Custom Motorcycle

Make your bike stand out

By Irene Adamiak

Customizing motorcycles has been taken to a whole new level! From sport bikes to cruisers, they’re going through transformations so they can stand out from the norm. Customizations on these roaring machines can be as small as changing the cushion in the seat to as big as a complete front-to-back make over. The possibilities are endless!

It used to be a new single-color paint job could separate you from the pack. Now, a single-color paint job is just the beginning. Painters face the intricate tasks of laying flames in not only traditional fashion, but the new wave of tribal and real flames as well - not an easy task if you do it old school.

Another way to add more color and graphics is to remove OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) decals and replace them with painted decals. But the ultimate showstopper is to consider a theme for your motorcycle, which could be any of a vast number of categories: super heroes, sports, demons, fictional characters, etc.

Now that the shell is done, let’s get down to business. If there isn't any chrome or metal polished on your ride, it's time to step into the real world of customizing. Frame, swing arm, forks, triple trees, radiator, engine covers, calipers, rotors and rims can all be chrome-plated or polished.

Keep in mind these are just the big components - there are still the engine components, kick stand, foot peg assemblies, undercarriage components (i.e. shock and dog bones), and nuts and bolts that can stick out like sore thumbs if left untouched.

If that's too much chrome, perhaps a little splash of color would be better. That’s where powder coating comes in. This unique process offers nearly any color imaginable, so you’re guaranteed to find a color to match your scheme.

Next, is the noise exiting the exhaust not what you wanted to hear? If not, that can be changed. Aftermarket exhausts supply a few options, including dual exhaust, straight pipes and single-sided exhausts. Any one of these choices can suite your style of bike.

Along with changing the sound of the bike, speed and performance can also be tinkered with. There is always a need for more speed! Fuel remapping (to enhance the fuel for more horsepower) can be installed on the bike, which gives it a little extra boost of power without any major motor work. Having the bike dyno-tested after the fuel remapping equipment is installed will also help program specific settings for the bike.

If this isn't enough horsepower, installing a supercharger or a turbo can definitely speed things up. Other choices could include boring out the cylinders in the block or installing NOS (Nitrous Oxide System) on the bike. Imagine pressing a button and a 150 shot of NOS shoots into your GSXR 1300, allowing the bike to soar down a quarter-mile drag strip in under eight seconds - what a rush!

Motorcycle owners have also taken an interest in technology. Unfortunately, motorcycles do get stolen, so alarm systems are quite common now. LED lights and pods are also the "in" thing to have on a bike. The LED lights come in a variety of colors or single-color pods. Now, on to the extreme technology: televisions, game systems and radios are being installed on motorcycles (but most are for show only).

Fabrication has a role to play in customizing a motorcycle. Fabricating pieces to hold G.P.S. systems and nitrous bottles are important, considering there isn't much room on a bike - not to mention having it be safe while riding.

Swing arms can also be stretched (to add a longer wheel base to the rear), generally from 1 to 8 inches but some have taken it to the extreme of 14 inches. The swing arm can be fabricated to be adjustable, which means having the option to return back to stock length or to whichever length is preferred. Stretching a swing arm helps keep the front end down, preventing "wheelies" or flipping the bike over without the use of "wheelie" bars.

A motorcycle can also be lowered for customization, which means the riding height has been lowered. This is done by removing the stock dog bones (links) under the bike with shorter ones. Dog bones can be adjustable to play with different riding heights; for example, if there is a passenger on the back the bike should be higher, or if the owner wants it slammed as far down as it can go for looks. Sometimes, lowering the bike simply helps the rider touch ground more easily.

The aftermarket world for motorcycles is infinite. Any style of bike out there has some kind of product that can add or change its appearance. Windscreens, mirrors and tires are just some of the common products that can be purchased, but one particularly important aspect of customizing a motorcycle is the rims. When rims are chosen for a bike, the process should take time and consideration. Aftermarket rims for motorcycles are expensive, but once the decision is made and the right rims are picked, the outcome can be very rewarding.

Customizing a motorcycle to stand out from the crowd is hard work, but it can be satisfying knowing that there isn't another motorcycle out there like it. Any which way you prefer to customize your motorcycle, just remember to make it your own.

It used to be we could depend on the reputation and reliability of North American cars to meet our standards - but could it be the times are changing? Here in the U.S., overseas models are continuing to rise in popularity. Find out why!

PIMP IT

If you love your car, you’ve got treat it right – stock will never do for your hot wheels! Whether it’s for performance or just for the look, aftermarket parts can turn that car you just brought home into your own pimp ride.