. But, ya may want to look into the new EPA requirements that took effect this past Jan. 1st. Here is the addy for the FAQ's http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/roadbike/420f03046.pdf
Basically, once your done with the build and register it for the first time with your MSO's (manufacturers statement of origin) for the engine, frame, and tranny, you can not sell it for 5 yr.s and.......you can do this only once in your lifetime!!! If your dream scoot is stolen, wrecked or whatever, you can not replace it or build another non-EPA compliant bike again and expect to register it. The penalty is $10,000.oo a day.....retroactive to the day that you registered the 2nd non-compliant bike.
You can have a bike shop build it if the shop is a registered Mfg. co. and as such can apply a NHTSA/DOT approved VIN number. However, such a shop is limited to 24 builds a year and the bikes must also have a EPA non-compliance sticker applied to it along with the VIN sticker But, at least you get a title from the shop that built it and does not qualify as your once in a lifetime build. In other words, you can sell and buy as many of the shop built bikes as you like without restrictions.
You go here to the MRF and read more:http://www.mrf.org/epa.php
Hope this opens your eyes to the legal ramifications of building your own bike. It can still be done but, with a bunch of new restrictions.
Capt.

[TheLaughingMan]

I have just begun the planning stage of my dream bike. The one bike I wanted since I was 8. I'm talking about Kaneda's motorcycle in the 1988 anime film AKIRA. It is no dout going to be a long and expensive project, but I'm prepared to die trying.

For those few of you might actually know what I'm talking about, i'm not planning on making some cheap ass rendition, I have the intentions of making this one fast mutha . P.M or E-mail me with anything you can give.

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.





The:D Laughing :D Man was here

[Maico Shark]

Well Laughing, I've built lots of bikes of all types and it's a great pastime. I don't understand though why you want to discuss through pm's and e-mails....this is a discussion forum where we talk all out in the open and I'd like to see new members respect that.

[CB750F]

You can make anything fast with 2 letters and a number, N2O.

[Capt.]

Yup....but I'm sure ya mean Nos right?;)

[TheLaughingMan]

What would say is all around better for bike that is ridden mostly in the city, caubrurated(sp?) or fuel-injected?

[TheLaughingMan]

Well Laughing, I've built lots of bikes of all types and it's a great pastime. I don't understand though why you want to discuss through pm's and e-mails....this is a discussion forum where we talk all out in the open and I'd like to see new members respect that.


Fair Enough

[CB750F]

Yup....but I'm sure ya mean Nos right?

Yeah but ya gotta say NOS like "Nawwwwwwwwwwwwwwsssssssssss". Just like the kids with the big chrome mufflers on the Toyota and Hondas say it. I just say nitrous being the NOS is the name brand of , and oddly enough the acronym of, Nitrous Oxide System.

[Capt.]

Yeah but ya gotta say NOS like "Nawwwwwwwwwwwwwwsssssssssss". Just like the kids with the big chrome mufflers on the Toyota and Hondas say it. I just say nitrous being the NOS is the name brand of , and oddly enough the acronym of, Nitrous Oxide System.
Hear ya.....kinda sorta like "Sterndrive" (OMC) or "Jacuzzi".
Rightous Nitrous...... instant geddy up and go as long as the bottom end holds up.

[Capt.]

What would say is all around better for bike that is ridden mostly in the city, caubrurated(sp?) or fuel-injected?
Injected for the following reasons: Better cold starts, meters the fuel richness as required for hot and cold, stop and go traffic.
A carburetor has fixed jetting that meters the fuel without correcting for temp., altitude, or long idles and short sprints. Especially if the motor is air cooled.
CApt.

[TheLaughingMan]

Injected for the following reasons: Better cold starts, meters the fuel richness as required for hot and cold, stop and go traffic.
A carburetor has fixed jetting that meters the fuel without correcting for temp., altitude, or long idles and short sprints. Especially if the motor is air cooled.
CApt.


That's what I thought. This my first venture in bike building and I was told F.I. is easier to maintain than a carburetor, just wanted to make sure there were no advantages to a carburetor that I was unaware of.

Thanx :D

[Maico Shark]

Without a doubt carbs present the most hassles when fixing up an old bike or even tuning a newer one. What I can't understand is WHY they are still used and why there isn't a fuel injector to replace the carbs in these older bikes? Is it that much cheaper to manufacture carbs than injectors? These new chinese bikes all use carbs, you'd think they'd go for the more modern technology.

[Capt.]

