What is it that keeps us building, fashioning, welding and going through all of the occasional pain to finish our rides?
What is your Muse?
What is your Muse?
Why do we build them?
- Thread starter ZygoteLittle
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Anything to keep the mind and hands busy, keeps me from going crazy... :wink: (more than I already have that is!)
Luke.
Luke.
I like bikes! Need a break from my wowman, yes wowman, cause she can complain so completely.....and that makes me like her less than bikes!
I can't stand to see a bike neglected. I'll rescue, fix and flip a bike even if it costs me money.
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For me it started as a need to save old bikes and put them back on the road. Now it has grown into a way of making extra money on the few I don't get attached to and keep. I have grown more picky about what I buy though, I used to just buy any bike that came along and now I try to stick to the better brands, classics, and if I do take in a Huffy or Magna it must be in near perfect condition for me to buy it and it must be cheap. I have found that most times if a bike needs tires, tubes, brake cables, gear cables, and all that you will loose money every time so they are better off being scrapped.
I actually started messing with bikes because it was too expensive and took up too much room to mess with motorcycles, which is what I wanted to do. Now, I've truly grown to appreciate the loveliness, simplicity, and even health benefits from bicycles. A bike makes you healthier. That's why I have about 20 of them. For my health. :wink:
I was 17 and lived in a 1980 Chevy van. I wanted to travel town without being in the van all of the time, but I wanted to do it with a little style. So I bought an old 40's Schwinn straightbar skiptooth. It was housepaint blue frame, red fenders, white wheels. I had messed with bmx's and a couple of cheap cruisers, but that was my first vintage bike and it was ratty. Now I just keep looking for more ways to ride in style I guess. Plus it's just fun to cruise around on something you built.
Most of the bikes that I mess with are for the flip money.
But I build or work on the old and cool ones because it's fun!
But I build or work on the old and cool ones because it's fun!
I used to build motorcycles and cars but can't afford to do that anymore (3 exwives). I started building bikes because I bought a reproduction Schwinn corvette and I felt it nedded some added cool. By the time I was done I was hooked. then I started flipping a few bikes to help pay for my bike habit ( I have 23 in my collection) Then in August I got laid off instead of looking for a job I decided to open a used bike shop I know I'll never get rich but it does offer an unlimited supply of cool parts and a real jewel on occasion. Now a have about a million build ideas in my head. The biggest fun for me is when I can build a really cool bike for 0 dollars now thats cool.
I am out of room to put another hot rod. I have grown tired of the mechanics of cars. I like to fab, bend tube, design parts...not rebuild motors, transmissions, and rewire cars. Bikes are simple, even a monkey can do it so it takes the stress off from my daily job.
I have no idea why i still do it. I just cannot stop 
Ichoptop said:
I can relate to this aspect of it too. I have found it mentally therapeutic even when I am breaking down a cheap yard sale bike for parts.
The primal need to fabricate something. Bikes are best because you usually don't have to beg for money to keep going, and there isn't any real tax on anything, yet. No insurance or registration and license. No gas cost either. And you can give up on a project that isn't working out without losing thousands of dollars.
+1 on that Wildcat!Wildcat said:
Luke.
