I'm not sure I understand your logic.

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And don't get me started on these jerks slapping a $5K satin black paint job on their overpriced pig and calling it a "ratbike." I will totally fucking kill those bastards.

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I think you are a little confused as to what a true "custom-built" bike is. There is no real formula for it, just as there is no real formula for custom-built cars. All it comes down to is building something that the owner thinks is pleasing both in terms of aesthetics and performance.

I, too, think the Bentley badge is stupid, but so what? The owner likes it. And that badge notwithstanding, I think that it is a nice-looking bike. It is obvious that a lot of work went into creating that bike, no matter what the appearance is, and I can appreciate that.

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Nor are either very comfortable, practical, or typically used for anything more than shows, rallys, gatherings, and dick waving.

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So, then, can I assume that you have never, ever like hot rods and/or choppers, and never seen any that you thought looked cool?

Again, I would disagree that there is a set formula for any of them. There are, in fact, so many different sub-types of hot rods that it's difficult to remember them all, despite the fact that they are all different.

And, yeah, obviously you don't tend to see any particular style stand out as being unique, as those few that are brave enough to do that are generally socially castrated for what they do. Jalopnik is famous for posting examples of that.

Whether you like the look of a particular hot rod or not, what stands out is the quality of work. If there is a lot of actual, quality effort that is put into, as opposed to throwing a new bolt-on intake in it, then I will respect it.

@elwood:

And I, in turn, would argue that Ducatis and MV Agustas are just your standard, clam shell, crotch-rocket pieces of shit ridden by guys who think they have talent.

I see it all the time, and am rarely surprised when I see one either cause an accident or get into an accident.

@DeadFlorist: Okay, we've already established that the Bentley badge was just flat-out stupid.

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I concede that point.

I think of a custom as a bike that is a one-off, built from the ground up, be it a bike or a car.

Chroming, paint, etc. I consider to be accessorizing.

@Bad Juju:

Congratulations. Your particular Ducati does not fall under the category of "crotch rocket", but other Ducatis (such as their streetfighter line) do, and I assume those are the bikes that that elwood was referring to, given that he also brought up MV Agusta in the same sentence, which makes nothing but crotch rockets.

Also, "clam shell" refers to the riding position.

@Ben Wojdyla:

Nice bike.

I don't trust myself on Cafe Racers any more than I trust myself on most sport bikes. I know my personality, and know I would be all too inclined to get a little too cocky for my level of skill to actually back up, which is why I usually stick to cruisers.

@SerialThriller:

No. But if there was a random guy out there with a last name of Bentley, I would feel bad for him if the highlight of his life is to connect himself to a car company he has nothing to do with.

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Harley-Davidson, or any of the other custom bike builders out there? Not so much.

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Refresh your page and read the comment that is immediately above yours. I got the indication that you were talking about their streetfighter series, as you brought up Ducati in the same breath as MV Agusta.

As for Ducati's pushing the boundaries of motorcycle design and engineering to some fantastic extent, I would disagree with that.

Pushing the envelope was Moto Guzzi with their swing-arm suspension, Indian with their original soft-tail cruisers, or Buell (which, by the way, is owned and powered by Harley-Davidson) with their ability to pass 2008 emissions standards with catalytic converters, ZTL floating discs, the use of the frame itself as the fuel tank, etc.

Ducatis are great bikes, but their not all that revolutionary. As for being the one to bring back Cafe Racers, I still don't get how that makes it any better than a custom bike from a meta-analytic standpoint. Different? Yes. A great bike? Yes. Better? No, not particularly.

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So it sounds like a Harley with an open exhaust (LOUD)

Oh, and I like c-notes the best.

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@MrBangBam: A high-revving 4-cylinder always sounds better. Hearing one getting really strung out sounds FAST. Harleys just sound like shit.

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