Wondering how to build a custom motorcycle? Our expert guides are full of practical advice to take you through the difficult bits—from buying the right bike to choosing the best books and manuals to steer you through the hard parts.
Learn how to plan the project, select the correct tools and improve your abilities—whether it’s using a grinder, firing up a welder, or wielding a spray gun.
“How are we doing on the CB project?” The question weighed heavy on my brain as I considered the plateaued progress of our 1975 Honda CB550F project bike—dubbed the Everyman Tracker. Not unlike the gems collecting dust in your garage, our bargain-bin Honda had been put on the back burner for more pressing matters, and…
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Unless you start with a pile of tubing, all-new parts and a beautiful mind, your average garage-built motorcycle comes together one piece at a time—and it’s not all glamorous. We’re zeroing in on our vision of a functional hoonmobile, but our Honda CB550F Tracker has some loose ends to address in form and function before…
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Whether it’s from decades of neglect or a dutiful service interval of soaking up potholes, the day will come when your suspension pukes its guts out. Rubber seals have a finite lifespan, fluids break down over time and the chrome on your fork tubes and shock shafts will eventually fail and corrode. The telltale sight…
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I’ll be honest, rebuilding the wheels on our 1975 Honda CB550F was a job I was hoping to put off a lot longer. The process of lacing and truing wheels is tedious, and there are plenty of opportunities to scratch a fresh rim when you pull the tire irons out. Considering a shoestring budget is…
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Any clown with an adjustable wrench can take a bike apart (the term basketcase exists for a reason), and if you go…
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They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and we’ve certainly dragged our fair share of trashed motorcycles home. Wherever we…
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Like most things in life, building a custom motorcycle is certainly a process. It starts with a vision, and (hopefully) ends with…
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Mikuni round-slide carburetors are some of the most common and reliable carburetors found on classic motorcycles and powersports equipment, and rebuilding one…
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Ready to tackle your first motorcycle paint project? In Part One of this guide, we outlined the first three steps: theory, planning…
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Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks, or you just like the challenge of doing everything yourself, at some point you’ll…
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Whether you’re customizing a bike or building your own work stand, welding is a great skill to have. In Part One of…
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Most of the bikes that grace these pages that have had some welding done on them, somewhere. If you’re building your own…
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If you’re working on your bike, even if just doing mild maintenance, you need to be aware of torque. It isn’t only…
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This week, I want to talk about one of the most indispensable tools in my shop: the Dremel rotary tool. I love…
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Our resident expert mechanic Matt McLeod reveals what he looks for when buying an angle grinder. Where would we be without the…
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