At what point should you call your Valkyrie a "Custom Valkyrie"

[Big Mike]

I have seen many many adds for "custom" Valkyries over the years. Several are nice, some not so nice, in my own opinion of course. What I am wondering is at what point would you consider your Valkyrie a "Custom Valkyrie".

Is it simply a paint job? Maybe adding a couple chrome pieces? Could an after market exhaust alone do the job? Or an Engine modification such as a blower or boring the cylinders? Fat tire on the back? Some might think an other than stock seat could qualify.

Personally I think it would take a frame or mechanical fabrication that takes the motorcycle outside of the OEM specifications. Not simply adding paint, accessories, or other bolt on items like a windshield on a Standard Model for example. Now if you paint it a different color I would agree that the paint job is custom but to call it a "Custom Valkyrie" at that point? I am not so sure.

 I do not know, what are your thoughts. Keep in mind I do not care if you call yours Valk custom or not, just wondering where the hypothetical line is.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Do hiway pegs count ?

[MarkT]

Another name for "cruiser" is "custom".  So it's a matter of semantics.  There are different levels you see mentioned in show competitions, I think the naming conventions are not standardized.  e.g., "Wash & Wear", "Bolt-On", "Show", "Wild", there are others. My dealer won't work on mine because "it's too custom".  Not to look at it, but the electrics are far from OEM. (Though the stock wires are still there, just way more with my mods).  Have lots of chrome bolt-ons.

[Otus]

I always heard that it isn't custom until you cut something off or weld something on.

[Robert]

To me a factory bike represents potential, but anything we add is personal and therefore customized. While a true customized bike is like a one off in truth any bike that we add options on is in fact customized to the individual. You can use other terms like modified, changed, add ons, but really its customized. I look at my bike and look at one that has not had all the modifications on it that I put on and its amazing the difference. It looks sort of like the same bike but mine represents all the time, money and effort, I have put into it. While I would not advertise it as a custom its not original either.

[old2soon]

My 73 C B 500/4 had stock frame stock tins that were custom painted. ALL badging was removed other than stock tires and road pegs. All the shows I entered it in she was placed in "mild custom" class. Custom is and will be a matter of degree and how the OWNER perceives his own creation. My I/S deviates from "stock" but the shows I've entered the I/S in she is "stock metric". I've seen custom vehicles of every bent and some of them were not my cup of tea BUT I applauded the work and design that got it to where it was. I've helped on "lead sleds" and other projects. Pigeon holing the "when" of-is it a custom-is very subjective. What may be a custom to one may not be to another. When/if you are at Inzane this year look at my brothers-da prez-bike and see what you think. I've seen the pictures and can't wait to see it in person. His falls into the "mild custom" category. RIDE SAFE.

[Hook#3287]

Good question.

At the "Indian Come Home Rally" one year there was this old, ugly, dirty, hunk a crap HD parked and he had ALL kinds of "Custom" stuff on it.  He even had a cheese grader welded on it.  We couldn't figure that out.

But he had a bumper sticker that said something like. "It's not "custom" if you just bolt on others parts."

Sounds right.

[G-Man]

When I want to sell it on Craigslist!   

[BF]

Well, it's not the bike that it started out being, but I don't call it a "custom". 

I did some welding on the bag mounts when I modified them....does that make it a custom?

[Bighead]

Same with my Bee not the bike it started as and maybe not a custom but certainly one of a kind

[saddlesore]

Making it a one of a kind is the key.

It's when you add things to make a ride more comfortable for you.  ie.  different seat, handlebar risers, foot pegs, different tires or shocks.
Making thing safer like different lighting configurations.
Honda supplied the basic bike it's up to you to make it fit yours. 
A friend customized his HD , someone else copied it.  It wasn't a one of a kind anymore... He bought another HD and started over. 

[baird4444]

Same with my Bee not the bike it started as and maybe not a custom but certainly one of a kind

I would think the "one of a kind" makes it a custom...

[BF]

Same with my Bee not the bike it started as and maybe not a custom but certainly one of a kind

I would think the "one of a kind" makes it a custom...

Well, by that definition then, mine's a custom. 

[f6john]

   Don't know where the line is but when you reach this level I believe you have a custom Valk.

[Jack B]

I would call the yellow bike a custom. I don't think a custom paint job, wheels, or seat make it a custom.

[flatsixrider]

I think at the point you do something that cannot easily be undone to return the bike to stock is my line.  Seats, paint.... Easily undone to return to stock.  I realize that easily is not a well defined term as what many of you consider easy I could not do. 

