The internet has made modding boring

[tigertim20]

Ive been reading a few 'build threads' lately on various forums, now Im a bike guy, and I love to mod, and get my hands dirty,
but I feel like the bike modifying thing has become boring as hell.

I look at build thread everywhere, and frankly they have become pretty generic regardless of brand. It starts with a tail tidy/ integrated tail light, then throw in some crash bungs for good measure, and maybe a double bubble screen or something.

Those with a little more coin to spare change the air filter to something that breathes a little more, and maybe an exhaust, along with a tune/power commander.
After that, its about 'details' with some blingy levers here, some rearsets there, and an ohlins cartridge or shocks there, and so on and so forth.

Dont get me wrong, these mods have some use I guess, and they do add a little something to bikes, but my point is, I always felt that mods were about making your bike a little unique, but everyone has become so caught up in doing all these little things in an attempt to be unique, that the effort in doing all the generic mods has actually made them as boring as everyone else.

What happened to genuine modifying? Im not talking about off the shelf shit, I can go buy a full zorst system from Akra, two brothers, GYTR, Danmoto, or I can buy levers in the dozens, what ever happened to genuine, one off modding where you went down to the shed, and cut and hacked, and welded and bent and created something truly unique, something that nobody elses bike has got?

I blame the internet for dumbing down our modding creativity - we see a part on ebay that a million others have, and buy it, then brag, ohhh look at my new levers.
well congrats, theyre the same an ten thousand others out there.

What mods have YOU dont that is truly custom? anything from custom tail tidies, to paint jobs, or even installing elctrical items?
prove me wrong here people!

[mossy1200]

You need to search the bucket threads

Rsv1000 front end onto a cbr250 frame is the latest mod retaining the cbr250 wheel.

Or a home built trailer.

[sil3nt]

You must look in the wrong places http://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=190526&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[hayd3n]

custom decals (hornet on the tail)
custom fitted exhaust (two brothers exhaust and custom link pipem, no zorst straps!!
custom exhaust shroud
custom screen
custom cowel
soon custom front indicators
and installing a taillight with integrated indicators (not a oem fit)

[nzspokes]

Im hand making pannier mounts and making spot lights out of house lights?

Is that what your thinking?

Im also probably the only person with highway pegs on a Bandit.....

[hayd3n]

ohh and custom radiator guard

[SMOKEU]

Same thing is happening with car modding, apparently. (http://autospeed.com/cms/A_112816/article.html)

[Motu]

What's boring is these guys who have a CNC at home and don't have to work for a living - they turn out mind boggling work, and their bikes are pieces of art that never get ridden.

[Buyasta]

What about the cool stuff folks like ducatilover and Bogan are doing?.. I think it's probably a case of business as usual in terms of number of people doing interesting mods, it's just that with the internet providing such a ready medium for everyone and their dog to throw up a build thread or page, you hear a lot more about the boring cookie-cutter mods where in days gone by you'd only hear about it if it were new or interesting. In short, cool modding is probably still being done, you just have to wade through a bunch of boring crap to find the interesting ones.

[Brian d marge]

come and talk to me .......
Stephen

[nzspokes]

I used a scooter deck to mount my top box on my last bike. :shifty:

[ducatilover]

I wish I had something unique in my garage :sweatdrop I copied a few people when I installed my K&N and did a DIY ignition advancer.
My 600 is pretty run of the mill otherwise :innocent:

[GrayWolf]

For a start you have a design brief these days that is highly limiting... sprot bike frames are quite restrictive to modify..... Looking back at the 'old school' double cradle frame, twin shocks, etc... we had so much more we could play with to alter, rip the fairing off most sprot's and the engines look like a plumber's leftovers. So air cooled engines have a better 'asthetic' when exposed... most monoshock's have a limit with what you can play with,,,, try replacing fuel tanks on a 'beam or perimiter' frame...... the pubic at large wanted the current styles..... Buy old style bikes like GSX1400, XJR's, MT's, Bandit, CB1300 etc etc,,,, these 'old style' bikes have a greater scope for modding IMO.

