Custom v. Restoration

Re: Custom v. Vintage

Im assuming that you mean custom vs. restoration.

Im always on the side of custom.

Restos are nice to look at every once in awhile (if its a cool or interesting bike), but they're usually for rich old men. ;)

Theres a couple really nice restos going on here on DTT actually. Again, not my thing as far as a project, but mad props to those with the patience and eye for detail that undertake that sort of thing.
 
Re: Custom v. Vintage

Custom. Why just restore a bike/car when you can modernize it and help it to perform at a higher level?
 
If I had a real nice resto, I'd be worried all the time that it would get damaged. My custom gets ridden, and when something happens to it, it's not ruined. It's just up for a new customization.
 
If it is rare ... restore.
If it isn't ... custom !!

I consider anything before 1965 in the rare category. After that... custom baby!


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jacobperkins said:
Curious. What's everybody's preference? And, why?
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For me it's depending on condition. I have a hard time with seeing a nice original bike torn apart and cut up re-painted etc. But on the flip side, if somebody cuts up an old rusty peice of junk that was going to be scrap anyway, cut away!
 
custom all day. I'm making a custom that offends my boss at the shop I'm apprenticing at, and all we make are customs. The more custom or functional or baddass, the better.
 
Depends how good you are.

There are many folks out there who attempt to go custom and ruin a perfectly good bike, only to make a very this-has-been-done-before bike.

There was a CB750 Sandcast that got chopped by Fuller Hot Rods. It was rare and worth money fully restored...but its probably worth just as much reborn as a very slick (and powerful) and unique cafe racer.

Falcon Cycles creates some very awesome custom bikes from very rare motorcycles...and they don't decrease in value afterwards.

But there are also thousands of bikes that go from stock to "please kill me" because someone wants a chopper with a 4" stretch, throws a Sportster tank on it, a bolt on seat, and parts-bin electrical box. On an XS650 or a CB360 or KZ440 that's no big deal. Those are very common bikes with plenty of very valuable perfectly restored rare models floating around. On a CB400F? I get a little worried. On a BSA? It hurts a little. On a Vincent? I started to cry inside.

So yea...depends how good you are. Chances are if people are telling you "please dont" its because they don't have faith in you. A good resume is needed before you go chopping up rare bikes.
 
Depends on one's personality; I don't have the patience for a restoration- would lose interest real quick when I couldn't locate a part. Plus, why go to all that work if you are not going to change/personalize it. My alltime favorite bike is a Triton . . . combines arguably the better frame with the better engine and the rest is customized.

But, to each his own . . . my next project may be a restoration, lol.
 
PHeller said:
Depends how good you are.

There are many folks out there who attempt to go custom and ruin a perfectly good bike, only to make a very this-has-been-done-before bike.

There was a CB750 Sandcast that got chopped by Fuller Hot Rods. It was rare and worth money fully restored...but its probably worth just as much reborn as a very slick (and powerful) and unique cafe racer.

Falcon Cycles creates some very awesome custom bikes from very rare motorcycles...and they don't decrease in value afterwards.

But there are also thousands of bikes that go from stock to "please kill me" because someone wants a chopper with a 4" stretch, throws a Sportster tank on it, a bolt on seat, and parts-bin electrical box. On an XS650 or a CB360 or KZ440 that's no big deal. Those are very common bikes with plenty of very valuable perfectly restored rare models floating around. On a CB400F? I get a little worried. On a BSA? It hurts a little. On a Vincent? I started to cry inside.

So yea...depends how good you are. Chances are if people are telling you "please dont" its because they don't have faith in you. A good resume is needed before you go chopping up rare bikes.
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Agreed! I was thinking the same. Saved me from typing it.
 
If I'm starting with a bike that the only other future it has is boat anchor, then it's custom. If the bike is complete and just needs maintenance and some cleaning, it'll stay reasonably stock. I don't think I'd ever "restore" something to showroom new unless it was super rare. Then like FIX said I'd probably rarely ride it due to fear of damage.
 
Remember this - Hot Rodders / Customisers were around a LONG time before restorers - think about it. ;)
 
I would like to have atleast one restored bike in my collection, but I don't have to patients or money it requires to do it right.
 
I think most of us suffer from a condition that will not, "leave well enough alone"!! I know I do!! :eek:

I belong to a Kawasaki Triples forum and there are some amazing restorations there. They are beautiful to look but I couldn't have one. First of all, I hate washing my bikes! I'd way rather ride a dirty beast! ;D
 
AlphaDogChoppers said:
I've heard it said that a vehicle can be restored many time, but it can only be original once.
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beachcomber said:
Remember this - Hot Rodders / Customisers were around a LONG time before restorers - think about it. ;)
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Drewski said:
I think most of us suffer from a condition that will not, "leave well enough alone"!! I know I do!! :eek:

I belong to a Kawasaki Triples forum and there are some amazing restorations there. They are beautiful to look but I couldn't have one. First of all, I hate washing my bikes! I'd way rather ride a dirty beast! ;D
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I'm liking this logic.
 
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