SPORT BIKE CUSTOMIZING FAQ'S

WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW! 

Over the last few years, the sport bike motorcycle industry has seen a huge explosion within the customizing market, however just in the last three years alone, "so-called" custom builders seem to be popping up on every street corner and some of the bikes are anything but safe, let alone ridable. 

A cool paint job or the addition of a wide tire kit DOES NOT make a custom bike that is steetable.  Sure, it may make the grade of "Trailer Queen" but is it RELIABLE and SAFE on the street??  

•  Wide tire conversion kits do not just "BOLT ON" 1.2.3 as some advertisers want you to believe.  Most times, depending upon the bikes model, simple or multiple modifications need to be done to the bike for it to handle properly and safely!
• You WILL in most all cases loose horsepower with the addition of a wide tire conversion kit, it may be a small amount or a good number depending on what size set up you decide to add.  Motor mod's are suggested only if you are concerned about the amount of horsepower your bike makes.
• The extra weight of your wide tire conversion kit will eventually put wear and tear on your clutch and trans.  We recommend simple clutch and transmission modifications to prevent these problems from surfacing later down the road.
• Lowering the chasis correctly is another huge problem we see with custom builds. There is a right way and a wrong way. Air ride suspensions are great but do compromise the bikes handling. Most inexperienced builders will lower the front by bringing the forks through the top triple tree. This method is really not desirable or attractive to a custom build. If front end lowering is to be done, make sure your forks are remachined enternally which will also provide much better handling.
• Aftermarket accessories can MAKE OR BREAK your bike. Choose CAREFULLY the products you want to add! Make sure they add taste and contrast but are also machined or manufactured to OEM specs so that the fitment is correct and you don't have parts falling off when you ride. 
• The wise but very true saying "CHROME WONT GET YOU HOME" is something to pay attention too. All the chrome in the world will not make your bike a show winner or a reliable bike on the street. Some parts just do not perform the same once chrome plated such as master cylinders housings, brake calipers, bearing surfaces. Of course this has a lot to do with the quality of plating and prep work the plating company does. Using plugs for most bearing areas, proper racking of the parts and great polishers can make all the difference in the world.  Not all chrome platers are of the same caliper.    
• Handling IS effected with the addition of wide tire kits, chasis lowering, etc.  While most 240 applications handle exceptionally well if installed correctly, the larger kits can really take away from the bikes handling and performance.
• Looking good and being reliable unfortunately do not always go together.  You CAN have both if you choose your builder wisely.  Why pay big bucks only to be laughed at if your bike breaks...or worse yet, you have an accident due to a malfunction as a result of improperly installed parts? 
• In this industry it is VERY COMMON for many inexperienced builders to have other companies do the work and they are only a middle-man but lead you to believe they did the work.  Visit your builder in person! Make sure all work is performed in their shop and your bike is not going to someone else!

ABOVE ALL ELSE....SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE  TOP PRIORTY!