Metric chops= the only innovative custom bikes now?

[HotRodPaint.com]

You have to admit that six cylinder is impressive, if "mine is bigger than yours" is the criteria!

[Phantom]

Yours may be bigger... but mine will THUMP harder...

[The_Blackjack]

Originally posted by HotRodPaint.com
You have to admit that six cylinder is impressive, if "mine is bigger than yours" is the criteria!

True enough. But they're so damned wide that you have to put the motor pretty high if it's even going to look at a corner......

[CruisingRam]

Let me back up here a minute- I am not raggin' on anyones skills here-

I look at bikes on this site and I see awesome craftsmenship, beautiful paint- lot's of stuff I can't do myself. Most of my fabbing come from racing cars, and making things work on bikes and cars at the track.

I am not saying the V-twin bikes are crap, or are poorly done.

What I am saying is this- Smokey Yunik said the same thing about his beloved SB chevy once "We are trying to make a 90 year old whore look like a 18 year old virgin"- and he went on to explain we are doing variations of the same thing, over and over.

How many ways can you route a set of exhausts on the same design V-twin over and over?

As far as the money angle- you guys in business- I totally understand- don't make what the customer wants- out of biz- and, if websites like www.motleyfool.com are correct, the whole HD craze is slowing down pretty hard- and top end customs may or may not have a dip in sales anyway- no matter what the brand.

I am not one of those poeple that cry "sell out" when someone makes a buck doing something they love- that is the American dream as far as I am concerned.

And, I am sure there are badly engineered metric bikes ( I am not just talking asian bikes here, Euro choppers as well) - but I am sure there are LCC that are V-twins done badly as well LOL

However, where I see poeple REALLY pushing the envelope, no fear of failure kind of stuff, I am not seeing it in the V-twin custom market right now-

I am not a huge fan of all the Euro streetfighter bikes either- they kick thier bikes way up in the ass too much, but I sure do appreciate thier innovation and custom work, those homebuilt single sided swingarms and such are just off the chain!

So, my post is not really about craftmanship, making money, or best engineered, or even best looking, but more of what is moving this hobby FORWARD in innovation and new designs.

And, to be fair, I am not just talking American V-twin here, I have said HD precious little in this thread if you notice- I feel the same way about the air cooled metric V-twins as well. Liquid cooled stuff though, man, talk about some skull scratching innovation to pull the radiator thing off- big time!

[CruisingRam]

Hey Phantom- your mail box is full- you being a fellow Alaskan, tried to PM you- I am riding up Wassilla way this week- want to stop by and check out your place!

[tobor]

Well dude ,I dont what you wanna hear here...

I'd say 99% of the bikes here are Vtwin .

It would be like me jumpen in a metric thread and sayn (I dont know why you guys build those things)

[gypsy chopper]

i dont understand the question, why is building a frame for a vulcan any harder or more innovative, or a trick set of pipes on a cbx is harder or more important than a trick set on a vtwin.

a gas tanks a gas tank, a fenders a fender what are you expecting, or wanting...someont to say bending a set of roadstar handlebars takes more skill than a set of sportster bars?

shits all the same to me. i dont own metric tools and after buying 20,000 of standard ones in the last 20 years, i dont think i'll start

maybe if a goldwing sounded or ran like my 124 i might get interested...this is bigblock hemi funny car shit, not super tuner honda prelude series

[Stonecold_Crazee]

i could be wrong but thats normal
i feel with metric chops there is a limited sorce of "custom parts" that you can just open up a catolog and buy therefor those are forced to make your own and to make it work!
for me if i look for the part i need and feel i can make it for 1/2 the price i will.....but like phantom said i might have 8 g's in it but who would pay more? doesnt matter because its for me to ride not trailor to bike shows or to sell for profit my 02.
AL

[Phantom]

Originally posted by CruisingRam
"We are trying to make a 90 year old whore look like a 18 year old virgin"-

Some of us don't want her virginity... just the box it came in.

Personally, I don't see innovation in stuffing a metric motor in to an American style V-twin box. If you want innovation, purchase the Ducatti or the Triumph and leave it alone since some of the brightest and best have designed the machines to be innovative out of the box.
If you want a chopper, lack of innovation is what you are after, since in order to turn one of these bikes into a "chopper", you need to strip all the "innovations" off and only leave the bare essentials.
I might be wrong but metrics will always be viewed as the poor man's chopper. Nothing wrong with it, but I don't see the industry taking a drastic turn in that direction.

[DanVVArider]

You can chop a metric, hand make all the parts yourself, take 6-12 months to build the bike and even though you are only into the bike $8K, you will be lucky to find someone who will pay you more than $5K.

You might find this hard to believe, especially here in Club Shopper where it's all about how much you spent to become a chopperhead, but sometimes, bikers build or chop just for the sake of making the bike their own. There's always the better-than-average chance the bike will never be sold.

I might be wrong but metrics will always be viewed as the poor man's chopper.

You're wrong. Metric motorcycles are what turned the industry on its ear forty years ago, when those little 50cc bikes were being sold by the thousands with the "You meet the nicest people on a Honda"campaign.

Nothing wrong with it, but I don't see the industry taking a drastic turn in that direction.

Well, young Mr. Phantom, agin you might find this a bit of a stretch, but the metrric chopperheads over at Chopper Underground aren't looking to hook onto the latest trend that's gonna change the industry. We're living a lifestyle contrary to pop culture's influence. You might want to try it sometime, but I doubt you ever will.

[DanVVArider]

We are trying to make a 90 year old whore look like a 18 year old virgin

I suggest you use large quantities of alcohol--and I don't mean on her, either...

[straightpipez]

The dude has a point, and it clearly hits hardest here. Look at all the Big Dog, AI, Big Bear, Hard Core, etc., etc. bikes on this site.

No hard feelings (well I could care less actually), but look at those damn things. They all look the same. Those aren't fucking choppers. They are factory Harley's that are just longer and have a bunch of billet and chrome bullshit all over them. 30 G's for a bunch of shit. And one joker was actually bitchin' about his "low fuel" light wasn't working! Guess what I don't have ANY fuckin' gauges. Nope not even one. How's that for innovation?

Want little to no innovation? Buy a bike in a box and start slappin' that cookie cutter fucker together. Throw on some fuckin' dorky stripes and shit and hit the fuckin' road. After your first outing to the golf course all will be well.

And those jap bikes? Hey, what the fuck ever. Who gives a shit?

In fact, who gives a shit about any of this shit? This is the land of billet, big dorky tires, goofy fuckin' paint jobs and bitchin' and moanin'. It's the modern day version of the 80's pro street hot rod era. Enjoy the retardedness.

Where's that Jap forum any way?

[isiahstites]

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[straightpipez]

That crazy ass BMW is actually cool. Although I'd use pipes with a bit less "pee shooter" look.

[Phantom]

Dan- the original question had to do with the direction the industry was going in terms of innovation.

I am talking from a business standpoint and you might find it hard to believe old man but the business side of things do drive industries and never once did I insult your bikes or say anything was wrong with it.

You don't know anything about me but you come out acting like you know me