Should you buy a motorbike, or should you build one? Maybe you’ve seen a particular kind of bike in a movie, in a magazine, at a show or on the street and thought, ‘I want one just like it’? If it’s a hard-to-find model, you may be tempted to get your hands dirty and build it yourself. Taking on your own project bike not only gives you the kind of bike you want, but it’s also a cool hobby that teaches you more about motorcycles than anything else can. So what’s the best option? Should you build your own motorbike, get someone to build it for you, or pick something straight from the factory floor?
If you don’t know how to build a motorbike, the idea of building your first one can seem intimidating. And while it’s not impossible, it’s definitely challenging. You can learn the skills, but there are a lot of them involved. You need the technical know-how, like mechanical and welding skills, but there’s an eye for good design and some planning and sketching involved too.
There are dos and don’ts to motorbike building that can make the job easier or harder, but there’s no shame in admitting that it’s not an option for you. It’s an activity that takes time, knowledge and sometimes money.
So where do you turn if you have something very specific in mind but don’t want to build it yourself? The answer lies in a custom build. Take your plan to a pro, and they can create the bike of your dreams for you. Custom builds are widely available in Brisbane’s many motorcycle workshops, but if you want to place the job in trustworthy hands, it’s hard to go past Taverner Motorsports.
With 40+ years of industry experience, Taverner can fabricate the kind of bike you want, whatever it is. The choice is yours: build your own motorbike from scratch or let Taverner do the hard yards with a custom build.
How To Build Your Own Bike
Building your own motorcycle isn’t easy, but it can be very satisfying. It’s also no small feat. While there’s a lot more to the process than what we have time to cover in this article, and no one right way to do it, there are a few main steps involved in the process. Here’s a quick rundown of how to build a motorbike.
Make sure you have the right toolkit
This can include anything from drills and angle grinders, to wrenches and screwdrivers, to a motorcycle stand or workbench. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of space in your work area to lay out all your parts and work on your bike in comfort. There are tools you can buy if you really want to take your fabrication skills to the next level.
Have a plan
If this is the first bike you’re building, chances are you’ll be buying a project bike to modify rather than putting one together completely from scratch with aftermarket parts. It’s best to choose an older-style bike as they’re mechanically simpler and easier to work on. You can plan with a pencil or whichever computer program (handy if you can’t draw) works for you. The main thing is that you know what you want and have a result in mind.
Buy a frame if you’re building from parts
Unless you’re highly skilled, it’s best to buy an existing frame. Designing your own frame or modifying one can compromise the structural integrity of the bike and your safety. Make sure the frame you buy isn’t broken, rusted or bent out of shape.
Put together a rolling chassis
This is made up of the frame, wheels, tyres, front suspension, rake, brakes and fenders. It’s important to make sure there are at least four inches of clearance from frame to ground.
Install the engine, seat, electrical system etc.
As you can see, there are a lot of different parts involved when you build your own motorbike. Luckily if you need help finding parts, Taverner can help you out. We have a massive range of different parts from seats to suspension, engines to electrical components. If your goal is to build your own motorbike, we make it easy for you every step of the way.
Benefits of Building Your Own Motorbike
Why should you build your own motorbike? There are some pretty solid reasons. Some of the major ones include:
You’ll learn a great deal
Completing your own custom builds is a surefire way to become more knowledgeable about motorbikes than most riders. Not only will you understand why motorbike manufacturers choose to do things a certain way, but you’ll also be better prepared to pick out the right aftermarket parts and carry out your own repairs.
You’ll have a bike that looks like nothing else out there
Do you want a style of bike you’ve seen in a movie? Maybe you’re interested in a classic style that’s hard to find these days. Custom builds are a lot more likely to turn heads down a busy street and make a memorable first impression than store-bought ones.
You can save money
When you build your own motorbike, you can save a lot of money if you know which parts to buy. The key is to find bargains on excellent-quality parts that will last a long time, saving you more on repairs later down the line.
You’re building the right bike for you
Building a motorbike gives you the opportunity to create a bike that’s comfortable for you to ride and that you know you can count on. When you’ve chosen every part of the motorcycle yourself, you know it was built by someone who has your best interests at heart.
Of course, building a motorbike isn’t for everyone. Luckily, if you know it’s not for you, there’s somebody else who has your best interests at heart. That’s us. Contact Taverner, and instead of wondering how to build a motorbike, you can tell us what you want, and we’ll make it happen.
Build Your Own Custom Bike at Taverner Motorsports
Ready to build your own motorbike but not sure where to start? Taverner can fabricate anything and make sure it’s completely legal and in line with Australian standards. We even have an engineer on our team to make sure everything is legit. Take a look at some of our custom builds so far to see what we can do.
Having been in business since the 70s, we’ve been working on motorbikes of all kinds for a long time. If your dream bike is an older design or includes some hard-to-source parts, we can find them for you. Our decades in the industry have given us time to form strong partnerships with parts suppliers both locally and overseas. We only stock the best brands, so when you choose parts from our store to build your own motorbike with, you can expect parts that will work well and last.
We also offer custom workshop services of all kinds, from fabricating small brackets to upgrading your exhaust and more.
Ready to build a motorbike with help from the Taverner team? Have more questions about how to build a motorbike and what you need in order to do it? Get in touch with us!