I may have a problem

[KrisCarr]

As I near completion of my first custom motorcycle build I am finding myself thinking about other styles I want to build. maybe something steam punk inspired, or a zombie apocalypse enduro. maybe a pirate inspired thing with a sidecar made of s rum cask. Is this normal? do I need some sort of customizer rehab?

[Dennis]

You don't need rehab, but you will need to focus.

Potential projects is how you end up owning a huge collection of virtually scrap motorcycles all with a dream of "one day."  New ideas come along faster than finishing projects. 

I started my XS1100 trike project years ago.  First it was just the donor bike which I stored for several years("stored" includes moving around and giving up shop space).  Then I got a differential which was also stored.  It lived variously in my garage and my in-law Pineview property.  Last winter the project started in earnest with much fabrication being done.  Spring and Summer always sidelines a major project with rider maintenance trumping a bike build (in my case this included a BMW transmission rebuild/fail).

I am gearing up to pick up where I left off.  I just received a new steering neck tube which I am going to compare with the donor bike one I have been working with thus far.   Once I determine which steering neck tube I will use, I can get back to fabricating the frame.

If you look at the time lines of some of my past builds, few have been quick.  The Stolen Sportster was 5 years from purchase of the donor bike to completion.   Focus waxed and waned, but in the end I have an excellent road worthy bike.

I think my fastest was the Suzuki GS650 Monoshock Conversion Cafe Racer which was the winter of 2011/2012 and almost made it to the June Show 'n Shine.

Stay focussed on finishing one (maybe two) projects at time.   There has never been I time when there wasn't a donor bike out there at a screaming price with my name on it.  There always will be.  Let someone else store them for years until you want a new project.

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[KrisCarr]

I definitely hear your point and heed your warning Dennis. One at a time for sure. It's just really hard to quiet that voice saying "ooo you should try this!" or "this would be really cool!"  What I find most attractive about the motorcycles is that everything is 1/4 the scale I'm used to. That includes price and time. For instance, the paint job on my car took two days and almost $500 in paint supplies. The paint job on my bike took 4 hours and cost about $40 in supplies. And while I'm not in the same customization. category us some of you guys modifying frames and such, I am really astounded at the transformation my rusty little honda has made in 3 short weeks. I think it's because I can put the parts beside my tool box and tinker on them during my coffee and lunch breaks.

[KrisCarr]

I went from this

[KrisCarr]

to this for $400 in under 3 weeks