Pet Peeve - "My Build"

[buckeyebike]

OK, so I have been a member here a little over a year and in that time have sat back and watched, posted some pics, made a few comments, bought some stuff and sold some stuff, gotten to 'know' a few folks and shared my opinion, carefully.

With that said, I have a major pet peeve I have got to get off my back. I often grab my morning coffee and sit down to see what's new here and many times I have seen a post titled something like this: "My First Build." So, I will click on it and see a relatively stock CB whatever with some clubmans, a chopped fender, some generic headlight ears, a 'racing' number and a wonky seat cowl. Cool, nice job, thanks for sharing, but please do not call it a 'build.' You haven't built anything, except maybe a seat that you could have bought for the same amount that you have in resin and cloth and would actually be straight and paintable- but that's a moot point. Not talking to any one specific person, just generalizing.

95% of us, including myself, refresh our bikes then replace some parts or modify the stock ones. We aren't building anyhting. If I bought an old house and replaced the windows, scraped, caulked and repainted the clapboards, put a new roof on, refinsihed the hardwood floors, patched some drwall and replaced the sink, I did not build the house, I refurbished it.

Back to the bikes; there are a few people here who have/are building bikes and I am in awe every time I read/see their updated threads. Well done; I admire your tenacity, patience and committment. I took the stock seat pan from my R80RT and cut it up, made a tray, riveted it, added some resin and a bit of bondo and then sent it off for paint. Did I build it- maybe-sort-of kind-of, maybe not since I started with a stock piece. If I had started with a 3'x'4 sheet of aluminum or steel, cut, rolled and welded it, then yes, I built it.

Here's an example of what I consider a build: Scroll though a few pages and look at the pics.

http://www.triumphrat.net/members-restoration-and-rebuild-projects/181671-new-guy-here-want-triton-so-starting-from-the-frame-17.html

So, moral of the post, please use the word build carefully . . .

Sorry so long winded, but I feel much better now.

For those of you who could care less, sorry for wasting your time and "build' on

Signed,

Jerry Maguire

 

[rays650cafe]

I just went through my "big" post just to make sure I didn't use the word build. I agree, I tend to think of what I did as a reshape. Just changing the general look.Good post by the way,my .02

 

[Big R]

I think it varies - if a 16 year old person with absolutely no mechanical skills (or tools) brings back a beat up cycle and fixes it up and changes the look completely, I would say they "built" it.

For some people it might come easily, so a "build" entails a LOT more work. For somebody that has relied on a factory warranty for maintenance and repairs, a seat and bar swap is a large accomplishment.

 

[Sonreir]

I'm with Rich on this one. Not everyone can jump in on the deep end and I'm not really attached to the word, "build", in a strict and literal sense. If a newbie hops in the shallow end of the pool, I'm still willing to call it swimming.

 

[foundation982]

I say, who cares

 

[Hoofhearted]

It's true you have to be very careful with the word "build". The level of talent and the amount of equipment in ones garage/workshop and the ability to use such equipment varies quite a lot amongst the members here. I have and angle grinder so I can make anything. Some have fancy lathes and mills that I envy but can't afford and don't have room for anyway.

But now you have painted yourself into a corner. If you post anything less than a scratch built frame and possibly scratch built engine we'll be on yer ass!

 

[Redbird]

Buildverb \bild\

1: to form by ordering and uniting materials by gradual means into a composite whole
2: to cause to be constructed
3: to develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base

--------------------

I think you've confused "Build" with "Create"

 

[Drewski]

Ya, I think we're splitting hairs here.

I'm less concerned about what we "call" a project. Create, build, mod, massage, ruin... whatever.

Now.

On to more important things.

Like, "Is it really a Cafe racer?" :

 

[suddenlycalm]

Buildverb \bild\

1: to form by ordering and uniting materials by gradual means into a composite whole
2: to cause to be constructed
3: to develop according to a systematic plan, by a definite process, or on a particular base

--------------------

I think you've confused "Build" with "Create"

I couldn't agree more.

 

[axeugene27]

yeah man building is not the same as engineering something. who cares what you call it. It's cool

 

[Finnigan]

I say, who cares

I would ask the same thing, but here we are

 

[Aircooledrules]

I have no problem with people using the term "My Build" as long as they are doing something. I hate when i open a thread and on page 1 theres a beat up motorcycle, and then 15 pages later the bike has not really progressed.

My only bike is a 1975 cb125s and it has your ussual clubman bars, smaller signals and other then that just a bunch of maintanance to bring it up to riding condition, being that the bike only had 1570 miles when i purchased it in January.

so even though it doesnt look like much, ive actaully put a fair amount of effort into it and have been enjoying it so far this spring.

Im not calling it a build, but if i were to go further and make ( or purchase ) a seat for it, get some rear sets, and make some other changes i would definetly say its a build.

 

[buckeyebike]

When distinguishing between 'create' and 'build', I would say we all create our own version of the motorcycle we envision. But, only a select few actually build that creation.

Is there a difference between build and assemble?

Who the hell built the English language, too damn many synonyms.

This is ridiculous, throw this baby out with the bathwater and build away!!!

lol. I have confused myself.

;D

 

[hocbj23]

Aw,shit,who cares. If u take a tired old motorcycle, replace a few things,paint it up, u refreshed it. If u take a tired old motorcycle and change the entire intent of what it was originally designed for, got it running,u built it. My sorry a-- 2 cents.bj

 

[buckeyebike]

Hoof, I'd say the sidecar qualifies as a build

I think that 9.5 times out of 10, we are refreshing, refurbishing, reviving, restoring, cleaning, polishing, and then reassembling.

How about rebuilding ?

"My first rebuild" . . . that's the ticket.

Ah hell, who cares.

I am just happy I 'built' a thread that inspired some discussion.

 

[duggyb]

i have a pet peeve for people that start threads complaining about how a persons title in incorrect for something they are working on and enjoying in our hobby we all participate in

 

[miken5678]

would rather spend time "building" or riding then discussing the definition of a word or one persons work.. sheesh

 

[Mr.E]

Where is swivel? Normally he'd Google-bludgeon a topic like like this before lunch :

 

[redwillissuperman]

Just don't confuse the word "purchase" with "build". AT least if someone takes the care to research and install something, its better than just writing a cheque.

 

[rock2d2]

If a newbie hops in the shallow end of the pool, I'm still willing to call it swimming.

Speaking as an over-qualified n00b, I can tell you there is some amount of satisfaction in doing just about ANYTHING to my bike ( I get giddy when I fill the gas tank fer chirssakes). My mechanical knowledge is currently lacking the "knowledge" part. I'm willing to dive right in and learn what I can on my own, ask you guys when I have no F'n clue, and potentially pay someone to do it if the job is important enough and I have zero confidence that my machine will be safe to ride afterward (blashphemy I know).

I think the term many of us are looking for here is Semantics.

Semantics: the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word, sign, sentence, etc.: Let's not argue about semantics.

Technically we are not building anything. We're standing on the shoulders of giants and calling ourselves tall.

Refine Iron ore and melt it down to shape into a frame. Cast your own engine from aluminum and magnesium. Turn the pistons on the lathe. Then you've built, created, made, and otherwise constructed a machine.

I think the important part is to ENJOY the process (whatever you want to call it) and to enjoy the outcome.

I'll keep the grin on my face when I start "My bolt on thread" and it will be as big as my grin when I'm running down the road.