Editing Custom motorcycle

[[Image:CustomBike.jpg|thumb|right|A customized [[Yamaha]] with a [[nitrous oxide]] tank.]]
[[Image:Custom motorcycle Kettering.jpg|thumb|right|A custom motorcycle in the United Kingdom.]]
[[Image:CB550.jpg|thumb|right|1977 Honda CB550 built by [[Lossa Engineering]].]]
A '''custom motorcycle''' is a [[motorcycle]] that is highly stylized or which treats aspects such as frame [[geometry]] or [[engine]] design in an unusual way compared to standard manufacturing. Custom motorcycles are unique or individually produced in a very limited quantity, as opposed to "stock" bikes or "stockers," which are [[mass production|mass produced]]. In the 1990s and early 2000s, very expensive customs such as those built by [[Orange County Choppers]], [[Jesse G. James|Jesse James]]'s [[West Coast Choppers]],<ref name="FORBES">http://www.forbes.com/global/2008/0107/094.html "Jesse James' Hooligan Chic"]</ref> [[Roger Goldammer]] or [[Ian Barry]]'s [[Falcon Motorcycles]] <ref name="ROBB REPORT">http://www.robbreport.com/Motorcycles/21-Ultimate-Gifts-Diamond-in-the-Brough "21 Ultimate Gifts: A one-of-a-kind custom."]</ref>became fashionable status symbols. There are also companies that are bringing back [[pin striping]], such as [[Kenny Howard]] (also known as Von Dutch) and [[Dean Jeffries]] from the 1950s, with a continued effort to keep pin striping alive. The [[choppers]] of the 1960s and 1970s fit into this category. Jan Bachleda (originally from [[Slovakia]]) of JBIKEZ builds highly customized [[Triumph Engineering Co Ltd|Triumph]] [[choppers]] from the 1970s era.

Some motorcycle manufacturers, such as [[Harley-Davidson]] and [[Honda]], include the word "custom" as part of a model name. If capitalized, "Custom" does not denote a custom motorcycle as described above; rather, it is part of the model name of a mass-produced motorcycle.

The ''factory custom'' segment has become the most visible in the custom industry in recent years. The original factory custom was the 1971 [[Harley-Davidson Super Glide]], designed by [[Willie G. Davidson]], which, imitating the custom scene of the time, combined the [[Motorcycle fork|fork]] from a [[Harley-Davidson Sportster|Sportster]] with the frame and engine of a big twin [[Harley-Davidson FL|Electra Glide]], thereby founding a style imitated by many other manufactures ever since.<ref>{{Citation|last= Holmstrom |year=2001 |first= Darwin |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles |edition=2nd |publisher=Alpha Books |isbn=0028642589 |url= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=VGrp5Pjsf4UC&pg=PA31 |page=31 }}</ref><ref>{{citation 
|last= |first= |title=1971 H-D Super Glide; The origin of the factory custom |magazine=[[American Motorcyclist]] |publisher=[[American Motorcyclist Association]] |location=[[Westerville, Ohio]] | date=October 2003 |volume=67 |issue= 10 |issn=0277-9358 |ref= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=6voDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63  |page=63 }}</ref><ref>{{citation  |last= |first= |title=Willie G.; Harleys by Davidson |magazine=[[American Motorcyclist]] |publisher=[[American Motorcyclist Association]] |location=[[Westerville, Ohio]] | date=November 1985 |volume=39  |issue=11  |issn=0277-9358 |ref= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ZPkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36 |page=36 }}</ref>

Higher volume producers like American IronHorse, Bourget, Big Dog and BMC build custom motorcycles that also must meet basic safety requirements set by the [[US Department of Transportation]]. Factory customs allow the buyer to select from a wide range of options, paint styles, engine sizes and accessories while still having the confidence, support, warranty and finance options that typically are associated with major production manufacturers. Factory customs typically do not offer the total individuality of a home built bike or a "one off custom", but they share much of the appeal that comes with a custom bike and many of the benefits of a factory production motorcycle. 
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[World championship of bike building]]


==External links==

[http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=motorcycle+customizing Motorcycle customizing]

[[Category:Motorcycle classifications]]
[[Category:Motorcycle customization]]