The air cools as the sky explodes in a million combinations of orange, red and yellow. You are alone on the highway. The low rumble of the exhaust is unwavering, every rock and crack in the road is felt through the seat, and your back is sore from slouching for the last hundred miles. Your hands are numb from holding onto the bars with a white-knuckled death grip as you speed down a deserted two-lane road. You have reached utopia.

This idea of a perfect sunset is one that is shared by a fast growing legion of custom motorcycle builders and riders, including myself. Custom motorcycles have an appeal to so many people for a variety of reasons. Some people like them because they like motorcycles, others because of the skill it takes to build them, and some people like custom bikes just because they are shiny. Whatever your reason, you are not alone.

According to the year-end report from the Motorcycle Industry Council, sales of new bikes reached a 25-year high in 2004, with Harley Davidson grabbing nearly 25 percent of the market share. That equates to more than $5 billion in sales for Harley alone.

With this rise in new motorcycle sales, resurgence in the custom bike market is also occurring. If you are a hardcore biker, or are just getting into the scene, it’s important to know a little bit of history and information about the different types of custom bikes you may see out on the road.

Custom motorcycle building began in the 1930s and 1940s with a style referred to as Bobbers. Initially, it all started as an effort to cut weight off of bikes for better performance and speed. The extra long fenders found on bikes of the time were trimmed or removed completely. This was known as a “bob job.” The term got changed to the name we use today to describe a basic, bare-boned bike in which the parts that are not essential to function are removed.

Originally, these customizations were done for racing purposes by war veterans trying to regain the thrill they couldn’t find in everyday life. With advancements in technology that allow engines to produce insane amounts of horsepower, most of the traditional Bobber modifications are done simply for the purpose of taste and style.

Custom bike building evolved in the ’60s and ’70s into new form of custom motorcycles. This new type of custom motorcycle was known as a chopper. The origin of the term chopper came about when bike builders started cutting or “chopping” frames to change their geometry. They made the frames taller, longer and lengthened the wheelbase. These modifications were more for show and less for go.

Today, new builders keep the spirit of the ’70s alive. Fabricators like Jesse James of West Coast Choppers and Billy Lane of Choppers Inc. continue the tradition of building unique motorcycles. Their influence has also spawned a plethora of other enthusiasts to start companies of their own, each bringing new and exciting ideas to the table.

When most people think of a chopper or bobber, they think of a Harley-style V-Twin motor. This isn’t always the case today, as some builders are experimenting with inline, four-cylinder Japanese motors. Others are replacing steel components with space-age materials like Kevlar and carbon fiber.

What does the future hold for custom motorcycles? It’s anyone’s guess. No matter what your taste, one thing is certain – custom motorcycles are here to stay.