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What is it exactly that distinguishes a bike as "custom" versus just "modified"? I've noticed that some of the folks posting in this area of the forum seem to meet some mysterious criteria and others do not, but it got me to wondering...

Just adding accesories doesn't seem to really qualify, but what does? having a bike chopped? Does modifying the engine significantly count, even if the bike looks relatively similar to its stock counterpart?

Modified is bolt-on parts.
Custom is one-off parts.

Don't have to be radical to be custom. My bike and Wendys are custom because there are many parts I either made or modified making them 1 of a kind aka custom. I think just bolting things on doesn't make a custom but some might argue that point. A custom is modified but a modified machine to me isn't always custom. Thats kind of a grey area though because to a certain extent the way those parts are bolted on and in what combination is custom.

For instance, I used Arlen Ness turn signals, but rather than bolting them into the standard set up, drilled holes and created fiberglass shims for them so that they could be fitted directly into the rear fender without being crooked (fender angles slightly outward when viewed from above). For the fronts, I actually drilled holes in the casing and used the wiring from the stock turn signals, rather than the hollow bolt which came with the new ones. I don't know that it necessarily would be considered custom work, but its not really just bolting stuff on anymore either.

Also, What is a one-off part? Like one of a kind?

I don't consider my bike to be a "custom" bike, but am interested in what others consider that to mean for them.

yes 1 off is a part made by a person and not produced. So there is only 1 and even if copied most of the time wouldn't be 100% the same. Like my oil pressure gauge bracket.I started with a piece of stainless steel and made it so it was 1 of a kind. I made one for Wendys bike so it is actually 2 of a kind now. Or Wendys sprocket cover is 1 of a kind. Stock cover smoothed and polished the engraved with a tribal rose then to finish it the petal area is a pewter rose. That is custom. Your signals would be not custom made but custom mounted so again custom in my opinion. It involved drilling and shimming not just bolted on.

If metal gets cut, custom one-off parts get made and/or paint gets sprayed, I'd call it custom. Just about everything else is accessorizing.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custom

transalte in english
Term indicates a custom manufactured goods, a device or component, designed to measure, according to the needs of the specific function or who should play.

The word entered now part of the common language throughout the world taking origin from the meanings of their Anglo-American language.

Custom work: work tailor

Custom-made-adjective: tailored to individual needs

Customized-adjective: custom

Custom-built-adjective: Out series

Custom-cut-adjective: tailor

Custom-made-adjective: tailor

Custom-made-adjective: tailor-made

Custom-tailored-adjective: tailor-made


[Edit] Custom motorcycle

Example of custom Harley Davidson motorcycle esasperataIn field, so defined, specific motorcycles characterized by a sitting very low, a long distance between platforms with advanced and usually the rear tyre off, as well as special accessories, realized how unique specimens, and lastly, the color and graphics painted on the motorcycle and it is absolutely unique, just a custom.

The Custom par excellence are the Harley Davidson; being a stand-alone type has given rise to many clones that have copied anything less who bikes United States.

The motion Custom vehicles are often deemed suitable for long journeys as the position evokes comfort. In fact, the driving position is not incumbent on the wrists of the driver, not to mention the comfort of the passenger (in tourer models). Finally with the help of appropriate windscreen you can minimize wind resistance caused by standing. Other schools of thought instead remember the standing pilot and very large hands on the handlebars with consequent affaticamenti.

However, drivers of Custom motorcycles are not usually in search of speed. So do not give much emphasis to the "benefits" of the vehicle, as to other factors such as: aesthetics course, the low consumption, low maintenance since the "slowness" with which run engines (4000), comfort, the ability to load (for long journeys).


[Edit] in Custom
In electronics, you define a custom component of a circuit designed by the manufacturer same apparatus in which it is used. Any his replacement is possible only with an identical device supplied by the manufacturer; usually is not even possible to know in detail the internal circuit can be integrated circuits, hybrid circuits, resistors also simple. This type devices are both widely distributed products, such as televisions or Hi-Fi, is less popular products, such as measuring instruments class high.

Retrieved from "http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custom"

I was gonna say if you crash it and the insurance company can give you the same bike....then its not a custom

I like that too! (Assuming the insurance company doesn't take your bike to your painter and have your custom paint replicated - but that's probably not going to happen.)

I have seen some real custom bikes in my life. Trust me when I say custom does not have to be good. Very often it devalues the bike in that you need to find somebody that really loves the customization, because it is not easily changed back.

John is right, cut parts and individual paint are custom.

Badly cut parts and ugly paint are still custom.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to make a statement about quality. Or style, which is subjective.

agreed, I have seen some really ugly custom bikes. Very expensive junk too. For example look at most of what OCC has done,all custom and very few worth looking at.

It also seems to me that there is at least some qualitative difference between custom work that you have done yourself, and custom work that was done by someone else. I suppose you can throw enough money at a bike to make it one of a kind and never actually touch the thing, but that somehow seems to lack the cool of having gotten your own hands dirty. Its like if you do it, its yours, if someone else does it, well maybe its not really yours.

Then again, I suppose there are many projects where just the creativity to come up with something unique is worth having someone else do it in order to have it done well.

yeah thats what I wrestle with all the time...I bought my bike because it was already customized, I probably never wouldve bought it brand new from a showroom. I dont see the point in paying top dollar for a brand new bike, that you'll be hacking apart and trying to make your own. You end up spending alot more money on something that you might not get top dollar for if you sell it.

On the other hand I still want to do my part in making the bike mine to prove to myself that im not a cherrypicker ..haha