Building The Perfect Bike: How To Find The Best Parts For Your Custom Job

Table of Contents

1. Online dealers
2. Auction sites and listings
3. Junkyards
4. Impound yards
5. Professional dealers

For many motorcyclists, a bike is a personal item and almost an extension of themselves—so it is only natural that many want to customize and personalize their bikes to suit their tastes and needs. Building a chopper is hard work, but creating a custom job is a rewarding experience and will result in you owning a bike that is perfect for you and you alone.

Yet the problematic part (as always) is finding the right parts for your chopper. Tracking down the exact parts you want and need can be a long and arduous process, as well as an expensive one. To keep down costs and also to make sure you get your first choice parts, you will probably need to think creatively when it comes to parts procurement. Here are five options you have when it comes to finding parts for your bike, which hopefully will help make your bike as great as it can be.

1. Online dealers

There are plenty of online parts dealers out there who keep a good stock of common (and even uncommon) parts at reasonable prices. Online dealers tend to be cheaper than those in brick-and-mortar shops, and quite often have a better range of available parts. Sites like customizedchoppers.com are great if you want to build your own bike and do not want to spend forever trawling around for the necessary parts, especially if time is of the essence for you.

2. Auction sites and listings

You truly can find anything on auction and listing sites, so it is probably worth trawling through eBay, craigslist or even specialised motorcycle auction and listing sites in order to find yourself the parts you need. If you have some great auction skills, then you can probably also get the items you want for a bargain. It is also worth contacting the sellers of parts on eBay and craigslists if they do not have a part you want right now and ask them to email or phone you if they get the part in stock. That way, you can bid on the item before anybody else!

3. Junkyards

While it might seem like a long shot, you can often strike gold by turning up at a local junkyard and seeing if they have any motorcycles around gathering dust. Many people do not know the value of their motorcycles and simply throw them out, without realising that the parts are valuable. It will be a long day or days work, but you can often pick up parts in relatively good condition. Even parts that have seen better days can be nursed back to health if you have the time!

4. Impound yards

When cars or motorcycles are seized by the police for one reason or another, they end up at impound lots where many are never retrieved. If after a certain amount of time the owner does not come forward, the authorities usually auction off the cars and motorcycles they hold at rock-bottom prices. Impounded vehicle auctions are a great way to pick up a bargain and the parts you get are often of a better quality than you will find at a junkyard. While you will probably need to buy the entire bike from the authorities, you can strip it for parts and then sell the parts you do not need on to others—perhaps even turning a profit if you are lucky!

5. Professional dealers

Unfortunately, if you are rebuilding a vintage motorcycle or have very particular needs for your chopper, then sometimes you will need to seek out professional parts dealers in order to secure what you need. Be prepared to pay a little extra for a part from a dealer, but also appreciate the benefits: the part is likely to be in excellent condition and some even come with warranties.

Kate Simmons is a freelance writer and blogger. Kate enjoys sharing tips to do with motorcycles on various blogs.