Without a doubt carbs present the most hassles when fixing up an old bike or even tuning a newer one. What I can't understand is WHY they are still used and why there isn't a fuel injector to replace the carbs in these older bikes? Is it that much cheaper to manufacture carbs than injectors? These new chinese bikes all use carbs, you'd think they'd go for the more modern technology.

I'm just taken a stab in the dark here but, I don't think it's so much the cost of an injector system itself but more the cost of the electronics that can reliably make it function properly especially on small motors that, due to the nature of their size, don't put out enough charging power to support all the electronics and still put enough charge back in the battery. All and all, I still think it's a Cha Ching factor (excuse the pun).
Capt.

[Smith357]

I chopped a 71 Yamaha xs650 into a rat bike once. Everything that did not make it go got tossed, everything else got a nice coat of flat black spray paint, except the gas cap and 5 spoke wheels got some gloss red.

[Roadglider]

I have built a couple. Depending on what you want to do it can get costly. Just remember that if you are buying parts here and there it will take a lot more time to get it finished because there will be always something that you need to go with it. It can get pricey and time consuming but the end result is worth it.

[dnm]

I just built mine, it was bitchin :)

[IronmanUSMC]

i bilded my own byke once. it was neet. i saw a picktur of one i liked in a book and tried to make it the saim. it turned own neet. but not as neet as the picktur. the ownly thing i neededed was bigger weelz on it to make it more neet. i bilt it out uv metal and steel. other thingz i uzed wuz uluminumm and metals like steel. i liked it kuz it was reel neet. i likeded to drive it on the rowed. it had alotta metal on it.:eek:

Is this freak serious????:confused:

[red1100cc]

build what you ride , ride what you build. i run a 77 kz 750 b chopper i made myself. i love it more than life itself! have a heard of others but i always turn to my Love Child for a good time.

[MyChopperBlog]

I'm just curious, anyone here built your own bike? I've thought about it before but have never had the time/ resources. I did find this site though perserverence. Check it out, looks pretty cool. And let me know of any bike building stories y'all have.

My husband and I have thought about building a bike for years but wasn't sure where to start. We had two options 1) go out and spend the time finding parts and worrying about laws to register the bike or 2) buy a bike kit, learn how to build the bike and one that can be registered with no worries. Both has plus & minus experience but we decided we're going to buy a kit and learn the process of building and then on the next bike we can start from scratch. This option is costly up front but for us it fits what we want to do at this time. Not all motorcycle companies sell kits so you have to do your homework. We did find one that we really liked from Big Bear Chopper that does come in a kit. It's called "The Sled ProStreet". We are going to document the build on our website MyChopperBlog.com :cool:

[olds_cool63]

I've done some customizing. Looking for another bike now to MAJOR customize. I'm looking forward to a full build from design to finished product hopefully next year.

[Maico Shark]

I chopped a 71 Yamaha xs650 into a rat bike once. Everything that did not make it go got tossed, everything else got a nice coat of flat black spray paint, except the gas cap and 5 spoke wheels got some gloss red.

Love the SX650....They run great, and are reliable. Make a great chopper!

[Maico Shark]

build what you ride , ride what you build. i run a 77 kz 750 b chopper i made myself. i love it more than life itself! have a heard of others but i always turn to my Love Child for a good time.

A cool looking ride except it looks a bit loud without mufflers.

[Shuggs]

i bilded my own byke once. it was neet. i saw a picktur of one i liked in a book and tried to make it the saim. it turned own neet. but not as neet as the picktur. the ownly thing i neededed was bigger weelz on it to make it more neet. i bilt it out uv metal and steel. other thingz i uzed wuz uluminumm and metals like steel. i liked it kuz it was reel neet. i likeded to drive it on the rowed. it had alotta metal on it.:eek:

Oh My.... thats the only thing im gonna say:eek:

*Shuggs*

[Uesque]

Oh My.... thats the only thing im gonna say:eek:

*Shuggs*

I miss owningtheroad, it's always sad when you lose your pet troll.

[chopperhead]

It is awesome to take an idea and build your own bike. I've been doing it for over 10 years. Occ, west coast choppers,ect. Are great builders,but I really admire the backyard builders. I built my own chopper. It's not professional,but I love it!

[Capt.]

I miss owningtheroad, it's always sad when you lose your pet troll.

OK......fess up.....you were feeding him weren't you??:eek:
Capt.

[crasha51pan]

Building is near as much fun as riding ! That will make you and the bike one.