So, you’ve got a bike frame—or at least a dream—and now you’re looking around wondering where the hell you’re supposed to build a whole chopper. Newsflash: it doesn’t have to be a full-blown shop with a lift and Snap-On tool chests. Most of us start out in driveways, carports, or borrowed corners of someone’s garage. The key is setting it up with intention—and getting real about what you actually need to make it work.
The Tools You Actually Need (To Start)
This list could get overwhelming real quick, so let’s keep it honest. Here’s what you’ll want to have access to during your early phases—mockup, teardown, measuring, maybe even some light cutting and welding if you’re ambitious:
- Basic socket set (standard + metric—you never know what your bike or parts will throw at you)
- Wrenches & screwdrivers (again, both sizes)
- Allen/hex keys
- Torque wrench (eventually, yes—don’t skip it when things get serious)
- Rubber mallet (you’ll use this more than you think)
- Jack or lift (a basic motorcycle lift stand is gold, but a car jack + some wood blocks can be your budget best friend)
- Grinder with cutoff wheel & flap disc (if you’re modifying anything at all)
- Drill + bits
- Measuring tape, calipers, and sharpies
- Shop rags, WD-40, and patience. So much patience.
You’ll collect more tools over time, and that’s okay. You don’t need a perfect setup to get started—you need enough to keep moving forward.
How to Set Up Your Build Zone
Whether it’s a carport, a single bay in your dad’s garage, or the alley behind your apartment, it just needs to be workable. Here are some real-world tips from someone who’s built greasy projects in less-than-pretty spaces:
- Level surface is king. If your floor’s not level, shim your lift or work area so the bike doesn’t rock. You’ll want stability when lining things up.
- Cover the ground. Even just a $5 tarp from Harbor Freight or an old carpet square will save your knees and help you find that rogue bolt you dropped.
- Create sections. A table for tools, a spot for mockup parts, a bin for bolts. Trust me, labeling ziplocks will save your soul.
- Vertical storage. Milk crates, pegboards, even hanging stuff from rafters. You’re making a workshop, not an Instagram set.
This isn’t about making it pretty—it’s about making it functional. If it feels too chaotic to focus, organize it until it doesn’t.
Time, Weather, Lighting, Extension Cords — The Real Stuff
Let’s talk about the actual obstacles that hit when your shop is exposed to the elements.
- Time: Build a schedule that fits your life. Even 2 hours a week consistently will move the needle.
- Weather: Tarps, pop-up tents, or even parking the bike under a roofed porch can get you through rainy days. (Also: buy cheap moving blankets to toss over the frame—keeps the dust and water off.)
- Lighting: You will absolutely need better lighting than you think. Clamp lights, headlamps, shop lights. Whatever it takes.
- Extension cords: Invest in a heavy-duty outdoor one with a surge protector. You don’t want to blow a fuse in the middle of cutting a bracket.
- Noise: Be a good neighbor, or at least plan around quiet hours if you’re grinding and wrenching in a shared space.
This is the part where a lot of people get discouraged. They think they need to wait until they have a “real” shop to start. But you don’t. You just need to commit to showing up for the space you’ve got. And make it work like hell.
Next Week: Wiring Without Crying — A Beginner’s Guide to the Basics (and When to Ask for Help)
If you’re digging the series, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter for sneak peeks, bonus photos, and behind-the-scenes chaos. And if you’ve been wrenching in a carport or building bikes out of your kitchen, drop a comment—I want to hear your setups.
Stay greasy, stay scrappy.
—Montana / Cult Bohème