[zippy]

I think "proper modding" I.E. more than buying off the shelf custom parts that just bolt on is likely going out of fashion due to a number of things already mentioned.

My main concern is as a biker i would never buy a heavy modified bike that has been chopped and re-welded by someone else over concerns of the quality of work and if the welds dont collapse as i do 100+ down the road.

Modded bikes are also hard to sell on therefore modding your bike will lower its end sale value.

Sure if i had a spare 80s gixer or a v-max laying about i would take a hacksaw to it for a bit of fun to make a rat bike for myself...but would not dare do it on my current bike knowing eventually i would want to sell it to get the best value for another down the line which means keeping them as original as possible.

Bikes are also so quick these days, if i want to mod the engine on my current bike then i would be a case of throwing thousands of dollars into engine racing parts or a turbo. You cannot just take the pistons out and give them a good polish anymore and the gains do not really justify the headaches that could come from playing around the engine of todays very touchy modern bikes.

[98tls]

Hear what your saying Tim,am guilty of most of the off the shelf stuff myself inclusive of aftermarket rims,lets face it i couldnt have made them myself and of all the things ive done to my old S its the rims that made the most noticeable difference.As for not off the shelf stuff fitting GSXR forks/radials is a little different and very worthwhile.

[Voltaire]

Yeah I just sold my Triumph Thruxton as all the mods on that involve buying parts off internet shops......no welding, glassing, hacking, painting,grinding or dirt and grime....

Thought I'd have a go a building a classic racer.....

265859

I had a play with some old bits I have been collecting for a few years....... http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=790873

[ellipsis]

...you could just about include most things under the premise of what you say...the world wide wank has elevated even those who can hardly read into some kind of place where,' it's all available, right here, push this button'...it does not mean to say they should push the button...all this information means 5/8 of fuck all to most i dare say...but it puts everyone on some kind of level commercial playing field...originality is a scarce and quickly stolen thing these days...

[imdying]

You're just looking in the wrong places!

[bogan]

Its a symptom of 'generation me', every muppet with an extra sticker want everyone to look at how cool his bike is, so the web is plastered with this crap. The best way to weed out the rubbish, is to get a bike with class; classy bike, classy mods! :D

[onearmedbandit]

Who really cares? If someone considers 'modding' to be a tail tidy, crash bungs etc then that's fine. At the end of the day, the bike is still 'modified' from the way it left the factory. Modifying isn't restricted to making something unique. If it is unique, then I would call it 'uniquely modified'.

[ducatilover]

My GN has polished levers and a welded on gear lever, plus a modified compression ratio and ability for the rings to seal. I'm sure I've done some mods on something before though

[Katman]

I have no interest in modding bikes.

To me, taking an old classic and restoring it to original condition is far more rewarding.

[Voltaire]

I have no interest in modding bikes.

To me, taking an old classic and restoring it to original condition is far more rewarding.


Your right about its more rewarding to restore an old classic but there are plenty of Japanese bikes out there dying to be bobbed...:killingme
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR494FSt4fuxJJEKJDPzWyyYKRDCvyFu 59v_ySioT9DJYfXgE3FEw

[Brian d marge]

I have no interest in modding bikes.

To me, taking an old classic and restoring it to original condition is far more rewarding.

eeeeewwwwwwwwww

Stephen

NSU quickly ...should never see a new lease of life

[Katman]

NSU quickly ...should never see a new lease of life

Not quite the sort of 'old classic' I had in mind.

[Brian d marge]

remember these .......If I screwed up I got to work on these ,,,,later it was the Honda H100

265861

yuckiee pooos

Stephen

[Silage]

Well the tail (with numberplate and reflector) fell off my DRZ so after finding the (trampelled) number plate it was ground and cut and screwed on higher up - does that count?
Also got an after market screen and shockie bleeders. All a bit extreme eh

[98tls]

Yeah I just sold my Triumph Thruxton as all the mods on that involve buying parts off internet shops......no welding, glassing, hacking, painting,grinding or dirt and grime....

