[Rehnen1]

Hi guys!
Now I need to learn more!!
*I don't have very much knowledge about building bikes. Checking this site have helped me with some of the "easy" stuff. I don't care if I don't have much knowledge right now because I know that going to learn more and that's my goal. I want to learn more about fabricating, welding, motor specs etc. Basically all the things that are connected with bike building.

So my question is do any of you know some good "bike building schools" in the U.S? Maybe something like Kennedy chopper class. A*school/classes that are a little more long term. I'm 24 years old so suppose I'm to old for Kennedy...*
If you know some good places that can teach me from scratch I would be very thankful.

Take care

 

[boobearzoo]

go to your local shop...hang around a little bit....show some interest...tell the guy you will work for free.....little by little you will start picking things up.

 

[kllrjo]

SURE! we have classes every afternoon at my weld/fab machine shop here in sunny Tampa Fla! [LOL!]
had a little hipster/scenester hanging around for some time now.
she bought her type 181 VW thing back from me and decided to chop it! [well,,,,,customize it, anyhow!]
hrs and hrs of sanding/grinding/electrical......tons of $ spent on custom upholstery..outside done in champain paint [sp?] inside done in silver bedliner...empi 5 spokes, custom alum bumper/nerf bars...........took 2 yrs to complete and boy did she get impatient!!!!!!!!
"i just want to drive it!" she tells me...
NO! you said you wanted to have the most custom thing in Tampa! this is how it works...you either spend ^$ having someone else do it full time and get it done now, or you spend ^TIME and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself!!!!!!!
well, she enters it in her first show and takes "BEST OF SHOW!!!!!!!!"
[it was a small show,VW`s only, the cars NOT done that nicely, but it was nice enough to get her tha trophy!]
this IS how its done!
boobears advice was SPOT ON!
make yourself a useful mammal at your local indie shop, get the experience along with getting to know all the local players! [that last part REALLY means alot!] you`ll need the extra parts/skillsets/knowledge that the people you meet will have! and dont cheap out! if someone helps you, make SURE he gets paid back! even if you help him re`roof his house or replace the transmission in his truck.......
if this cute little hipster can do it, SO CAN YOU! all she ever had to do in life is batt her eyes and smile and every guy out there fell all over themselves doing stuff for her!
that dont happen in my shop! she actually had to do most of the grunt work and some of the really techie stuff [i DID do all the welding]
but when she won that trophy, she was SOOOOO happy that ahe had hard nipples ALL DAY! [much to everones delight!

 

[Early Iron Motorcycles]

Chopperhandbook.com

 

[swooshdave]

Get bike. Take apart. Put back together. If it runs you pass the first class. Repeat.

 

[Rehnen1]

Been thinking about doing what you say about going to a local shop. Seems like a very good idea! I´ve having plans to leave Sweden for a while and go to USA. Maybe for 6 months - 1 year. But first I need to save more money. Thats why I wondering about some good places In the U.S. But hey I can do the same thing over there. As long as I know were I´m going a bet I can find a local shop there! Meanwhile I will look for a shop here.

kllrjo I agree. This sounds awesome! Like u wrote "this IS how its done!"

"i just want to drive it!" she tells me...
NO! you said you wanted to have the most custom thing in Tampa! this is how it works...you either spend ^$ having someone else do it full time and get it done now, or you spend ^TIME and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself!!!!!!!
well, she enters it in her first show and takes "BEST OF SHOW!!!!!!!!"
[it was a small show,VW`s only, the cars NOT done that nicely, but it was nice enough to get her tha trophy!]
this IS how its done!
boobears advice was SPOT ON!

 

[redrabbit]

Redline chopper school has a two week crash course and a mini welding class.they are in Ohio I think.not sure if they are still open,I read about them a while back...I'm still trying to learn also....good luck

 

[hogster]

schools cost big money,and cant promise jobs because lots of shops and most ships require 2-4 years experience.you aint no kid haul you're ass around to every bike dealer or repair shop and see if ther is even any work available this 12 year and counting recession has hurt a lot of places.just be persistent at these shops ,you gotta want that job bad and you have to convine them that you deserve a shot.go back at least 3 times to each place.I started behind the parts counter.and I would have started behind a broom if necessary.put you're heart into it man,its a tough market so good luck and show them you would be a pleasure to have aboard

 

[Brog]

Redline chopper school has a two week crash course and a mini welding class.they are in Ohio I think.not sure if they are still open,I read about them a while back...I'm still trying to learn also....good luck

I'm a beginner when it comes to bikes and I've gone to Redline for welding and engine building. Great class! A lot of fun and a lot learned, the only con is that it can be a bit pricey. I'm going back this summer for full bike assembly

www.redlinechopperschool.com if anyone wants to check it out

 

[skinthead]

Buy a bike, tear it apart, put it back together, learn to paint (cheap enough with pre mixed paint from Oreilly, and a small compressor), take a welding class at the local community college.

As Dragon put it once, and I am hoping I get this quote right. "Buy bike, customize bike, ride bike, repeat"

There is no better teacher than your own two hands. I taught myself how to work on cars as a kid, and bikes later. it is only as hard as you make it, and reading a manual. Beyond the basics, experience teaches the most.....and a lot of reading...

 

[Brog]

Building a first bike on your own would be pretty awesome, I'd prefer to have some sort of guidance on a first bike that way I don't screw anything up terribly.

I do highly recommend taking welding classes at the local community college also

 

[VonWegener]

I think a lot of people who want to learn make the mistake that they think they have to build a popular (Harley, Triumph etc.) bike for their first try.
I recommend building something from a next to free bike like a Honda 90 or something similar.
There was a blue Honda 90 sixties style dragster at the Grand National Roadster Show a couple of years ago. If you can make such a bike look cool you can build anything - and it doesn't break the bank.
Plus I am sure that it will guarantee employment anywhere as anybody who knows his fabrication skills also knows that in the end it is all the same.

 

[skinthead]

Vonwegner speaks volumes! Cheap, RUNNING, anything! Do something unique with it. use it to learn the skills you know for a fact you will need....like welding. Most of all, learn to have fun with what you are doing cause if it is too much like work you won't want to do it.

 

[BackPorchChoppers]

I learned how to build bikes when my wife doesn't give it up. You can learn a lot when you are sexually frustrated.

 

[Brog]

I learned how to build bikes when my wife doesn't give it up. You can learn a lot when you are sexually frustrated.

Sad but true. I always read manuals/books when she goes to bed early haha

 

[VonWegener]

I found it. Build something like this. There cannot be more than $1500 in this thing and it is a completely finished, chromed and polished showbike.

 

[panhead_pete]

Wow great postie bike!

 

[dvrogers]

where are the guys from Sweden in this thread. Aren't there a few on this site that could direct Rehnen?

 

[Rehnen1]

Yeah thats a cool bike!!

The thing is I already have a shovelhead. That I have started to rebuild, but mostly with help. But maybe I'm not that patient and thinks that I can learn everything over a night. I know that's is takes a looong time to be good at this stuff. So I just need to be more patient. Maybe I tear it apart and then but it together just for learning and clean everything up.

 

[gapwelder]

"But maybe I'm not that patient and thinks that I can learn everything over a night."

Patience is the most important skill to have. Every build is a learning process.

(Kllrjo- Please post pic of cute little Hipster chic.)