Yeah, those look pretty simple for anyone with average skills and the ability to follow directions carefully. You're basically just switching out the seat, exhaust, bars, shocks, and so forth. The prices, (on the Sportster stuff,) don't look outrageously higher for the kit then buying the individual parts, but it would save time and headaches for someone that's not sure what to get and what fits what.I found these on a search and they look pretty darn good. They're fairly simple layouts it looks like, not a load of body work, just the basic stuff. I can't see them being too difficult to assemble for someone who has done more than the basic oil change type stuff.
I've got a good friend that loves old Honda 750s. Before this weekend I had 4 motors, a rolling basket case, and part of a bike with an engine in it. After this weekend I only have two of the motors left. I was happy to clear some space from my shop and Leo was thrilled with the pieces. He's turned out some nice rat/café bikes. He has enough of them running so when his friends visit they can all go out for a ride. So the craft is alive and well.I'm confused.What ever happened to just stripping off everything and building it back up the way you want it? Are these "kits" for those that have no imagination of their own or is there a reason to buy a kit? I thought the whole idea was to personalize your bike. But we're not talking about a rat bike so my confusion is what is it about the kits that makes it okay? Got to be something more than just swapping parts, correct?
I mucked around with the kit ordering. The kit components seem to vary a bit. You can get wheel kits that aren't laced if you want IIRC. That is more than the average bear would want to tangle with.I sorta figured it must just be a quick way to get the job done. I wasn't sure about how much customizing could be done with a "kit". Other than paint and graphics.
When you think of it, rat bikes are usually from thrashed bikes where one puts together a complete bike from parts scavenged off old boat anchors. With these you don't have to scavenge. Binned parts or parts bins? Which do you want to pull parts from?I sorta figured it must just be a quick way to get the job done. I wasn't sure about how much customizing could be done with a "kit". Other than paint and graphics.