original or custom look

[Gunnar]

Ok so colors are limited unless you paint yer plastics. But I was wondering on the consensus around here for the high end trikes is. Certainly OEM is worth more for resale but I dont plan on selling so Im going aftermarket and diff. color scheme. Not sure yet what I want to do and spring is coming so Ill ride a rat bike this summer.

Just wondering your thoughts on the subject are. I figure its like a car/jeep, anyone can have an all original one.

[ride_red_95]

what kinda bike are u talkin bout

[tyman]

i would assume he means 250's and 350x's and other "high power" trikes.. but i'm only assuming... thats what HIGH END would mean to me...

[Gunnar]

Yes the 250s and the 350x. I was looking on ebay and seen stock bikes for 2-5k. I think thats a little nuts. But I was wondering, when you build a trike do you take it back to original or shoot for something different.

[sandpuppi101]

For me it depends on the condition of the machine,if the trike is 80 - 90% orginal than I will put it close to OEM spec's..I build customs out of excess parts and basket cases,I don't care to take OEM item's and start fabricating..If you want a custom that your gonna keep for yourself buy a rough semi or complete machine and do it your way..If you need parts ,I'm 2 hour's away ..

[Gunnar]

Well thats what I have is a rough machine. It needs a lot of little things. But mostly all there. Plastics are junk except for the front fender. and the frame has been cracked and welded by the rear motor mount. and is cracked by where the grab bar goes (where the rubber is for the fender mounts). But all I should have to do to get it running is gas and breather lines.

[DixiePlowboy]

I guess for me, I've always been into the tricked out racers. Machines like the Cagiva, the 200cc 2 strokes, the privateers up against the pros of the day with low funds and high ingenuity built in, or a 1st gen. Tecate with a radiator relocation kit.

Purpose built machines.

I've always let form follow function, and I don't think I've ever left any bike/truck/car/personal watercraft/gun completely stock. Of course, a top notch resto can be a thing of beauty, but in all honesty, I wouldn't buy one that's too nice to ride or that I wouldn't want to modify....heavily.

Just my opinion though.

[SYKO]

im the type to take a perfect restored or original trike and preceed to chop it up and do it however I want, there are plenty of people who have stock or original trikes, wich in my op they look nice but arnt any fun. So I take a trike and do it up how I want it to be, with the mods/parts/plastic they way I see it.

[BigRedOne]

I agree it's like the Jeeps. The question seems to be what you're using it for.I will be fixing up my Big Red stock and as close to original as I can. (What do you modify on one of these anyway?) Now if I had a 2 strke or an X I might consider something different. I like to get involved in how they were originally so I can understand what they were trying to do. Mods kick *Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited**Edited* and these bikes definitely benefit from them. I don't think there's one answer for everyone as we all would share different opinions and have a different purpose for our bikes.

[Dammit!]

I like mixing custom with OEM touches. I also like things that look like something an OEM "might" have done. My Tri-Z will be that way with the black and white scheme. My 250R is customed out but it also retains an OEM flavor to it.

[Rustytinhorn]

I'm not tryin to start an argument. This is my opinion.
IMO the more original the better. Anyone can mod a bike, but its getting harder to find an all-out stock bike anymore. I dont mean that you can't switch tire sizes or filter brands or anything like that, its when people start drilling holes in oem parts that are no longer available, or trimming oem fenders to look "cool". I'm okay with different color schemes, personally I love the black 250r you can build. However, it is easier for a buyer to buy a stock bike and mod it exactly the way he wants it to, than for him to try and figgure out what all that crap is that was put on by the last owner.
i.e. I have a +2 swingarm on my 250r I am painting up the same gold color as stock was. It will give it the factory look, but the performance of a mod bike.
I guess its personal preference.

[maggiesboy]

Go for the flavor your heart wants..... some of each is perfect for all of us. Unless it is a bone stock US 90 :drool:

[Gunnar]

Rusty I was in no way implying anyone should ruin OEM parts. Infact if I Had an immaculate OEM trike, I would probably sell it for 5k like the rest of the jackles on Ebay. Then buy a rat bike, like the one I got, And with the money I made mod the heck out of it. But thats me. And unfortunately I dont even have 1k to dump into it. So slowly it will get built to the bike I want.

[Rustytinhorn]

Rusty I was in no way implying anyone should ruin OEM parts. Infact if I Had an immaculate OEM trike, I would probably sell it for 5k like the rest of the jackles on Ebay. Then buy a rat bike, like the one I got, And with the money I made mod the heck out of it. But thats me. And unfortunately I dont even have 1k to dump into it. So slowly it will get built to the bike I want.

I'm sorry. I was not tryin to accuse you of ruining anything. I was just tryin to say that stocks are getting more rare all the time, and if a rider comes accross one IMO they should save it or sell it for a mod bike like you stated. In your case where you are doing a build-up, unless you want a total restoration job on it, I say do whatever you want to it. Anything you do to it, stock or mod, would be better than what condition its in right now. Your trike your call.
Have fun either way. Sorry for the confusion.

[Gunnar]

Rusty no offense taken, I actually see your point. The point I was trying to get at there was, that because Oem parts sell for such a premium price it would be in my best interest to sell them off and buy new aftermarket. No need to appologise for your opinion.