Thought I'd have a go a building a classic racer.....

265859

I had a play with some old bits I have been collecting for a few years....... http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=790873

Great read that mate,awesome work indeed,and your having fun.On ya.

[tigertim20]

You need to search the bucket threads

Rsv1000 front end onto a cbr250 frame is the latest mod retaining the cbr250 wheel.

Or a home built trailer.
yes, the bucket loads are a definite exception!! mad buggers!

What's boring is these guys who have a CNC at home and don't have to work for a living - they turn out mind boggling work, and their bikes are pieces of art that never get ridden.
thats not boring, its fucking criminal!

What about the cool stuff folks like ducatilover and Bogan are doing?.. I think it's probably a case of business as usual in terms of number of people doing interesting mods, it's just that with the internet providing such a ready medium for everyone and their dog to throw up a build thread or page, you hear a lot more about the boring cookie-cutter mods where in days gone by you'd only hear about it if it were new or interesting. In short, cool modding is probably still being done, you just have to wade through a bunch of boring crap to find the interesting ones.
I dont honestly know much about what bogan has been up to, but I have kept an eye on Ducatilovers build, and I find his efforts to be quite inspirational, a great job done by that man, well, boy.:crazy:

Hear what your saying Tim,am guilty of most of the off the shelf stuff myself inclusive of aftermarket rims,lets face it i couldnt have made them myself and of all the things ive done to my old S its the rims that made the most noticeable difference.As for not off the shelf stuff fitting GSXR forks/radials is a little different and very worthwhile.
yes, the latter example is great! you did create a gorgeous bike though!

You're just looking in the wrong places!
probably! but it seems like alot of the really cool stuff goes unmentioned.

I think what Im getting at is the difference between modding, and accessorizing, - it seems that these days people confuse the latter for the prior. I think if its off the shelf, bolt on, its an acessory, may very well be a worthy accessory, but still.

I made the thread in response to a post on another forum. Some dude posted up about his 'build thread'. it wasnt a build, it was a list of the most inanely boring, generic items that go on virtually every bike, a tail tidy, integrated tail light, aftermarket levers, and rearsets, with a slipon. I realised that that it the basis of probably 95% of the build threads out there. There are those like ducatilover, and carbonar1 who work tirelessly to create a truly unique example of bike pron, and I love that stuff, Im just sick off 'ohh look at my boring piece of shot with my boring generic parts on it that I call a custom build'. Im guilty of buying plenty of the same shit myself, dont get me wrong, but fuck, we're kiwis, ingenuity and being different is kind of our thing right?

I thought mayeb this could be a bit of a show and tell of the shit we have all dont with our bikes - Hayd3n's hornet has had a few very unique little touches that have made it a standout from any other hornet, for example. not a lot of money, just patience and thought.

[BurningPlastic]

I'm moving over to Canada in a few months for a while, and one thing I'm looking forward to is only having to worry about a bi-yearly emissions check - no WOF or rego to deal with. I'm aiming to pick up a cheap bike or two and do some proper mod-work without having to worry about things not being in compliance to the various regulations and so on... My biggest worry here is doing something and then finding out that I've contravened a regulation and have to redo it to get the bike legal again.

[Sable]

I think you're talking about leathers-that-match-the-paintjob sportbike noobs. Plenty of proper stuff still going on out there.

[Subike]

Depends upon what you start with, how good you skills are at makeing things that suit the bike.
Looking outside the norm,
Have an idea, and research, research research...

Start with 1 x 1979 XS1100E Yamaha, Std.
Finnish with 1 x 1979 XS1100 Yamaha , Std.

Then use it like it should be used.

[Renegade]

Yeah I just sold my Triumph Thruxton as all the mods on that involve buying parts off internet shops......no welding, glassing, hacking, painting,grinding or dirt and grime....

Thought I'd have a go a building a classic racer.....

265859

I had a play with some old bits I have been collecting for a few years....... http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=790873

thanks for the read, enjoyed that.

[scumdog]

My T-Sport is a TradeMe modder.

