gremlin

That was the ethos on my bike, zero budget so everything has been done by us. Anyone can buy off the peg stuff and end up with a generic "customisation". I think it's far better to do your own thing and make it personal to you. I don't care if people hate what we've done, she's how I wanted her, some of the mods are to make my life easier and others because we can, she's been Clives experimental project. Since she's been done the only times she's been out people have stopped to look and ask questions which is quite cool. She'll be a work in progress for a while as and when we have money.
Also I don't think it matters too much if you physically don't have the know how, as long as you have the vision of what you want, there is always someone who can help to put it into practice. Lots of our mates have custom bikes, some have been really innovative, I can remember one having a bit out of a coffee percolator to make a filter or muffler or something because it was the only thing that would fit! It was a stunning bike and until it was pointed out nobody would have known. You always have those who buy everything and the shed dwellers who make do with what they've got or make something different out of what they've got but that's biking. I'm happy to have a shed dweller cos whatever we have will be unique and homemade.