You Should Build a Custom Motorcycle

A few years back, I caught the motorcycle bug.  I had to have one.  I didn't want one for the thrill of speed or rush of adrenaline.  I wanted one so I could take it apart and put it back together the way I wanted.

After scouring craigslist and finally taking my motorcycle safety class, I got my first motorcycle: A 1990 Kawasaki Ninja 250r.  It was a piece of junk.  Plastics were being held on with zip-ties and some of the lights didn't work.  It was perfect.

I rode it home in the rain and immediately began tearing into it.  The plastics had to be removed.  I wanted a stripped-down, naked look.

I got it all taken apart and looking alright when I noticed I had basically no front brakes.  I took it into the shop where they replaced the front springs, fork oil, fork seals, brake pads and gave it a good once-over.

It rode fantastic.  A quick little, light bike that was perfect for carving up the mountain roads.

But, I needed to do more.  I ended up completely removing the whole front light assembly and all the turn sugnals.

The rear lights had to go as well.  Just a reminder, I had no idea what I was doing this entire time.  When I came to a roadblock, google was my friend.  Things seem very intimidating when looked at as one large project, but when it's broken down into small steps, it is much easier.

My experience with the Ninja was fantastic.  It was a great starter bike, not only to learn to ride, but also learn how to fix stuff.  It taught me several lessons about the importance of self-reliance and learning.  Before, I would often pass small repairs or tasks on to others, simply because I didn't know how to do them.  Now, I look at a problem and first ask if I can learn how to do it, not if I already know.

Selling the Ninjita was actually hard.  I had planned all along to fix it up and sell it, but when the time came, it felt wrong.  I was watching some guy ride off on my baby.

But, the benefit to having the open space in the parking lot, was that I was able to begin a new challenge.

My second project ended up being very ambitious.  I spotted a well-used 1980 Honda CX500 about an hour away.  I test rode it and it seemed fair and ended up getting a decent deal on it.

Little did I know, there were major issues.  I barely made it home with the beast sputtering and popping.  I was thankful to get off safe and sound.

 After taking the tank and carburators off, I knew it would be a lot of work.

Sometimes, in these situations, you get in way over your head and most of the build is just digging yourself out of the giant hole you've created.

This bike was like that.

I removed the airbox so I could convert to pod filters.  That meant re-jetting the carburators (something I'd never done).  I wanted a different exhaust, so I bought a new one on ebay and swapped it out (again, more of a project than I thought, but not a big deal).

At one point, the bike was sitting in the apartment parking lot with no tank, seat, carburators or airbox.  Sad little skeleton.

I made the kitchen smell like gas and carb cleaner as I took apart the carbs and rebuilt/re-jetted them on my counter (you gotta improvise when you don't have a garage).

After installing everything, the bike still didn't run right.  I checked for leaks in the intake system and found that the rubber boots that connect the carbs to the engine were totally cracked and useless.  A quick google and online purchase solved that problem.

After some new handlebars, grips, mirrors, paint, some custom aphousltery and some new tires, it ran like a dream.  Mean and fun with lots of torque.

It was an incredibly rewarding build that I ended up making some money on when I sold it.

Carbs on the kitchen counter 

After a total of five bikes over the course of about three years, I have learned a ton.  It's not because I went to school for it, or have some hidden talent.  I just DID IT.  I googled stuff when i didn't know the answer.  I tried, messed up, and wasn't afraid to try again.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no master or artist, but I can do the basics.  My last bike was a 1979 Yamaha XS750 and it was my favorite bike I've owned.  It was awesome to apply everything I learned on that bike and then add on some new knowledge (welding!).

There is little in this world that is as satisfying as learning a new skill and putting that skill into practice.  Let's all go learn something new.  Photoshop, coding, sewing, car mantenence, baking, whatever.  I promise if you just DO IT you will be happier and more fulfilled and the world will be a slightly better place for it.  There is nothing stopping you.