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COPYRIGHT 2003 Ehlert Publishing Group
Maybe you've ridden all the good roads in your area, and you're looking for a new challenge. Maybe you just found an old, beat-up example of the bike you lusted after in your youth. Or maybe you're just one of those guys (or gals) who would rather take apart the lawnmower than mow the lawn. If any of this sounds familiar, you may be ready--sound the trumpets-for your first motorcycle restoration project. Lucky you, the adventure is about to begin.
Like your first serious relationship, your first motorcycle restoration can be an emotional experience filled with wonder and anxiety. When it's going good, you'll be on top of the world; when things hit a roadblock (and they will), you'll wonder why you got into it at all. But the payoff-a good-looking, fine-running motorcycle brought back from the dead-makes it all worthwhile. Here are some tips to get you started.
Choosing a Bike
Make sure your project bike is one that appeals to you, one you really want to own and ride. Don't just pick a fad or popular bike. You're going to be putting lots of money, time and sweat into this project, so it's got to be a bike that sets your heart racing when you just look at it. Conversely, restoring a bike can really add up. Chrome plating, painting, powder coating, welding, machine work, parts and farmed-out labor cost the same, whether it's 250cc or 1,500cc. If you have any thoughts of getting your money back out of it, make sure to choose a bike that has a following. Still, many bikes are restored for love, not money, and if there's a bike that just turns you on, go for it.
British bikes, like late-model BSAs, Triumphs and Nortons, are great candidates for restoration projects. Many are considered classics, and most parts are readily available and reasonably priced. There's a wealth of knowledge about these bikes available in print and on the Internet, and many cities still have at least one British bike shop where knowledge is dispensed as easily as Castrol...
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