Customize Your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle – Background and Guide

Probably what inspires most people to customize their
Harley-Davidson motorcycle is what prompted them to purchase their ride
to begin with: individuality.

Customization is a large subject. It could entail something as
simple as repainting your gas tank or adding a backrest – or something
as involved as building a complete motorcycle from the ground up. Most
riders’ goals lie somewhere in between.

Fit, Function, and Style

In some respects, customization is a practical choice. For example,
fit. If you would like your vehicle to fit you better in order to have
more control both on the highway and in town, you can change your
handlebars so your reach is more comfortable. You can modify your
suspension so your feet rest more comfortably on the ground at stops.
For an improved fit, you can also choose a different seat. Seats come
in a huge variety of styles, shapes and heights. Hint: when customizing
for fit, first consider your body type and what it requires to enable
you to be comfortable and safe while you ride.

Another reason for customization is function. Would like your ride
to have room for your personal items like tools, shopping articles, or
overnight gear? Choose from traditional leather saddle bags or tool
bags, or mount fiberglass storage units on the sides of your vehicle.
You can also add a windshield for longer trips (many of these are
easily removable for in-town rides), or a backrest for your travelmate
(some backrests have storage units on them, too).

A third obvious reason to customize is style. To improve the look of
your vehicle, you might choose to add chrome, improve the paint, and/or
upgrade your wheels and tires. The choices in these categories are
endless. You can chrome nearly all of your vehicle’s components,
including the belt (or chain) drive cover, oil filler cap, mirrors, and
air cleaner cover. You can have your fenders and gas tank custom
painted, choosing from a myriad of designs, colors, and finishes. For
wheel selection, you have spoked, alloy, or solid in a universe of
designs and fashions: chrome, black, brushed steel, color, and others.

Electronic accessories are another area of customization. These
include GPS systems, intercoms, sound systems, and of course lighting.

While you may have already purchased your vehicle, it’s possible for
new buyers to customize before taking delivery. Go the official
Harley-Davidson website and build the cyber cycle of your dreams. Who
knows? – it may enable you materialize more easily the H.D. vision you
have. All motorcycle models allow you to choose from a large variety of
options and option packages. They include the above accessories –
handlebars, seats, chromed items, paint, and wheels — and they also
include different models and engine types.

Building a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from “scratch” allows the
builder to choose items like engine design and frame geometry, which
normally would not be an option. Many books and instructional videos
are available to help you decide what type of customized motorcycle you
would like to build. And there are custom builders who will consult
with you and do the actual construction for you. Names like Jesse
James’ West Coast Choppers, Orange County Choppers, and others have
become famous for building custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles as status
symbols for celebrities.

One more note: custom motorcycles can be distinguished from factory
customs. Harley-Davidson factory customs have become extremely popular
in recent years. These are motorcycles that are customized with
factory-supplied parts and accessories in order to upgrade a stock
vehicle so that it looks and rides to customer specifications. Although
not a true “custom” vehicle, the motorcycle is no longer stock either.
Factory customs however have the advantage of being fully covered by
factory warranties.