Motorcycles have always been customized, whether it be adding chrome to a Harley Davidson, or making a superbike more like the GP bikes on the world circuit. Wheels can be changed, handlebars can be changed, and the seats and tanks etc, modified.
However the most popular way of changing a bike's identity, or to add a piece of your own personality, is by custom painting. The increase in popularity of bike racing has lead to more and more replica paint jobs, and even limited edition bikes with custom paint jobs as standard. As the popularity of TV shows featuring bike customisation grows, so does the demand for customisation.
Here are a few examples of different areas in custom paint:
Chromeplating - A process by which motorcycle parts are electrically plated to give a hard wearing, superbright finish. This is usually triple plating, and is commonly known as brightwork
Race Rep - Spray painting, usually a superbike, with the sponsorship colours of the superbike racers or GP bikes. Helmets can be bought of the shelf, or painted to match.
Air Brushing - Fine spray painting on a bike which can be anything from numbers, to a full blown mural, with some amazingly detailed work.
Powdercoating - This process is becoming hugely popular, especially with the advent of special effect powders eg irredescent, metallic, and chromes. Powdercoating brings an extremely durable, long lasting, and if done correctly with due care and attention, beautiful finish to parts, wheels, and frames.
Polish - Aluminium and steel parts on a bike can be mirror finished with special mops and soaps. They can be transformed from a dull finish to an extremely bright finish.
Anodising - A method of bright finishing bike parts; usually nuts and bolts, to give a durable, bright, colour effect.
Any of these processes, or indeed a combination of them, can change the appearance of any bike. The amount of change depends upon the owner, and indeed his budget!
John Murphy is a professional powdercoater based in Ireland. His website can be viewed at http://www.zed1powdercoating.com