by Jackie Norris

Corey Wilkinson and his twin brother, Casey, have a passion for art and riding motorcycles. The graphic designers have owned bikes from Germany, England, Sweden, Austria, Italy and Japan, but they wanted a bike that was as unique as they are. Thanks to the artisans of Ardcore Choppers in Indianapolis, the twins now have their very own homegrown fully custom motorcycle.

The Wilkinsons' bike is a throwback to the motorcycles from the 1960s and '70s, something that experts say is the current trend in customized bikes. "Our bike takes cues from years past," Corey says. "It stirs up memories with the older bikers and still gains respect from the youngsters. It's custom-made nostalgia."

Nate Spainhower, painter and sales assistant for Ardcore Choppers, says the quintessential custom motorcycle often reminds people of the movie "Easy Rider." "The custom motorcycles [seen on TLC] about Orange County Choppers with big wide tires and tons of chrome were very popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s," Spainhower says. "But it's gone full circle and we're back to the skinnier and more rider-friendly bikes."

Larry Averitt, owner of highly rated L.A. Cycles in Whitestown, says he's also noticed a shift from chrome-heavy bikes to more subdued designs. "Motorcycle design is a lot like fashion," says the ardent collector of vintage motorcycles. "It seems like every 20 years, we go back to what used to be popular."

Experts say motorcycle customization comes in many forms because most people do something to personalize their bike to make it their own. "If you were to ask every motorcycle rider if they had a custom bike, 99 percent would probably tell you 'yes,'" says Mike Tockey, owner of Speed City Cycle in Indianapolis, who believes true custom bikes like the Wilkinsons' are rare.

More commonly, owners of stock motorcycles, like a Harley-Davidson, buy parts and accessories to enhance their rides and add a personal touch. These parts are often referred to as "bolt-ons" and are considered the first level of customization. "This is where most motorcyclists begin," Tockey says. "You can get a different set of mirrors that will change the look of your bike from everyone else's."

But Tockey cautions that motorcycles with bolt-on customizations are only for the pure joy of the owner. "People come in all the time with $5,000 of bolt-ons and want to trade it in or sell their bike," he says. "But the Kelley Blue Book says it's only worth $3,000 - those extras were for them. The next guy may not have the same taste and won't pay for those things." While bolt-on bikes are typical, Tockey says many passionate riders don't stop there.

The next level of customization requires a little more elbow grease - and more money. Avid riders may want to build a motorcycle from the ground up. Many custom shops like Ardcore build after-market frames and do machinist work, such as making custom handle grips, gas and oil tanks, fenders and wheels, while shops like L.A. Cycles build their bikes from scratch by ordering parts from manufacturers that specialize in custom motorcycles and then hand-fit the pieces together.

"In a true custom, anything that you can do to alter the motorcycle is done," Spainhower says. Like the Wilkinsons' motorcycle, fully customized, or "one-off" bikes are a true piece of art - a collaboration between the builder and the owner.

Corey and Casey worked closely with Ardcore to ensure their motorcycle was perfect. Powered by a 1978 Yamaha engine, his bike includes a custom frame, battery box, brake linkage, foot controls, powder coated wheels and hub caps, rear fender, chain tensioner and exhaust. After eight months of collaboration, the twins picked up their motorcycle from Ardcore in August and lovingly named it "The Flying W," which reflects the graphic designers' company logo.

"Having a custom bike sparks conversation and makes you stand out in a crowd," says Corey, who's even filmed a documentary to find out why other motorcycle enthusiasts ride. "While some customs are built for display, The Flying W will see many roads and log many miles."

The experience of riding a one-of-a-kind motorcycle is priceless to Angie's List member Jim Krampen, and worth the price tag. Krampen currently has five custom motorcycles and his most expensive cost more than $40,000. In general, a fully custom bike falls between $8,000 to $20,000, but the price can go as high as the ego and wallet allow.

"There are some legendary builders who have bikes selling for $100,000 to $150,000," Tockey says. "If you own a one-off from a known builder, it probably won't depreciate, but just go up in value if you maintain it properly."

A fully customized bike usually takes anywhere from six to 12 weeks to build - depending on the complexity of the fabrication and design. It took eight weeks for Tockey to build Indianapolis resident Steve Hester's $18,000 bobber in 2005. Hester named the motorcycle the "Red Devil," because the red and white paint job made it look like an aerobatic stunt plane.

Krampen's chopper took five weeks to build, but after he watched the mechanics at Indy Choppers - now out of business - build his bike, he took matters into his own hands and built his other bikes with the help of L.A. Cycles.

"I can't not tinker with things," Krampen says. "I think that's part of the fun of having customs. There's a real sense of pride when your bike draws attention."

Hester's motorcycle is also known to spark conversation, especially at night, thanks to the red flames it spits out when he revs the engine. "When someone rolls down their window and says my bike is the nicest they've seen, I get a lot of satisfaction," Hester says.

Experts agree this is just one of the things that unite most motorcyclists, and they see all walks of life inquiring about custom bikes - from race-car drivers to doctors to college kids scraping up money to buy a frame and even older men walking with canes.

"Riding a motorcycle is the closest thing to flying most people will ever experience," Tockey says. "There's an old saying that you'll never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office - motorcycles are therapy and allow you to get away from it all."