What sort of biker are you? A make it or buy it or just cant be arsed type?

I'm a 'buy a base, blank canvass and make it me own' type of biker.

 

I bought Doris cos it had stuff I wanted to do to a bike and she looked damn fine but I've added stuff for practical reasons, and some just to make her look/sound good , even sprayed a helmet to match. The tiger I bought as it had practical stuff on it that I wanted and I've added other practical stuff. I have a pre unit thunderbird in The shed that I've Half arsed pulled apart stuck back together and left in disarray. Lead me to your couch and make what you will of that.

 

I never said I was 'good' at it

 

You saved me a fortune in shrink fees.

 

During the 80-90's I spent many pleasurable hours working with a very good friend who had a restoration business, every thing from Austin 7' barn finds, A BSA B13 770 V Twin, very rare, to 1920's Rolls Royce's, really enjoyed it, helped restore a Vincent to absolute mint and rode it to Dover Docks for export, etc, etc, etc.
Now, if its easier to buy a part and perhaps get some one to fit it, that's fine, but at least I have the knowledge to know & recognize if I'm being conned/bullshit!

 

Not sure where I fit in in this.
I prefer to do things such as servicing myself. As to modifying I only modify a bike if I can see an advantage for me.
If it's just for aesthetic reasons ( such as sounds or looks better but no performance improvement ) then I tend to leave the bike as standard.

 

Sometimes ones aspirations outdo ones abilities. So, if I think I stand a better than average chance of fixing it/making it, I give it a go. I'll tackle most things after giving them a good coat of looking at first. If it looks like it's outside my skill I gladly get the experts involved to either do it, or better still help me, that way I know for next time. After all you're NEVER too old to learn something new.

 

Agree with that Al. Usually what defeats me is not having the right tool.
I have a pretty comprehensive tool kit but somethings I just leave to the experts.
Just purely down to the cost of the tool to do the job.

 

I use my bike every day for a commute of 30 miles
I upgrade stuff if it will improve my safety, or the performance of the bike
But I also want to get the most for my money, so I want the best performance from my bike with just a little investment.
No big engine re-tunes, valve or compression changes, but I will pay for silencer, air filters and tuning to make sure the stuff fitted means the bike is runniong smoothly.
I have done:
- Air filter
- Silencers
- Scottoiler
- Chain/sprockets
- Brembo pads (In Brembo calipers)
- Carbon rear hugger when the previous one broke
- Secondary air horn
- LED Indicators
- Blue Xenon headlight bulbs (Not halogen)
- Premium fuel every 5th or 6th fill up
All servicing I do unless on the engine itself

After service for valves to be checked in July, I will book her in for a tune.

 

Bits left over just means you have rebuilt it better

 

In definitely a make it guy, I enjoy tinkering and making stuff as much as riding. Example below of my last bike before the speed triple, bought for a few hundred as an unfinished streetfighter and turned into a 9 engined ZX7R with a CBR tail unit.

 

Okay, maybe showing my neivity here but either that is a bottle of Jack Daniels or N20 !