TradeMe T-bars (narrowed down)
TradeMe knurled and chromed grips
TradeMe freeway pegs
TradeMe gaiters
home 'custom' extended mirror stalks.
home 'custom' mufflers.

Stick-on celtic flames designed by Nighhawk.

I bet THAT is not the customising Tim was wanting to hear about...

[Renegade]

i think there is a huge difference between moding/customizing a bike and building a bike and the two should not be confused or even measured side by side.

moding/customizing is adding or removing parts to suit your riding style, be it bolt ons or stickers etc.

Building involves taking a bike and changing it radically from how it was originally, such places i like to visit is pipeburn.com and bikeexif.com

plenty of good builds and the odd restore, can waste hours on those sites drawing inspiration.

[onearmedbandit]

I think what Im getting at is the difference between modding, and accessorizing, - it seems that these days people confuse the latter for the prior. I think if its off the shelf, bolt on, its an acessory, may very well be a worthy accessory, but still.



Tim you need to look up the definition of accessory. By definition it means 'adding to or contributing to'. So taking something off and putting something in its place is 'changing' or 'modifying', not adding an accessory.

I get what you're saying, I do. But modifying isn't just limited to making something yourself etc.

[Brian d marge]

Ive done this a couple of times ...build a bike for " as close to" 0 dollars as you can ...

Last one I did was a 350 triumph ,

Have the makings of another one ......

Steel , from washing machine , cars , lights from any source

Once I finish the current project ( just have to make a new exhaust pipe )

Then the fun begins ....( I want to ride it to russia,,,,thats the dream anyway !)

Stephen

[BIG DOUG]

Hmm I have a few friends who make a lot of things themselve's myself included.At the moment I have a mate who is building his own chrome-moly frame and swingarm for a harley dyna mtr + gearbox he had laying around and when I was there on sunday he had just started to make his own alloy tank there are many talented people building stuff in there garages around the country, hell I'm onto my second ground up build in 2 years and it has to be finished by october for a show at labour weekend so I better get out to the garage and get on with it.

[Tryhard]

Im hand making pannier mounts and making spot lights out of house lights?

Is that what your thinking?

Im also probably the only person with highway pegs on a Bandit.....

I'm sure you could market them...
Not that I have a Bandit but do know others whom do. But then it would be another of the shelf mod i guess.

Good ideas are to be shared..aren't they?

[Brayden]

I thought I'd go for something a little different paint wise on my VT250 spada! pics attached . Unfortunately I wrote it off a few weeks ago and it is dented and scratched to shit : (


http://iforce.co.nz/i/0iu25uoz.xl0.jpg (http://www.iforce.co.nz/View.aspx?i=0iu25uoz.xl0.jpg)

http://iforce.co.nz/i/pfgie5gh.a1z.jpg (http://www.iforce.co.nz/View.aspx?i=pfgie5gh.a1z.jpg)

http://iforce.co.nz/i/jtohypld.hdd.jpg (http://www.iforce.co.nz/View.aspx?i=jtohypld.hdd.jpg)

[Tryhard]

I saw this in East Tamaki last month while on the road working and had to take some pics with my phone.
I thought it was great

[Ender EnZed]

I saw this in East Tamaki last month while on the road working and had to take some pics with my phone.
I thought it was great

That thing's been on TradeMe a few times.

[Laava]

There is a huge degree of satisfaction for me in restoring, modding or building the individual parts that make up a bike.
Some parts are beyond my means skillwise, like a new exhaust system for example. But brackets, lights, tidying away wiring or unused lugs etc is easy and with imagination can be very rewarding.
I will be soon looking for another project, and have to agree that the aircooled machines tend to yield a better result with more/easier options.

[98tls]

That thing's been on TradeMe a few times.

Not having a crack at it each to there own and all blah blah but wheres he going with it?Theres some work done there for sure but to what end?

[ellipsis]

wheres he going with it?Theres some work done there for sure, but to what end?

...both ends...

