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Custom Motorcycles Forum / Custom Motorcycles Forum / Motorycle Articles / Why custom motorcycles?

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Posted: 13 Feb 2007 00:39
	Administrator Currently Offline	Posts: 13 Join Date: Feb 2007
There are lots of reasons why people are building and buying custom motorcycles today and I thought I might write about why this trend is such a force in the motorcycle industry. The opinions are my own; so I am sure others have their own ideas. Well, this is America and we all are entitled to our own ideas. I just thought I would share mine with you. The custom motorcycle craze is a relatively new phenomenon. People over the years have always customized their ride but usually they were skilled fabricators, painters, or they knew people who were. When the chopper craze began many years ago the idea was to take the weight off and rake your machine out. The people who possessed the necessary skills were few and far between. If you couldnt do it yourself (most couldnt) you had to have a friend or someone you could pay to do it for you. Its very different today. When I was first bit by the motorcycle bug there were choices but no customs to choose from. There was Harley Davidson of course, Triumph, Norton, some metrics and that was about it. Yeah, there were others like BMW and more but the point is there wasnt anyone building custom motorcycles. People would buy a stock bike and if they wanted to customize it they had to find another way. It remained that way for a long time and most were reasonably satisfied with what was out there. The motorcycle world was a lot smaller then and most people who owned one were hard core or "hippies" who were into an alternative lifestyle so a motorcycle suited them just fine. That was then, this is now. Today there are many more choices and many more people who ride. In years past you would never see a businessman, a teacher, a professional athlete, a builder, a stock broker, or a politician riding a motorcycle. Today they all do. The thrill, the look, the sense of adventure, the "uniform", the chicks, the rallies... These are just some of the things that entice people to buy a motorcycle today. The fact that it is now acceptable for almost anyone to ride also plays a big role. Harley still has its mystique and many affluent, middle class and ordinary people own a Harley. When I was growing up a Harley was the dream of anyone who wanted a motorcycle. The Harley sound and the Harley look were unique and anyone who really was a "biker" had to own a Harley or dream about owning one. I remember when Harley came out with a 1000cc motorcycle. Well, that was the biggest, baddest, most beautiful machine ever. There was a 750 Norton, a 650 Triumph, but only one Harley. There were Japanese motorcycles but although they were mechanically sound and fuel efficient, a real biker scoffed at them, the sound they made and the way they looked. They were sissy bikes. The custom motorcycle came much later. I am not sure exactly when it began. I want to say the late eighties, early nineties, but as I said others may say sooner. I am just thinking about people like Arlen Ness (earlier) and people like Roger Bourget, Indian Larry, Dave Perewitz, Ron Finch, Von Dutch, people like that. Ness is the godfather and probably the most senior. He was doing things early on but mostly for himself. There wasnt a big market then. The others came later and the industry didnt really pick up until the last decade or so. People were fabricating, designing, painting, and engineering but there was not a mass market as there is today. I must not leave out Jesse James who was also into it early and became rich and famous building custom motorcycles and fabricating parts. Peter Furman has long had a passion for motorcycles. Today he runs the incredibly popular site, TheBeachCruiser.com along with his life partner, Andrea. You can get a refreshingly respectful take on the entire custom bike industry by visiting his site. Thank you. For more motorcycle articles visit: http://www.motorcycle-articles.com __________________ Find everything you need and show off your custom motorcycles. Let the world know your style!

Posted: 03 Apr 2007 14:39
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 102 Join Date: Feb 2007
I like them because you get exactly what you want for your money. I have yet to see a Harley that I can totally "agree" with.

Posted: 04 Apr 2007 07:09
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Quote: The fact that it is now acceptable for almost anyone to ride also plays a big role. The 'biker' image is vanishing and in its place are plain people looking for a little adventure. Something a bit out of their usual world.

Posted: 04 Apr 2007 14:23
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 102 Join Date: Feb 2007
That is so true. There's still a lot of hardcore bikers out there, but many of the everyday riders, are not the ones you would expect.

Posted: 08 Apr 2007 03:27
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007
I miss the old dirtball bikers. They remind me of pirates. But yeah when you customize your junk of course its going to be exactly what you want. Thats the same reason people customize cars.

Posted: 12 Apr 2007 02:15
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 73 Join Date: Feb 2007
Quote: I have yet to see a Harley that I can totally "agree" with Hi all, Ouch! Paperclip you just broke my heart! lol you know there are some harleys out there that are a wet dream come to life so to speak. lol But it's not since coming to this forum and meeting you all that my eyes are being opened to the other beauties out there. Thanks for that guys!

Posted: 25 Apr 2007 14:49
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 102 Join Date: Feb 2007
What I mean by it is that for example I like the Night Train, in burgundy, but don't agree with the back fender. I like the Deuce, but don't agree with the handlebars, and am on the fence with the rear fender. Just examples

Posted: 30 Apr 2007 12:45
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 56 Join Date: Apr 2007
For me custom bikes are similiar to why I build my own computers: I get exactly what I want, how I want it with nothing extra that I don't want.

Posted: 04 May 2007 15:10
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 102 Join Date: Feb 2007
That is exactly right ACCER. Get what you want, not what you don't want. Why pay for features you know you will change anyway.

Posted: 05 May 2007 16:57
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 56 Join Date: Apr 2007
Or there is the ultimate glib answer that irritates the hell out of most people: Because I can, that's why!

Posted: 09 May 2007 14:32
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 102 Join Date: Feb 2007
Well that would be my favorite for just about anything. Inquiring mind -" But why did you do that?" Me - "Because I can!" or "Why not!!"

Posted: 14 May 2007 17:00
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Each person is unique. Customization just allows expression of that.

Posted: 14 May 2007 20:08
	Registered User Currently Offline	Posts: 56 Join Date: Apr 2007
Paperclip, I suffer from contrary personality disorder (I'm a *itch!) so when people ask me questions like that, I tend to let loose. It's not my fault, I have a disorder!

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