How do you name your build?

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It varies from project to project for me. Sometimes the name just comes to me right at the start, other times I try to come up with as many names as I can and then pick the best one. Other times, I just can't think of anything, and I just name my thread something descriptive, like "Step-Thru Klunker," and I worry about the name later. Sometimes the name comes from a part or parts on the bike, sometimes it comes from the paint/powder color, or it could even come from some comment I got on the bike.

Just to give some examples:

1. Dumpster Diamond, my 1950 Snyder-build Hawthorne. Named as such because a guy asked if I pulled it out of a dumpster when it was just a rusty bent-up frame. That rubbed me the wrong way, and I wanted to prove this bike was a "diamond in the rough."
BFtD_hawthorne204.jpg


2. Schwindecisive (formerly Schwinn Dixie/Project Quick Change,) My 1950 Schwinn DX. Named as such because in the 6 years that I've owned it, I could never make up my mind on how to build it. I also called it Schwinn Dixie as a play on "Winn Dixie" and "Schwinn DX" because it sounded funny. The Project Quick Change moniker came from the idea of quickly changing the bike's appearance by swapping out parts whenever I felt like it. I'm not going to post all the different designs this bike has gone and will go through, so here's the bike as I got it.
BFtD_Schwinn_Dixie.jpg


3. Shoestring, my 1961 Murray Meteor Flite. Named as such because I built it on a shoestring budget of $50 including the initial purchase of the bike. I also added some shoestring tassels to the handlebars.
BftD_Shoestring_FINAL_main_SCALED.jpg


4. Prowler, my 1960s Murray Buzz Bike. Named as such for the TCS Prowler tire at the rear, the Prowler character from Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse, and the Plymouth Prowler, a favorite car of mine, usually seen in purple. It's not done yet, but it'll be metallic purple when it is.
BftD_prowler_almost_finished_2.jpg


6. Kasual Klunker, my 1952 Schwinn Hornet. Named as such because I planned to use it as an entry-level klunker, meant for easy riding on fairly-level loose gravel trails. I was originally going to call it The Ratical Rustin' Hornet, before I shined up the paint and chose to enter it in my first Off Road Build Off a few years ago.
BftD_Kasual_Klunker_finished_1.jpg


7. The Trashliner Trike, a trike built from a step-thru Spaceliner-style frame. Named as such because of how utterly sketchy it was. (I did not build this thing; I bought it like this!) I parted it out to build another trike from the parts, but I've long since regretted it. Someday, I hope to build my own trike that comes close to recapturing the insanity of this thing.
BFtD_Spaceliner_Trike_21.jpg


8. Bell/Belle, my 1950s Schwinn klunker. Originally just called "Step-Thru Klunker," I decided on the name when I took it to a VW show earlier this year, and a couple boys who rode it kept ringing the bell I placed on the handlebars as a last-minute touch. The name is also a reference to Bell's Amusement Park, Tulsa's old amusement park I used to go to as a kid, and Blue Bell ice cream, my favorite ice cream brand, which also has a factory in Broken Arrow, my hometown.
BftD_step-thru_klunker_FINISHED_1.jpg
 
It used to be cool for rock bands to name their songs something that had nothing to do with the song
That is another good source for names: look at song names from the year the bike was manufactured. Really easy way to evoke the mood of the era you want to link to your build.
Personally, I like animal names for some reason: Duck Norris, Daddy Longlegs, Bonefish, the RockRat...
Sometimes, the bike tells me it's name: Good From Afar and the Curse named themselves.
 
Usually I have something just come to me or suggested. With this next MBBO project I'm drawing a blank. It's a Barracuda frame. It'll be orange. My brain can't get over "Orange Cuda", which is the worst. I'll work on it. But how do you name yours?
Personally, if I get stuck on basing the name on the make or manufacturer of the bike, I'll instead draw inspiration from the color. In this case, orange offers some fun possibilities, but you could play with the Barracuda part as well.

Just to list a few ideas:
1. Orange Juice/Juiced
2. Tang
3. Dreamcycle (I used that before for an orange/white bike.)
4. Scurvy Dog
5. Citris Cycle/Citricycle
6. Pulp Friction
7. Orange Peeler
8. Sunkist
9. Without Rhyme or Reason (because there's almost no way to rhyme with "orange"
10. Cuda Had a V8
11. Sunset Surfer (or something to do with sunsets and/or surfing)
12. Clown Fish
13. Something to do with the band "Heart," as they sang the song "Barracuda."
14. Something Mopar-related "Plymouth Barracuda," "Hemi Orange," etc.)
 
Usually I have something just come to me or suggested. With this next MBBO project I'm drawing a blank. It's a Barracuda frame. It'll be orange. My brain can't get over "Orange Cuda", which is the worst. I'll work on it. But how do you name yours?
Here in the Philippines, all vehicles get a nickname. My wife's vehicle is Angel, wings are on the way to apply to the rear of her new Angel. I'll add my ratrodbikes decal to the window at the same time, then apologize if she notices.

My bikes all have names that are in keeping with the bike features. Chrome Molly is my number one bike, I thought it was cromoly, but maybe is just good chrome.
14 Jul 2024 3 speed.jpg


Frankenscoot is named because of the paint on the footboard, after EVH's guitar named frankenstrat.
19 Aug 2024.jpg


The Wright Special is a fake antique that was supposed to mimic a Wright Brother's bike.
221443-08-Jan-23-e.jpg


Lazyboy was named because of the comfort, laid back and using a kitchen chair for a seat.
30 Mar 24 a.jpg


Pensioner was named to describe what person would be riding it.
23 Aug 24 trainer.jpg


Orange Crusher was named because of it's color and size.
254314-237086-23-Apr-23-finish---Copy.jpg


Swingrat because it's swingbike.
Swingrat.jpg

So a bike can be named for a variety of reasons.
 
How about an acronym?

BOB.
A "Bitchn' Orange Barracuda".
Just ran this by my client. He loves it. He wanted to possibly use the name of his race car that has orange in it. The car is called Savage. So…

“Savage B.O.B.” He loved that! So we have a winner! Thanks for the name!
 
I usually struggle with naming my bikes for the build off purposes. A hard part of the build actually. You want to name it something that is relevant to your build, but it can easily lose its relevancy as the build progresses and ideas change.
My last build, was named to coordinate with a WW2 fighter plane of the same name. P47 THUNDERBOLT. My Hellion named build, not sure why. My first build off build, High Plains Drifter, because I was traveling back and forth from my old home in Kansas to my new home in Colorado.
This step through build off, if I enter will hopefully be done by Halloween.
I will name her: Lamia

You will have to give Lamia a search
IMG_6444.jpeg
 

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