[Island Combat]

So a guy at work wants to get a streetfighter. I explained my point of view that its not really something you can just buy, as its more of a work of "art" that the original owner took from infancy to a (sometimes...) finished vision. He of course found a cbr on craigslist with its ass chopped off and wanted to buy it. I'm not talking him out of it, as the more the merrier, but to me it would be weird sitting on someone elses dreams and having people ask questions about it and having to say that no, I didn't build it I bought it...

What do you guys think?

 

[DrJellyFingers]

a sweet as shit cafe racer came to the shop the other day, of course i go to talk to the guy, turns out he bought it as is and brought it in to get an oil change :doh:

i almost said nice bike, im glad i didnt

 

[94yzf75fighter]

Yea the guy I sold my Yzf to has no idea how much blood sweet and tears went into it. I might buy someone else build and finish it to my liking but I think only fighter I'd buy and not fuck with is cruel.

 

[eatabullet]

To each his own.

A bad bike is a bad bike regardless of who built it.

 

[blensen]

To each his own.

A bad bike is a bad bike regardless of who built it.

I agree. Probably prefer to build my own though. That way you get exactly what you want.

 

[Erki]

some people like the style but no ability or means to do it themselves. But yeah it would be awkward to be asked something about a custom bike or any other vehicle and not be able to talk about it. Guess if he's ok with that, then thats great. The alternative would be to buy it then get someone to help or do the work while he gives input on what he likes to make it his.

 

[Fate]

If you think your bike is awesome just because you built it, you're wrong.
If you think your bike is awesome because of the cash it took to build it, you're wrong.

 

[dine]

I can totally see both points of view. My thoughts are do what you want. Buying a custom bike that was built with your ideas, your money, your time and energy to make sure the whole build was just how you wanted it isnt always a bad thing. maybe you have the money but simply dont have the knowledge to pull it off (safely). Maybe you dont have the time? does that mean that that person is off limits to the entire style of a street fighter?

those that actually build solid works of art. people that spent years learning and mastering the skill set arnt losing anything when someone pays to have a bike built. They are still talented, they are still out in front of everyone else in terms of style. where do you think the "bought it builders" got all the ideas from! (cough..cruel...cough).

Bottom line is you should love your bike. if you just arnt able to "build" that dream (hell even if you just dont want to) i have no problem with you paying someone to make your dream a reality. If you built your bike then even better, hats off to you, that was part of "your" dream and you made it a reality.

 

[Notyetafighter]

I have to agree with dine. Especially about the safety aspect. There are enough fuckwits on the roads trying to kill riders without people sabotaging themselves by making poorly planned and executed modifications. Any able bodied person can unscrew some fairings and rattle can what's left. But when it comes to real mods like swinger swaps, brake/suspension/geometry/welding mods only those with adequate mechanical/engineering skill should do that shit.

On the plus side for "bought" bikes, some guy will serious skills is getting paid a shitload of cash to not only build someone's dream bike, but to live his own dream by working on bikes. It's a win/win!!!

I'm the first to admit that I don't have the skills needed to produce some of the awesome work I've seen on this site. Does that make me less passionate/dedicated about bikes? FUCK NO!!!!!!!

Build it, buy it, whatever just ride the fuck out of it!!!!!

 

[Problomatic]

Do these post always seem to stink of envy? Do I wish I had enough money to make up for my lack of skill? Fuck yes I do. There's a bike that I want; I've got the whole thing pictured in my head. If I could afford to pay someone to build that bike for me I would in a heart beat. Unfortunately I can't, so I have my bike that I've done all the work to myself. It looks ok, nothing amazing like a lot of your bikes, and maybe in a few years I'll learn enough to build what I want. But does that make my bike any more of a fighter than some guy with a crap load of money who pays someone to put every carbon fibery dangly bit on his bike? Or because I lack the know-how to make completely custom parts is my bike any less of a fighter than the guy who makes his own frame and every other part?

Built or bought...who cares? Ride what makes you happy, if you see a cool bike, appreciate that someone had to make it that way. Or don't. Your choice.

 

[Andler2008]

I'd rathe ride something I built myself. Now I'll ride used bikes all day long. But I prefer ride ones that haven't been cut the fuck up and what not. Really just a safety issue. I know it can happen to any bike in all reality as people like to do their own work and so on. But it lessens my chance if getting killed on a bike.

As far as buying built bikes, I'm okay with that. As long as they aren't trying to pass it off as their own. That shit seriously pisses me off. Honestly I was thinking about destroying my Gsxr tail instead of selling it off just so some asshole can't say he built it. Yeah that's how I feel. I know my works not gold, and it may not build the safest thing on the road, but I feel comfortable with it under my fat ass and that's all that matters. And I worked hard on that damn thing. My first real step into the streetfighter world.

But if someone can say yeah I bought it and I love it. The way it rides looks and feels, then that's cool. Even if it isn't a crazy one off custom, it's still someone's work of art. Even if it is a resto-mod.

Really it is a win/win. Someone built it, then someone bought it and enjoys it.

Still prefer to build it if I can though. Just sayin.

