Why no custom street bikes?

fishdip · August 27th, 2013, 02:18 PM

So I was thinking about motorcycles and realized I have never seen a street bike made from scratch. You see a bunch of tv shows with people building custom choppers but never a street bike. So my question why not?

Motofool · August 27th, 2013, 02:22 PM

Good question !!!

NinjaRed · August 27th, 2013, 02:35 PM

thats actually a good question. Although when i was looking around for a motorcycle on craigslist i did run into a custom built street bike but i was already in love with the ninjettes

alex.s · August 27th, 2013, 02:36 PM

the answer is: they do.

Joshorilla · August 27th, 2013, 02:41 PM

The geometry of choppers is easier to figure out, the frames you can buy and customise as you like, the engines are relativly simple etc etc.

You can't easily buy a blank street bike frame, inline four high revving performance engine etc, forks you would have to get off another bike or buy ohlins, it's just very expensive.

fishdip · August 27th, 2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

the answer is: they do.

You got a link to a company?

Joshorilla · August 27th, 2013, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishdip

You got a link to a company?

If it were made from scratch as per your previous question, then any bike made by a company would by your definition be exempt from being called a scratch build.

That's like saying "kawasaki build their bikes from scratch" or "occ build their bikes from scratch" all technically true as bikes like any machine are fabricated from raw materials, but I wouldn't call it a scratch build unless some guy welded it in his shed for his own benefit as a one off.

Joshorilla · August 27th, 2013, 02:51 PM

Besides, the ammount of technology that goes into a high performance street bike, wondering why nobody makes them from scratch is akin to wondering why people don't build their own passenger jets as opposed to building microlights.

Daks · August 27th, 2013, 02:55 PM

Street bikes tend to be a lot more function than form. Their shape, size, weight, wind resistance can all affect performance.

If you think about it, any bike with altered engines, exhausts, etc are all technically customized, but they're for performance rather than aesthetics.

fishdip · August 27th, 2013, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

If it were made from scratch as per your previous question, then any bike made by a company would by your definition be exempt from being called a scratch build.

That's like saying "kawasaki build their bikes from scratch" or "occ build their bikes from scratch" all technically true as bikes like any machine are fabricated from raw materials, but I wouldn't call it a scratch build unless some guy welded it in his shed for his own benefit as a one off.

As long as the company is building a different bike I.E they change the frame the way the faring's look every thing then I say it meets the same requirements as a guy welding in his shed. We have ppl on this site who customize the ninja 250 but no mater what its still a ninja 250.

Motofool · August 27th, 2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishdip

...........We have ppl on this site who customize the ninja 250 but no mater what its still a ninja 250.

At what point a Ninja stops being a Ninja?

Joshorilla · August 27th, 2013, 04:32 PM

Exactly motofool, this thread is a bit confused, the title says "custom" which in tern is short for customised, which implies a factory item being modified.

While in fact the question seems to be less on customisation more on complete fabrication from raw materials i.e "scratch" builds.

A custom bike to me would be anything different from factry fittings that isn't a simple asthetic; superficial; reversble modification, for example, stickers don't count, but a painted wind shield would.

Scratch would for me at least facilitate the need for a custom welded frame, engine not so much as you can't be reasonably expected to make an engine, same with wheels, it would need fabricated bars, seats, body works etc.

However I do see people polishing, cutting, removing tabs etc on frames, those I would push for scratch built status as you're at that point honing a lump of frame shaped metal to meet your specs.

nokfir2 · August 27th, 2013, 04:50 PM

because it is cheaper and will be a much better product if you just buy one.

Motofool · August 27th, 2013, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

.........However I do see people polishing, cutting, removing tabs etc on frames, those I would push for scratch built status as you're at that point honing a lump of frame shaped metal to meet your specs.

Is this a Ninja or a Lambretta?

Ninbretta or Lambrinja ???

Ninjette-Lambretta

Joshorilla · August 27th, 2013, 05:05 PM

After seeing that my mind went into Guru Meditation, i'm pretty sure that's what makes the baby jesus cry.

CC Cowboy · August 27th, 2013, 05:26 PM

I have a custom sport bike. Harris frame, Suzuki engine, Ceriani front forks, Supertrapp exhaust, blah blah blah.

They are out there if you look.

fishdip · August 27th, 2013, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motofool

At what point a Ninja stops being a Ninja?

That is really cool as long as the title no longer list it as a 250 ninja then its no longer a ninja.

August 27th, 2013, 02:18 PM	#1
fishdip ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Fish Location: co Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250/300 Posts: A lot.	Why no custom street bikes? So I was thinking about motorcycles and realized I have never seen a street bike made from scratch. You see a bunch of tv shows with people building custom choppers but never a street bike. So my question why not? __________________________________________________ Hey Unregistered never go faster than your brakes can be applied...

August 27th, 2013, 02:22 PM	#2
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Good question !!! __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

August 27th, 2013, 02:36 PM	#4
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	the answer is: they do. __________________________________________________

August 27th, 2013, 04:32 PM	#12
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	Exactly motofool, this thread is a bit confused, the title says "custom" which in tern is short for customised, which implies a factory item being modified. While in fact the question seems to be less on customisation more on complete fabrication from raw materials i.e "scratch" builds. A custom bike to me would be anything different from factry fittings that isn't a simple asthetic; superficial; reversble modification, for example, stickers don't count, but a painted wind shield would. Scratch would for me at least facilitate the need for a custom welded frame, engine not so much as you can't be reasonably expected to make an engine, same with wheels, it would need fabricated bars, seats, body works etc. However I do see people polishing, cutting, removing tabs etc on frames, those I would push for scratch built status as you're at that point honing a lump of frame shaped metal to meet your specs.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

August 27th, 2013, 05:26 PM	#16
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	I have a custom sport bike. Harris frame, Suzuki engine, Ceriani front forks, Supertrapp exhaust, blah blah blah. They are out there if you look. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

August 27th, 2013, 02:35 PM	#3
NinjaRed ninjette.org member Name: Nilay Location: New Jersey Join Date: Jan 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 12	thats actually a good question. Although when i was looking around for a motorcycle on craigslist i did run into a custom built street bike but i was already in love with the ninjettes

August 27th, 2013, 02:41 PM	#5
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	The geometry of choppers is easier to figure out, the frames you can buy and customise as you like, the engines are relativly simple etc etc. You can't easily buy a blank street bike frame, inline four high revving performance engine etc, forks you would have to get off another bike or buy ohlins, it's just very expensive.

August 27th, 2013, 02:51 PM	#8
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	Besides, the ammount of technology that goes into a high performance street bike, wondering why nobody makes them from scratch is akin to wondering why people don't build their own passenger jets as opposed to building microlights.

August 27th, 2013, 02:55 PM	#9
Daks Jersey Devil Name: Daks Location: Austin, TX Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): '06 Ninja 250 Posts: 469	Street bikes tend to be a lot more function than form. Their shape, size, weight, wind resistance can all affect performance. If you think about it, any bike with altered engines, exhausts, etc are all technically customized, but they're for performance rather than aesthetics.

August 27th, 2013, 04:50 PM	#13
nokfir2 ninjette.org member Name: Kfir Location: Santa Monica Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 13	because it is cheaper and will be a much better product if you just buy one.

August 27th, 2013, 05:05 PM	#15
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	After seeing that my mind went into Guru Meditation, i'm pretty sure that's what makes the baby jesus cry.

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