[BobB]

I tend to reserve the word "Custom" for bikes that have been fashioned by an artistic hand and not simply dressed up with off the shelf accessories.  The yellow bobber above is certainly a Custom.  We all "Personalize" our bikes to best suit our own style.  Sometimes that means doing nothing or even simplifying things.  I have designed several parts on my Valk, and had them made or fashioned them with my own hands.  But my '98 Tourer is still not a Custom.

Does a custom paint job make a custom bike?  Not IMO...

[ValkISDan]

So if I have a nice paint job I designed for my bike, is it a stock bike with custom paint? I do have a slight problem with some that bolt on a handful of chrome parts and call their bike custom but it's their creation. I think I'll let them call it what they want. many of us have literally hundreds of hours tinkering and adding touches that personalize our bike and "bike builders" would still laugh at us. 

[Jess from VA]

Arguing semantics over the meaning of any particular word is largely a waste of valuable time.

Conversely, trying to make one word or short phrase a substitute for a complete and accurate description is lazy.

[Bighead]

Define the word sex 

[BobB]

Define the word sex 

Ask Bill Clinton...

[The emperor has no clothes]

  Don't know where the line is but when you reach this level I believe you have a custom Valk.

Is there no battery or coolant tank on that bike ?

[Chrisj CMA]

When I want to sell it on Craigslist!   

That's EXACTLY my definition as well, except it only applies to my bike, when your bike is on Craigslist those customizations are defined (by me the buyer) as cheesy aftermarket add-ons.  

[BF]

  Don't know where the line is but when you reach this level I believe you have a custom Valk.

Is there no battery or coolant tank on that bike ?

No real sure, but isn't that bike a one-off concept bike from.....Corbin maybe?  Can't remember.  

Concept bike, custom bike, my bike, your bike......whatever you want to call it....who cares.  It's either nice example of a Valkyrie...or it's not.   

[Robert]

custom seat pass seat and backrest
braided brake lines front and rear
braided clutch lines
braided throttle lines
braided choke line
carbs rejetted
air cleaner baffle removed
remove smog equipment
custom brake rotors and sintered brake pads
led reflectors
led tail light
led turn signals
led insturment lights
heads worked on
intakes worked on
belly tank
chrome engine support
wide brake levers
chrome switch housings
chrome nuts on rear diff
foot boards for pass
Jardine exhaust
National windshild
Light bar
braided speedo cable
chrome rear support cover
progressive front springs
progressive rear springs and shocks
KN air filter
clock and thermometer
custom wiring to headlight
interstate ecu
air horns
regular fuel filters
chrome oil filter cover
custom rear plate support
chrome radiator cover and top cover
chrome fork covers
Baker air wings
fork wind deflectors
high voltage ignition coils
magna core igntion wires
iridium spark plugs
clear signal covers
signal minder turn signal relay
custom votage led
Avon tires
Blue center dot headlights and running lights
Champion hard bags
Stainless bolts in front engine cover
Stainless bolts on forks
Bolt covers for all the ugly seen ones
custom wiring to change side bag reflecotors to led lighs
raised front of tank
chrome front tank cover
Chrome racks on bags
Magnetic drain plug
Magnetic diff plug
Chrome front fender tip
Chrome rear tail light cover
timing wheel

    Made a list of some of the things that my bike has, I did it for 2 reasons one for me to remember all that I have done and 2 although my bike looks like a Valkyrie I have done quite a bit to it as many have here. Now I did repaint the side bags and had the rear fender off so like everyone here I consider mine made to order. You could also say custom and I am not alone on this after seeing everyone's bikes. So while it resembles the original it has many many changes. If you want to define custom as frame changes or just keeping the engine then most wont qualify but I can tell you there is not many things on this bike that I have not gone over. This is outside normal maintenance that is required with special lubricants that keep the Valk running in top condition. After looking at this I begin to understand why its not so important to have the new Valk either. So while I did not change the styling or frame or paint it any other colors I say its custom. If I had wanted a custom or rather a one off bike I would not have bought mine off the showroom floor.

[Cracker Jack]

Arguing semantics over the meaning of any particular word is largely a waste of valuable time.

Conversely, trying to make one word or short phrase a substitute for a complete and accurate description is lazy.

Try telling that to the "Supervalk" purists.

Cracker

[f6john]

  Don't know where the line is but when you reach this level I believe you have a custom Valk.

Is there no battery or coolant tank on that bike ?

No real sure, but isn't that bike a one-off concept bike from.....Corbin maybe?  Can't remember.  

Concept bike, custom bike, my bike, your bike......whatever you want to call it....who cares.  It's either nice example of a Valkyrie...or it's not.   

     I'm thinking this is the bike commissioned by Cobra.