Bob Kay

I'm one of those guys who doesn't leave anything stock. Never have, never will. I have customized everything from my daughter's electric Barbie Corvette to my riding lawnmower, my old cars, my daily drivers and, of course, a few motorcycles.

My first custom project was a 9-foot-long hydroplane with a 20 hp Merc. I sanded, molded, painted and ended up with a sharp little boat that was fast as hell. When flying it across the lake on its maiden voyage I turned too sharp and flipped it. I was okay, but the occurrence freaked out my dad, who then sold it.

Nonetheless, I had a great time that summer getting it together, illustrating that the trip is often greater than the destination. Since then I have been involved in numerous projects, and the thing they all have in common is fun.

The fun comes from creating something unique that makes a statement about you. Spending a ton of money to create a one-off custom bike isn't necessary. This is especially true with bikes because they are not as complicated to modify as cars.

Then ...

In the 1970s customizers had to make or adapt a lot of parts. One of my favorite magazines that immortalize the custom spirit of the '70s is The Horse. Inside the December 2005 issue was a gorgeous red '67 Triumph chopper, a Buell Blast rigid, a 500 twin Honda bobber, a '71 Bonnie chopper, a chopped '80 Sportster and a dozen trick Big Twins. Each bike relied on one man's creativity — not off-the-shelf products.

Utilizing a circa-'70s Honda twin as a powerplant, Recycled represents ingenuity, not conformity. Isn't that what customizing is all about?

Recycled, the name of the 500 twin Honda bobber, is American ingenuity at its best. To quote owner Jim Anderson, "You don't need a big budget or a TV-style shop to build a custom bike. To me, Old School is not a style but a way a bike is built."

The fun is figuring out how to get it done with what you have, rather than running to the store.

Not sure what I mean? How about a doorknob for a shift knob, a couple of faucet handles for a set of risers, bullet casings for trim, wrenches for levers or hood ornaments to accent your tank? The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

... And Now

In the 1980s more parts were available, but most didn't fit well. By the mid-1990s an incredible selection of parts to change the look or increase the horsepower of a bike were becoming available.

Today a variety of bolt-on custom parts can be bought by the weekend warrior. This may not be the ultimate customization method, but the rider still makes the choice.

Beyond the bolt-on is the custom OEM, like Big Dog. Big Dog has done a nice job addressing the instant gratification needs of riders who have disposable income but no disposable time.

Customizing is choosing what a bike will look like. The fun is in figuring out how to get it done. The trick is realizing the value of the trip — the countless hours spent choosing the right color and graphics; the grown man cutting out pictures from magazines night after night to build a portfolio of paint schemes to show his painter his vision; studying a magazine over and over to find a feature that can be incorporated into the project.

It's a lot of fun riding to Bike Night on a custom bike, and that feeling is multiplied exponentially when the rider is involved in the designing and building process.

Whether a person is shopping for a bolt-on accessory or a new custom off the showroom floor, it's a lot of fun to ride to different shops with your buddies, comparing features and getting opinions. Most projects involve some bench racing and a few beers during brainstorming sessions. This is custom fun at its best.

Custom is not just an adjective explaining the type of motorcycle a person owns. It describes a way of life. The custom attitude changes the way you look at everything. It opens a whole new world where everything you see has the potential to be a custom feature on your next project.

Let your imagination run wild, have fun, and let customs rule your world.

Bob Kay is the owner of Biker Pros, the co-founder of Hardbikes and an ex-affiliate of American IronHorse.