I never get to see other people's custom bikes up close, especially not cafes. There are not very many in my area, also not many shows that would showcase them. So 99% of the custom bikes I see are in print or on tv, and of course they all look perfect in photos. I'm sure that the top quality professionally built bikes are flawless, and should be for the price tag. But how many of these amateur bikes have flawless frames, body work, paint etc...? I like to think that I'm doing decent work on my bike, but what is average? I defiantly don't want to start a who is better argument, and I understand that people have different tastes and viewpoints on this. So what do you think is average? Whats your opinion on this?
Custom bikes up close?
- Thread starter ncologerojr
- Start date
Bikes built to be works of art......are. 
Bikes built to be ridden, have flaws, dings, a little rust here and there, a little oil leak.....but they perform. 8)
Go to Mid-Ohio or Barber, and you will see the entire spectrum in one weekend. And get so much sensory overload that you will be having dreams about it for months.
Bikes built to be ridden, have flaws, dings, a little rust here and there, a little oil leak.....but they perform. 8)
Go to Mid-Ohio or Barber, and you will see the entire spectrum in one weekend. And get so much sensory overload that you will be having dreams about it for months.
Walms
Been Around the Block
Ultimately if you are building the bike for for yourself, you'll complete the fit and finish to please yourself. If you do it for other people's approval, good luck!!!
Personally I couldn't care less for the spit and polish on show bikes and ground welds only tells me you are hiding some bird shit.
I'm all about function and will spend lots of time ogling well designed features that are clever, light and strong over surface finishes, cleanliness and shinny bits with no purpose.
I'd like to think I'm more of a Burt Munro kind of guy than a Paul Tuttle kind of guy...
Personally I couldn't care less for the spit and polish on show bikes and ground welds only tells me you are hiding some bird shit.
I'm all about function and will spend lots of time ogling well designed features that are clever, light and strong over surface finishes, cleanliness and shinny bits with no purpose.
I'd like to think I'm more of a Burt Munro kind of guy than a Paul Tuttle kind of guy...
montessa172
Been Around the Block
I keep my bikes oily rag clean, they might get washed once a year.. For me a nice paint job is a magnet for a dropped wrench. I've had nice stuff it takes to much to keep it that way. I won't live in fear of tool dings or paint chips, they tell a story.. Mechanical soundness is priority number one..
For me it depends on the style of build and what you are going for, a bike with raw metal with all welds and mechanics exposed is beautiful to me. But at the same time a seamless frame with perfect everything is just as beautiful because I understand the work that went into both. I also agree a bike with a buch of chrome or polished parts that are only there for show doesn't really attract mi attention. At the end of the day each is his own. I had my bike in The One Show Austin,some old guy was giving me shit bout not having a castle nut on this one bolt. I get the,your bike is awesome but why didn't you. Regardless that my bike is 80% from scratch there is always that one guy. Don't let them bother you,its them not you.