 

[sebwiers]

So a guy at work wants to get a streetfighter. I explained my point of view that its not really something you can just buy, as its more of a work of "art" that the original owner took from infancy to a (sometimes...) finished vision.

People sell and buy art. Not everybody who likes art is (or needs to be) an artist. As somebody who has made and sold art, I say more power to those who have the means and motivation to buy it. Their tastes may not coincide with mine, but that (among other things) is why I gave up trying to make a living that way.

It sounds like you are talking about a child, not a work of art. In the end, any bike is just a lump of metal and petrochemicals. If you can't walk away from it, and it can't love you back, then its just a cage.

Really it is a win/win. Someone built it, then someone bought it and enjoys it.

Exactly. And maybe they take the money from the sale and roll it onto the next project, then accumulate some spare parts and sell them out through the forum here, and the happiness spreads even further.

 

[piester]

if EVERYONE built their own bike then what would roman, yan, and the likes of them do? i prefer to build my own bikes because i enjoy building. but if someone was to pay someone else to build their bike all its really saying is they paid someone else to build the bike. it was still built by someone with talent of some sort most likely. id still like to see it. doesnt change my opinion of the person riding it. if we really go down this built vs bought road where does it stop? did you build your house? did you make the tools that you used to make the bike? or the tools you used to make the tools you used to build your bike? how about the people that bought a headlight to put on their bike? or handlebars, risers, top triple that someone else made, exhaust silencer, grips, tires, seat unit from a different bike, and so on. yes, i understand there is a difference between paying someone to build your bike for you and paying for parts to build your bike yourself but its honestly a grey area. if someone doesnt have the talent or time to build some or any of their bike but still has the desire to ride something that isnt stock or lightly modified you cant really fault them as long as they give credit where credit is due. a nice build is a nice build no matter who built it.

 

[Island Combat]

if EVERYONE built their own bike then what would roman, yan, and the likes of them do? i prefer to build my own bikes because i enjoy building. but if someone was to pay someone else to build their bike all its really saying is they paid someone else to build the bike. it was still built by someone with talent of some sort most likely. id still like to see it. doesnt change my opinion of the person riding it. if we really go down this built vs bought road where does it stop? did you build your house? did you make the tools that you used to make the bike? or the tools you used to make the tools you used to build your bike? how about the people that bought a headlight to put on their bike? or handlebars, risers, top triple that someone else made, exhaust silencer, grips, tires, seat unit from a different bike, and so on. yes, i understand there is a difference between paying someone to build your bike for you and paying for parts to build your bike yourself but its honestly a grey area. if someone doesnt have the talent or time to build some or any of their bike but still has the desire to ride something that isnt stock or lightly modified you cant really fault them as long as they give credit where credit is due. a nice build is a nice build no matter who built it.

I suppose that does make sense. Awesome differing of opinions here and I appreciate the input, as its food for thought. Lord knows my bikes I've built aren't good by any means, but I started out knowing shit all about building a custom motorcycle, fabricating or fiberglass... but I'm trying to learn so what I end up with one day might sit up there with some of the greats. I'm not saying that will even happen, but hey, a guy can dream.

 

[redhedrednek]

Point of a fighter is to have a bike that isnt your un of the mill barfbag of parts. Hoe you get from barfbag to badass is upto the owner. Who cares who did the work as long as it makes the owner happy. Yes most of us build our own but some dont have time, tools, ability or otherwise so if they find something that they fall in love with great...even if its somebody elses build. Hell they are starting to have the same general look anyways. Naked bike wi th chopped tail pointing ip like a wasps stinger...badass but not original anymore. Flat black, short cans, loud as hell...a lot of stuff done is copycat work so again eho gives a shit. I would buy something if I like it just to save me some work.

 

[MikeGyver]

A fighter is a fighter regardless of who built it. If Piester sold his bike to somebody is it now less of a fighter, no, same badass bike it was before.

Working on your own bike and personalizing it, whatever that may mean to you, gives so much more satisfaction than riding a bike somebody else built. When you are bombing around town and somebody yells out "Nice bike" a builder gleans a lot of pride, whereas somebody who just buys a bike will never understand that feeling. For me, it is all about the pride of knowing that I worked really hard, forced myself to do things I have never done before, and made something that I truly enjoy looking at and riding.

 

[Fate]

It's kind of like a tattoo. When people compliment my sleeve I say thanks and that I'm lucky enough to have a great artist who took my idea and made it a beautiful reality. When people compliment my bike I have the same reaction.

 

[Notyetafighter]

It's kind of like a tattoo. When people compliment my sleeve I say thanks and that I'm lucky enough to have a great artist who took my idea and made it a beautiful reality. When people compliment my bike I have the same reaction.

Summed it up perfectly.

 

[redhedrednek]

Summed it up perfectly.

I am not sure of who does their own inkwork...but they are a hardnosed fucker for sure

 

[MikeGyver]

I am not sure of who does their own inkwork...but they are a hardnosed fucker for sure

I went to high school with a dude that did his own tattoos. It was the craziest thing to watch, he would just go at it in the weirdest positions. Always making sure his skin was relaxed and he would freehand it without anything drawn out first. I paused and googled his name to see if he is still alive, yep http://www.cheaterville.com/?page=cheaters&id=7799