What's The Difference Between Modified, Special and Custom?

The difference is probably the arrogance of the owner

My defintions:

Modified- Any bike altered from the manufacturer's original specification. "Options" such as OE fairing lowers, bellypans, etc. do not make it "modified". It's a huge gradient ranging from fitting some aftermarket grips, through to a near WSB-spec bike where only the engine/frame are original. Most "altered" bikes fall somewhere into this category.

Special- Significantly altered, so much that it is no longer discernably one bike: Principly a different frame/engine to the original, be it another bike's engine shoehorned in, or an aftermarket/signficantly modified frame. Will typically include some one-off parts. Also includes production bikes in very limited numbers (say, under 200 in the world). For this to count it must be a proper new model with significant engine work or even a whole new frame or engine. A new paint job and exhaust is just a modified bike, albeit modified by the manufacturer.

Custom- Yank-inspired 1%er fantasist's monstrously overpriced/tasteless bike.

If it isn't standard it is modified, no such thing as a special....

[yorkie_chris]

Modified, make the bike suit you. springs to weight... working suspension etc.

Special, going daft at the above modifications.

Custom, anything with tassels

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

If it isn't standard it is modified, no such thing as a special....

Just to play Devil's Advocate: What would would you class a car-engine in a one off custom bike frame (designed for the engine) as? What bike would it be 'modified' from.

In terms of eBay descriptions:

Modified: when the owner has messed around with a perfectly good bike, ruined it completely and lowered its value although they think the opposite.

Custom: when the owner has messed around with a perfectly good bike, ruined it completely and lowered its value although they think the opposite.

Special: when the owner has messed around with a perfectly good bike, ruined it completely and lowered its value although they think the opposite.

[yorkie_chris]

One of the guys on OSS has a picture in his sig complete with the writing "wrecking perfectly good $hit since 1986"

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Just to play Devil's Advocate: What would would you class a car-engine in a one off custom bike frame (designed for the engine) as? What bike would it be 'modified' from.

A prototype, what you described above wouldn't be a special because it has been built from the ground up as a different vehicle (not a modified vehicle).

Like the Dodge Tomahawk....