Taking on a project bike is a fantastic idea. Once your custom bike is finished, you can transform any simple road trip into an adventure. It doesn’t matter if you’re staying local for your travels or going further afield, your bike will be your best companion.
Unfortunately, more often than not, the project eventually trickles to a halt. It’s easy to run out of time, money, or ideas. Sometimes the project ends before it can even begin, as you can’t find the perfect bike to build up from.
So, let’s make sure that your dream bike becomes a reality.
1. Figure Out Your Limits
Before you can even start on your custom bike, you need to be realistic about what you can achieve. Everyone has at least three limits, which are time, money, and ability.
A custom bike project can eat up a lot of hours, so you need to know how much time you can dedicate to a project. Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to spend years working on your project and essentially rebuild a bike. Or, you may find that making small adjustments over time is more feasible.
Another important consideration is money. Sadly, customizing a bike costs money. This is true whether you start with a working bike, or whether you start with a much larger project. Figuring out a budget is a necessary part of making sure that your bike doesn’t end up an abandoned hunk of metal once you run out of money.
Most importantly, you need to honestly evaluate your mechanical skills and equipment. Depending on your plans, you might need an extensive workshop filled with tools and the know-how to use them. So, plan exactingly and make sure that you know what you’re doing every step of the way.
2. Find the Right Bike and Parts
While it might be tempting to find a stunning, rare antique bike and rebuild it, that might not be the best idea unless you really know what you’re doing. Otherwise, aim for an older, less complicated bike that has fewer electrical components for a simple refurb.
A common bike is more likely to have more common motorcycle parts, making it easier to work with. This means that you can buy the parts cheaply and easily, without having to scour the internet for them, or even fabricate them yourself.
The right bike and the right parts are essential for making this project happen, so sourcing them beforehand is always preferable.
3. Get Cracking
Once you have a plan in mind and the parts in order, all you have to do now is start on your custom bike. Regardless of whether you’ve got a decade-long project ahead of you, or a simple adjustment job to make the ride more comfortable, your next adventure will be that bit more special now once it’s done.
In any case, now you get to move onto your next project.