Homebuilt motorbikes

How hard is it to get a full custom (like custom frame and the works) motorbike road legal? Also are there any good books on the design of motorbikes out there?

Depends on the state.

Mi has a form for assembled motorcycles. check list is:

Hi / Lo head light

Tail light

Brakes / Brakelight

125cc+ for highway use.

Bill of materials (proof of materials, donor ownership, etc)

Depends on the state laws for registering a custom. I know some states will issue off the motor ID and some will take a frame number, then you get some that will take either or issue a brand new one.

Books? No idea but it would depend on what you what to build. Most of what you see is a shot from the hip. There isn't any clear cut way of making one. They just cut, weld, and shape what they want.

Gotcha I was thinking a naked with aircooled motor. Kinda like a Confederate. I was talking to a couple friends one of who has a full machine shop when we had this idea.

I have found Motorcycle Dynamics by Vittore Cossalter on Amazon for $38.

I am looking for this book but I can't find it except on Amazon for $989. Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design: the art and science.

Federal law messes with this now to a idividual is only allowed two (i think they wanted 1) custom VIN's. So if you ever plan on doing anything like it down the road you may have to do it in your wifes name...

93EXCivic wrote: I have found Motorcycle Dynamics by Vittore Cossalter on Amazon for $38. I am looking for this book but I can't find it except on Amazon for $989. Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design: the art and science.

we interrupt your regularly scheduled thread for this canoe

http://www.tonyfoale.com/
PRICES

Regular paper book -- 69 euros (+ shipping)

Book and CDROM together -- 81 euros (+ shipping)

CDROM alone -- 50 euros (including postage)

SHIPPING BY UPS USA and Canada -- 21.00 euros

so it looks like $122.45 shipped at the current exchange rate (for just the book)

back to the thread

44Dwarf wrote: Federal law messes with this now to a idividual is only allowed two (i think they wanted 1) custom VIN's. So if you ever plan on doing anything like it down the road you may have to do it in your wifes name...

What? Why? Could I "use" another motorcycle frame and call it that motorcycle?

In reply to Apexcarver:

Awesome thanks. There is a software available too sweet.

Why cause the fed want your $$. If they force you to reg as a builder you have to buy a lic get cert and taxed the hell out of plus meet all curent saftey and emisions etc. Screw the little guy like normal...Time for to dump the tea in the harbor again.....Still the best place in the world to live but were getting complacent and lazy...

Yes you could use most of a donor and call it that as most cafe racers do. but besure to tell you insurance co it's been modifed etc or they may not pay out if needed...Screw the little guy like normal once again.

44

93EXCivic wrote: What? Why? Could I "use" another motorcycle frame and call it that motorcycle?

I think it's because if you build more than a couple of them, you're crossing the line from having a hobby into manufacturing, and then you have to comply with all the DOT and EPA regulations. It's the same deal for any custom bike manufacturer from West Coast Choppers on down.

That made my laugh out loud at work.......

Here’s the two exemptions : “Kit Bikes” and “Customs” 2006 EPA language on the AMA site, search “Kit Bike Exemption” – for the 49 states.

Kits: Under the regulations, a person is allowed only one kit motorcycle in their lifetime that is exempt from meeting EPA emissions requirements.

Custom: For custom motorcycles, a builder may create and sell up to 24 bikes a year that don’t meet EPA emissions requirements, but those machines must be labeled as exempt and are show bikes that only rarely may be ridden.

+one-gerblillion for Tony Foale's book. Seems like it's The Book, and it's a great read, speaking from the perspective of a curious person with no practical bike-building background.

I haven't gotten these yet, but I gather John Bradley's books are also excellent. IIRC, Vol 1 is more theory, Vol 2 is more practical...

Vol 1

Vol 2

http://books.google.com/books?id=84hF-qoR5I8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=motorcycle+handling+and+chassis+design&source=bl&ots=FYE6uKOeOk&sig=0I0g6nBfkI9IVhUoojXew4ZNtAA&hl=en&ei=1YpmTZfNFIH7lwf46K2LAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBA#v=twopage&q&f=false

This is Tony Faole's book on google, apparently some of the pages are removed, but you can check out a fair amount to determine if you want to drop that kind of coin on his hard copy books and software.