Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Am I Off My Rocker Here?

My wife and I just back back from taking in a couple of days of Bike Week in Myrtle Beach SC and I am vexxed about something; would I sound totally crazy saying "I want to build a custom chopper??" I have a nice Harley that we get a lot of enjoyment out of but I'm thinking that building a super nice custom chopper for two would be a fun and rewarding experience. We would still keep the Harley. I am still nonetheless excited with my unrestored petro collection and putting it all in the barn for a while would not be sacrilegious would it?
Ever since I was a kid I have loved neat motorcycles, choppers in particular! I remember in the 7th grade I could draw the Captain America bike from the movie "Easy Rider" with my eyes closed. You know, petro and motorcycles do kinda go hand in hand don't they?
I'm just wondering if I'm sounding a little crazy right know.
Sincerely,

Neal

Hey I would make you some nice billet goodies in trade for a Bennett 541..too bad we live so far apart!!

Heres the cure, find someone who got bit real hard by the bug, see how they blew every cent on their bike, and how little they ride because they might scratch it. Think about how much you get to ride.. soon the feeling may pass..you hope!!

My Grandfather did nothing but work and sleep , he would start a conversation with the words "I had the chance once " he had the chance to do a lot of things but he never took one of them,If I learned one thing from my Grandfather its to take the chances and do what you want ,because life is short, to me if its something that the family can do together, then its a worth while project . to tell your grand kids that once you had the chance to build a chopper, or to show them pictures of what you and Gramma did thats what its all about.

I'm with Chris. Around this house, we have two motto's 1. Any excuse to travel 2. You don't always get what you go for, but you never get what you don't go for.
Best of luck on your project, it should be fun. As far as "storing" your gas pumps? Ha, it's like a savings account.

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Don "oltoydoc" Sherwood
Vintage Gas

Hey Neal...
You are not crazy....
Righ now i'm having a lot of fun with my
Gas Pumps,Hot rod (Ford 1936),Coke Chest,
Barber Chair (1940),Neon beer signs,
Neon clocks,Pistol shooting.....

Some friends says i'm crazy....
and you know what it does to me???

It makes me SMILE like Hell....

So go for it ...It will make you Smile.

Rod.

THANKS for all of the replies, chocked full of good info!! I'm hotter right now than I was last night about this idea.
Going back to many years ago I realized that you only ride this rock one time so second chances are hard to come by. I have had this fear that when I'm old, gray (actually grayer), feeble and only able to talk to my fellow "inmates" in the nursing home I would have ZERO stories to talk about. My life over the past 20 years has been somewhat based on this not happening.
Again thanks for the feedback!
Sincerely,

Neal

Neal, I'm not a motorcycle guy; (I like 4 wheels & sheet metal around me!!); but alot of my friends are though. (I like to call 'em "tough guy wanna beeee's") but if you wanna build a kick *** bike...........do it man!!!!!!!!!!! It sounds like you & your wife REALLY enjoy riding & if she's cool with it...................JMO

I've built more than a few myself so I fully understand your feelings. Go for it, there are some great kit bikes (bike ina box) out there or you can start with a frame and go from there.

It's only money. You have the rest of your life to make more.

Neal,

I've got four words for ya "Petro Collection Theme Bike".

Hey Neal, wish I'd known y'all were there---I was too!

Ask yourself--do you want a chopper cause it's the current cool thing, or do you like riding a long bike, or do you just want a bike project? I've been building a rigid, 230 tire 55 degree rake 24-over springered BSA for about a year, and it's NOT because of what's on TV....(btw, did you see the line of sheep at OCC's autograph area??
I rode long bikes 25-30 years ago and I just LIKE em!
I say do it. But do it the way YOU like it.

Your pumps will only appreciate in value, so stick 'em in the barn with no regrets.

Just my 2 sheckles....

Thanks for more replies!
fins and vtwins, I DO wish we would've bumped into each other. The wife watchs American Chopper, I do not, I'm messing in the shop each night with gas pump stuff. I have NEVER been the one that "flows with the tide". I bought a new Harley a couple of years ago and am adamant about about not doing "the leather thing". I see that most people that buy a bike do so just so they can be the "leather dominatrix" kinda people. I, my friend, am a denim kind of guy. I bought a bike so my wife and I can ride, not dress up for Halloween-like reasons. My wife did want a Paul Sr. autograph but each day the line was unbelieveable so we perused the bikes. However, my wife does do the "leather thing". As soon as a whip and handcuffs show up in the bedroom I will turn into Tony Soprano regarding this deal!!!!
I wanted to build a bike before the recent Jesse James / Tuthill family thing reared it's head.
I do like the idea presented about a
PETRO THEEMED customm deal.
THANKS for all of the competent info and therapist oriented data!
Sincerely,

Neal Dunn

I just put a vintage sears speedometer on my 1963 Schwinn today. Leather is for wearing inside not when I am on my Schwinn.

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Hubba the GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK of Shoreline WA

Neil carefull on the theme bike Idea, high on dollars and work and short on longivety, IMO. Unless you limit the theme mostly to paintwork which often get changed a few years later anyway. Now if you have 6 or more bikes on permanent display it is not a problem but 1 of 2 or 3 bikes and the novelty is gone quickly. A lot of serious builders consider them the laughing stock of the industry but to each his own.

IMO the bike that has the most appeal for the longest time is just a clean well put together well designed ride some will look great 20 years later.

Just build a nice clean ride that you enjoy, I have seen ( and assisted many) that set out to be show winning bikes and it can be a very expensive, time consuming deal with mediocre recognition unless you are naturally talented at it.

So set a realistic goal and have fun with it, the overboard part burns people out quickly.

If you want a really cool front end or air lift frame/fork check out Goldammer Cycle Works, local dude builds killer stuff, good luck!!

Neil try this.. www.goldammercycle.com