[ducatilover]

I thought I'd go for something a little different paint wise on my VT250 spada! pics attached . Unfortunately I wrote it off a few weeks ago and it is dented and scratched to shit : (








:pinch: Bugger mate! You going to restore it or give me the wreck and see what I can make :innocent: I'd love to do another Spada.

[Ender EnZed]

...both ends...

I don't much like either of them. Some of the bits in between are alright.

[Voltaire]

For me the internet has made getting info on 'how to' and 'where from' way easier.... Back in the olden days you had to rely on bike mags, and shows for ideas.....
For my BMW build I got bits off Ebay, US sellers, UK sellers, swap meets ( remember them) and TM....
Last swap meet I went to had a bout 5 stalls......bit sad really....the old fullas seem quite perplexed....:weep:

[AllanB]

Hmmm I always change something.

One of the reasons for getting the Hornet was it is a good basis for modding or personalising. Yep there are bolt on bits - bars for a better ride, pipes for glory, bar end mirrors for style etc.

I have made a few custom pieces from scratch - tail tidy and I've alloy cast up a custom sprocket cover and made a couple of rearset spacers to move the pegs back, I hand cut and shaped a alloy cover for the rear brake fluid bottle (just for looks). I have other projects planned but it is darn cold in the shed and the logburner and wine inside the house are too tempting at this time of year.

Anyone modding to personalise their ride gets a thumbs up from me.

I have a desire to attack a modern bonnie but lack the coin! Lotto ticket dreaming.......................................

[98tls]

...both ends...

Not quite what i meant but hey.Had a chuckle at the pooper scooper on the back,my S had an oem one when i bought it all those years back,1st thing i did when i got it home was remove it,its lurking somewhere in the shed still.There will come a day no doubt there sought after.

[tigertim20]

Not having a crack at it each to there own and all blah blah but wheres he going with it?Theres some work done there for sure but to what end?

yeah it isnt my cup of tea, but I love seeing that kind of stuff being done - fuck it, Ill build what I want and be different.

[98tls]

yeah it isnt my cup of tea, but I love seeing that kind of stuff being done - fuck it, Ill build what I want and be different.

Yep fuckin oath,wether its time or money to many fucking around with older bikes is a total waste of both but whatever floats the individuals boat eh.I totally understand the question ive heard many times about the amount of $ ive spent on my old TL and why i spent it,the answers so simple i dont bother giving an answer anymore.

[koba]

yeah it isnt my cup of tea, but I love seeing that kind of stuff being done - fuck it, Ill build what I want and be different.

So, Mossy mentioned it; have you had a look at buckets yet?

[Brian d marge]

Hmm I have a few friends who make a lot of things themselve's myself included.At the moment I have a mate who is building his own chrome-moly frame and swingarm for a harley dyna mtr + gearbox he had laying around and when I was there on sunday he had just started to make his own alloy tank there are many talented people building stuff in there garages around the country, hell I'm onto my second ground up build in 2 years and it has to be finished by october for a show at labour weekend so I better get out to the garage and get on with it.
aint that the truth , the Americans make whole series aboutit ,,,the brits and the kiwis just do it

some major talent out there

Stephen

[Brayden]

:pinch: Bugger mate! You going to restore it or give me the wreck and see what I can make :innocent: I'd love to do another Spada.

Haha just got it back today gunna make it nice and shiny again!

[tigertim20]

So, Mossy mentioned it; have you had a look at buckets yet?

yes. I acknowledged earlier own that bucket folk were an axception

[Subike]

Yep fuckin oath,wether its time or money to many fucking around with older bikes is a total waste of both but whatever floats the individuals boat eh.I totally understand the question ive heard many times about the amount of $ ive spent on my old TL and why i spent it,the answers so simple ""BECAUSE I CAN"".

There fixed it for ya Mike

[Tryhard]

Haha just got it back today gunna make it nice and shiny again!

Fantastic...Good on you m8

[Padmei]

Any kind of modifying you start to attract comments from those that think it's a sin to alter a bike as it come out of the factory & those that don't like it unless it has a very high standard/ professional standard.
I think there is a lot more modified bikes out there that are kept under the radar for those reasons.

