Adventures in Customization and Brand Value

So, owning a motorcycle is not like owning a car. When you buy a car it comes with all the parts you need to make it fit you. Adjustable seats, mirrors, steering wheel, etc. Heck, my car even remembers me and DH at the touch of a button! Well, bikes just aren't that way - all the extras are purchased separately. Customizing a bike follows three basic steps: Fit, Function, and Look/Style.

One might think that this is a gimmick, and maybe it is. Well maybe Style is and function to a point. But in addition to personal gear: Jacket, Helmet, Gloves; Fitting your bike to you is a safety issue, and not just "for looks." I have found that the FIT of a bike is very personal, and very individual.

There is no way the manufacturer can gauge how a bike will fit an individual except in generalities: seat height to rider leg length, handlebar reach to rider reach, etc. Sure, bikes come in every engine size, shape, color, and style and that's because every rider choosing a new bike will have one bike that speaks to them. But the fit of the bike is pretty much set to "average." So, as one sage instructor at Montana State once told me..."The saddle fits the person, not the horse." So, DH and I have embarked on the odyssey that is tailoring our bikes.