In the old days all a person needed to build a killer custom motorcycle was a bike, a set of tools, a little know-how, and a creative vision. But with the rise of the high-dollar, haute moteur Gucci choppers, the true custom bike has gotten out of most riders’ reach, right? Dead wrong. In this book Jose de Miguel, a custom builder from way back, sets out to prove that those good old days never ended. In the clearest and simplest terms, he shows readers how they can turn odds and ends found around the shop into one-off motorcycle parts--and make a cheap, run-of-the mill custom build into a drop-dead show stopper. Following de Miguel’s lead, along with his straightforward illustrations, any resourceful owner with rudimentary mechanical skills, a basic tool kit, and--most importantly--a modicum of imagination can build the bobber of his dreams for less than the price of a new bike.

In the old days all a person needed to build a killer custom motorcycle was a bike, a set of tools, a little know-how, and a creative vision. But with the rise of the high-dollar, haute moteur Gucci choppers, the true custom bike has gotten out of most riders’ reach, right? Dead wrong. In this book Jose de Miguel, a custom builder from way back, sets out to prove that those good old days never ended. In the clearest and simplest terms, he shows readers how they can turn odds and ends found around the shop into one-off motorcycle parts--and make a cheap, run-of-the mill custom build into a drop-dead show stopper. Following de Miguel’s lead, along with his straightforward illustrations, any resourceful owner with rudimentary mechanical skills, a basic tool kit, and--most importantly--a modicum of imagination can build the bobber of his dreams for less than the price of a new bike.

Old Skool is kool. No theme bikes here, learn how to build a real American motorcycle based on a Panhead, Shovelhead or Evo engine. Don't buy expensive new parts, build your own bobber or chopper from mix-and-match swap-meet parts. Written by Kevin Baas, the Kennedy High School shop teacher with the Build-a-Chopper class, this book takes a back-to-basics approach to motorcycle assembly. As Kevin says, if you can't buy it cheap, adapt it, and if you can't adapt it, build it from scratch. The author explains which engines fit which frames, and which transmission and primary drive is the best fit behind a particular V-Twin. The back half of the book includes three start-to-finish assembly sequences utilizing early and early-style engines, drivetrains and components. This 144 page book uses over 350 color images to illustrate kool parts and even kooler motorcycles.

Billy Lane is the fastest-rising star among the high-profile custom chopper builders, and in this book he offers many of his secrets for building a chopper that will stand out in a crowd. This is the ultimate resource for any chopper builder-a book designed as a step-by-step guide to building any type of custom motorcycle. This book also covers custom-building beyond the chopper genre, including the building of "bobbers," an old-school style of custom that has been revived as a hot trend. Predating choppers, they are on the cutting edge of current biker "cool", for real riding, and are much safer and more functional than choppers. Billy Lane has been featured several times on the Discovery Channel's top rated series Biker Build-Off and the Monster Garage premiere episode. Plus, He was Easyriders Builder of the Year, and winner of numerous national Best in Show awards. This book shows Billy's inside secrets of constructing a complete motorcycle, from hand fabricating metalwork to adding the detail parts that will make your bike your own creation and stand out from the crowd. Hundreds of color photographs will lead the builder through the construction process.

How to Build a Cheap Chopperwas originally written to give chopper builders of the day a way to build cool, functional choppers for cheap money. Instead of building bikes out of a catalog, readers were encouraged to combine a donor bike with an aftermarket frame. With a Sportster or Metric bike as a foundation, and a hardtail frame, a complete bike could be assembled for less than $5,000, sometimes much less. Today, there's a whole new generation of riders looking to build simple, functional, unique choppers and bobbers based on everything from a 200cc Honda to the old classic Shovelhead or Panhead engines. No matter which drivetrain they choose, there remains the need to build bikes that work, bikes that are safe to ride, bikes that are fun! How to Build a Cheap Chopper- Revisedstarts with a look at the basics. The first chapters cover brakes, drivetrains, and frame geometry. The second half of the book shows readers how to actually assemble a bike. Four start-to-finish assemblies done at professional shops take the reader from a pile of parts to a finished, running motorcycle.

What's old is new again, and the newest trend on the block is Cafe Racers. Written by well-known motorcycle and automotive author Doug Mitchel, How to Build a Café Racer starts with a history lesson. While those first bikes were built in the UK for racing from cafe to cafe, the current rage for Cafe Racers has definitely spread to the US. Converting a stock motorcycle to a Cafe Racer requires more than a fairing and a few decals. The book starts with chapters on planning and choosing an appropriate bike, followed by chapters that detail the modifications that will likely be embraced by anyone converting a stocker to a rocker. From shocks and tires to engine modifications, Doug's book lays out each type of modification and how it's best carried through. The center of the book holds a gallery of finished bikes. These are not just Triumphs or Nortons, but nearly every brand imaginable from Japan, Italy, the UK, and Germany. The final chapters include two, start-to-finish cafe builds. This is the chance for the reader to see how professional shops take a stock Honda, Triumph, or Ducati and convert it into a fast, sexy, and functional Cafe Racer, ready to race from cafe to cafe on Saturday night, or around the race track on Sunday afternoon.