I like mucking around with bikes, learning new stuff & learning how much I don't know. I also like the interaction with those that know a lot of stuff, the depth of knowledge available over the internet is fantastic. Have you seen what some guys can do with a hammer & sheet of alloy on Youtube or how to make your own powdercoating / anodising setup?

I think to get more people (talking young guys here) doing stuff there has to be the exposure & the net is a great place to get it. There should also be more programmes like american chopper/ Monster garage/ hot rod etc where those old skills are shown to a younger audience.

I think kiwis have very much lost that DIY attitude that we were reputed to have. I believe it is more to do with instant gratification & getting it finished/looking good now than learn the skills required to do it yourself.


I applaud those that give something a go for the sake of learning.

[BIG DOUG]

You are right old skills aren't being passed on to the younger gen as most of them aren't interested,I for one think people are breeding idiots shit most kids wouldn't know how much fun and trouble you can get into riding a bicycle to school with your mates as most parents think it too dangerous,whatever happened to risk management ,you climbed a tree you fell and you learnt better hang on a bit tighter.But there is hope I have a friend whose 4 year old can hammer in a nail I have been passing him my old tools and he has built up a good toolbox ,and always put's them away when finished so I hope he doesn't turn into a shithead.

[Conquiztador]

There is heaps going on in NZ. The ones with $$'s can buy, the ones without will make. I look at the $70K imported "custom" bikes and wonder why bother? But each to their own.

I have built a few my self, but have a little extreme taste so...

A few groups in NZ that keep on doing what they want. Here one: http://www.rattlers.co.nz/index.html

There is also a few on fb.

[BIG DOUG]

I started modding bikes because I had no money,and you are right I asked about a chopper at a defunct shop here in wgtn and was told $45k for a used bike I replied I think I could build one for way less than that and was laughed at,so I did and it has been featured in overseas magazines and I have been offered twice what it cost me to build it but I don't like to sell my bikes lol.265937 oh yea try www.greasemonkeys.co.nz

[Padmei]

You are right old skills aren't being passed on to the younger gen as most of them aren't interested,I for one think people are breeding idiots shit most kids wouldn't know how much fun and trouble you can get into riding a bicycle to school with your mates as most parents think it too dangerous,whatever happened to risk management ,you climbed a tree you fell and you learnt better hang on a bit tighter.But there is hope I have a friend whose 4 year old can hammer in a nail I have been passing him my old tools and he has built up a good toolbox ,and always put's them away when finished so I hope he doesn't turn into a shithead.

Going off topic but as a parent, WE are the ones wrapping our kids up in cotton wool. Our generation broke arms & legs doing stupid stuff but now WE don't want our kids scratching themselves. What has happened to OUR generation that has caused US to treat our kids like this.
What i'm getting at is there is no big authority telling us to treat our kids like that but OUR generation has shaped society to what it is like now.
I am trying to buck the trend -I try to get my girls to help me work on the bikes, or at the least explain what i'm doing, my kids ride on the back of the bike & I got some black looks ripping across the sports field on the DRZ picking my girl up from school on her birthday:devil2:

As far as modding goes those NZ sites are great.

[Motig]

You have to remember that not everybody has the knowledge/ ability/time/equipment/tooling to modify a bike and to do it safely and pass the various regulations. So buying off the shelve products that have a proven record to modify/customise a bike is one way that mr ordinary can try to make their steed just that little bit different for them and good on them. To go to an extreme example when you buy an aftermarket tyre for your bike its usually because it has better grip/wear than the stock tyres, you dont start trying to make your own in the kitchen-why?- Because you dont have the knowledge. Luckily for you tho that nice Mr Dunlop made some for you and you can use his ideas- much better than that solid iron hoop you were going to get the blacksmith to make ay! (but it would be a point of difference on your sportsbike/cruiser if you did).

[ducatilover]

I pulled a motor out one of mine today and the whole rear end off, am I cool yet? I can put it back on too.