Greetings.

[HarshReality]

First my apologies if I have jumped in early. However, I stumbled upon this site by pure chance and been reading like a nut. I do have a question for those who know..

I have been looking for sometime into getting a BBC and went from one end to the other on how to go chopper or pro street finally decided chopper. Stock or springer chose springer Athena or DA and figured Athena.

So my end result has been Athena chopper with Springer front end. While I realize I might be over simplifying things the last of 2 choices is pre-build or kit. A number of the posts Ive seen here talk about this and that in addition to the kit itself and what I am really wanting to know is exactly what is in the kit? Again not meaning to offend but the price of these kits is rather high and while I will admit a certain pride comes from doing it yourself that everything has its drawbacks. So I guess my expectations were the kit itself comes with about everything save grease gas and lock tight. All you have to provide is the know how and the paint.

So can anybody here help me with my misconceptions? Again, Im not trying to offend or cheapen the skills required to complete a custom.. Just want my ducks in a row before I finalize in @ 6 months. If I end up having to throw another 3k out that is not paint related but rather parts then It would seem over all less hastle to get the prebuild and complain to the source when things go wrong.

Thanks for your time.
H

[RedWings]

One thing to know about building a chop. Whatever you think its gonna cost to build it just double that figure and you'll be in the ballpark. Everything about a chop is variable so even a kit ain't gonna just bolt together. If its the first time, buy it all put together and learn from that one.

[triker]

no apologies necc. kits and rollers come in a great varity of parts and pieces depending where you get them. no easy answer, you will have to talk to the diff supplies to really find out what they supply. getting a kit can cut down on cost and time somwhat. depending on your mechanical abilities you might want to consider redwings suggestion about getting one that is running and work backwards. with some abilities maybe one that has not been finished.
how ever you go there will lots of questions so ask, nobody here started with all the answers either. we like pics so take a bunch and post them up as you go along and welcome to cc.

[MAKO6]

Although they advertise their "kits" as complete, you will invariably find things about their selection of kit parts that you do not like, and will replace, and there-in comes the spending. Happens ALL the time.

Good choice on the Athena, not a big fan of "template" designs from any high volume builder, but the Athena I like...

[pushrod243]

welcome to CC.

[HarshReality]

I did notice somewhere there were ultrabright LEDs that were bullets mounted directly onto the frame instead of the lolipops.. almost unnoticable.. but I fell in love with this..

*Waits for the LED haters to chime in

http://www.metricfats.com/?page_id=8

[Urban Chopper]

Coming from someone who built his DA, if you do not have goo-gobs of spare time, buy the complete build. I echo others, you will be changing certain items in your kit. Everything does not bolt together and will need to be massaged somewhat. It took me a month to do my mock-up in my spare time (sans electrical). It took almost a year to do my paint (but my paint job is very intricate). It took me four months to reassemble the bike, electrical and work out the kinks. Now, this was my first build (or should I say put-together), so now I can do it in half the time. Also, plan for extra costs like tools and other services you will need that you may not have readily available.

So, at the end of the day...if you want to be riding soon and have a warranty on workmanship, get it built. You can change the bullet lights, pipes and other small items later. I don't think I saved a dime buy using the kit, but I do certainly appreciate the satisfaction.

I hope this helps.

[nanaimoBC]

ya i really dont think a kit saves you much $....what it does do is give you alot of knowledge of your bike for future wrenching ( which you will do alot of) but this comes at the cost of lots of late nights and an ass ton of grief

[RedWings]

Hey man I like that word "massaged". Is that gently saying "cut and grind the fuck out of it"

[Captain America]

Originally Posted by Urban Chopper

So, at the end of the day...if you want to be riding soon and have a warranty on workmanship, get it built. You can change the bullet lights, pipes and other small items later. I don't think I saved a dime buy using the kit, but I do certainly appreciate the satisfaction.

That is well put UC.

[golfish]

Originally Posted by nanaimoBC

ya i really dont think a kit saves you much $....what it does do is give you alot of knowledge of your bike for future wrenching ( which you will do alot of) but this comes at the cost of lots of late nights and an ass ton of grief

good advice here...

if you do buy a kit or have BBC build you one DO NOT uprgade anything from them other then the engine or paint (BBC build) You'll never see the stock parts but they charge you full retail for the upgrade parts.

After all said and done I figured I saved about 4K building my bike over having BBC build it. That's buying the kit, upgrades, 800.00 MC lift, 400.00 air compressor, other needed tools, PC and paint.

That said, I've seen new BBC builds on sale at dealers and up in Big Bear for 5K less then I spent on my build.

[60Archer]

Here's an idea.......buy a slightly (2-3yrs) used one. Pick the style you like, shop around....e-pay.....c.nt-list....ETC, ETC...since the RECALL, you can buy one at less than half of the new kit price. Buy it... take it apart...change to your own style and you will still be money ahead. This way the "massaging" has already been worked out, and you can be riding your "own" bike in couple of months instead of years. Just a thought.....