WHAT MAKES A BIKE CUSTOM?

[SteveP]

My tinkering usually involves unnecessary customising. I get a stupid idea, and go for it. My XS is working great. So why not mess up something like a virago?
Sorry Phil hope I haven't hijacked your post with my stupidity

 

[650Skull]

I've been very silly. £375. My wife went along with it because it'll stop me tinkering with my XS.
View attachment 358130

What year and size.. is it a TR1
Friend has an XV1000, only made for 2 years Real nice bike to ride, underated

 

[SteveP]

Its an XV750 first generation well known to have a very poor starter design. Tr1 was OK starting. There are fixes. Apparently it's a lot to do with tensioning a drag clip. There are fixes that may even work for an XS.
Tbh it was an impulse buy. I'll see where it takes me

 

[willis]

Custom just means it's got non factory parts on it. You can build a custom bike with all bolt on parts. I mean an XS, or CB cafe racer that's basically just a pipe, ebay seat and clubmans is a custom bike. And atleast they got it back on the road. Lots of bikes end up basket cases when cost, ability and time don't work out.

Now a fully custom built bike is more than just bolt ons. Monoshock conversions, custom subframe for a tracker seat, tank swaps etc.

Suspension swaps used to be one off deals, but cognito moto changed that from only people who can make the parts to whoever can afford it. And those changes will continue to happen as long as there is a market. Same reason harley parts went from bars, bags and batwings, to ohlins and big bore strokers.

Unfortunately shows don't/ can't seperate bolt on customs from custom builds. So a shiny harley with the s&s catalog thrown at it will stand out to most people compared to an actual custom built UJM.

I agree with this. While my bikes are custom as they are not as factory produced, I personally am not making parts for the bikes like Halfmile is. I am a parts assembler, not a bike builder. There are some hand made parts on them, but I did not make them. Whether you call them "custom", "resto-mod", "bobber", "chopper" they are all custom bikes. Otherwise they are restored, original, or survivors.

As far as shows go, my buddy puts on a local show and he just groups them by the era they are manufactured. His show is all about vintage bikes though. It's a ride 'em don't hide 'em kind of event.