Billy Lane's How to Build Old School Choppers, Bobbers and Customs (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

by Billy Lane (Author)
Key Phrases: solar flux, planishing hammer, transmission plate, Builder's Kit, Indian Larry, Arlen Ness (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

American Iron, May 2006 (circ.: 134,000) “Don’t expect to get a step-by-step process of how to build a bike from scratch. That’s not what this book is about, which is exactly why it’s such a great read. [It’s] more of a ‘How I build’ versus a ‘How-to build’ book, and one that offers valuable tips and insight to the aspiring shop rat. In other words, it’s a must-have.”

Product Description
Billy Lane is the fastest-rising star among the high-profile custom chopper builders, and in this book he offers many of his secrets for building a chopper that will stand out in a crowd. This is the ultimate resource for any chopper builder—a book designed as a step-by-step guide to building any type of custom motorcycle.

This book also covers custom-building beyond the chopper genre, including the building of "bobbers," an old-school style of custom that has been revived as a hot trend. Predating choppers, they are on the cutting edge of current biker "cool," for real riding, and are much safer and more functional than choppers.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (February 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076032168X
• ISBN-13: 978-0760321683
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,273 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way above average, January 9, 2007

By	Doh (Pickering, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This is not a complete book on how to build a bike. That's a vast field including quite a few full careers, such as mechanic, fabricator, welder, machinists etc... Maybe some day, someone will actually write it down.

In this format all I really want is some fresh information direct from Lane, not ghost written or republished materials as in the Monster Garage welding book (at least they chose a good book). On that score I think this is a very solid addition. Lane does go into technical information; what years of what motor he prefers to use, how to align these old motor and drive train systems. What modern components are best, for instance brakes. How to wire. None of these are exhaustive, but they are what he does. For instance, he does not cover trail and rake calculations. He just comes out and tells you what his favorite front end on a chopper or bobber is. That's the inside info that defines a maker's look, and if a person followed that info they would not need to understand the universe of trail and rake, info that is on the internet anyway.

One of the things that impressed me is that, apparent beer ads for corona in the text aside, Lane seems pretty serious about the quality of the bikes he builds. A lot of his build-off stuff seems to break or catch on fire, and I have never been all that impressed with his signature tanks. However he shows a few hard core details here that as competent pieces of engineering, and very stout construction, are excellent. The book is full of details that never really get covered in the other stuff out there. I was just left feeling I could use a couple of other books in a series.

Books of this format, on everything from painting flames to cheap choppers, are one step up from a magazine. At their best, they cover a lot of ground. This one isn't perfect, but it covers a lot more stuff than several seasons of BBO, OCC, BOB, the horse etc... Those all seem to edit out anything more complicated than bolting an engine or tranny to a frame. I wish more builders would get into the nitty gritty like this. This is not a "How to build a Ford hot rod", by Mike Bishop, but it's about as good as it gets normally.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars WAY too complicated, April 10, 2007

By	P. Lattavo (Canton Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is way too much in the way of welding skills and sheet metal fabrication. Certainly not a "How To" book but more of a "How I do it" book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy Lane's Book Rocks, March 21, 2006

By	Christopher Gardner "NDNBOY" (Tallahassee, Fl) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was very informative on how Billy does his art of chopping. And was helpful in knowing how he does it and why. Also great listing of tools that are needed to pull this stuff off. I can't wait to buy his other book "Chop Ficition".Billy's book has definitely given me the drive to start chopping my own bikes. This book is a must for any bike builder pro or novice...
Thanks Billy!!!