The criteria for a cool custom can range from wild paint with lots of chrome to a hellacious motor and high performance parts. But sometimes all it takes is a different take on an old tune to standout in a sea of similarity.
Such is the case with Jose Montanez's 2003 GSX-R1000 that's got a unique flavor all its own. "I can't even count how many hours I've sat at home looking at it from every angle to see what I should do next and what will keep it different," Montanez said.
No stranger to the custom game, Montanez's relationship with his Gixxer stems back from the day he rolled it off the lot. "I bought it brand new in September of '03 so I could ride it to Daytona. The 240 kits were hot back then and after seeing all of the wide-tire bikes for the first time, I had to have one."
Chrome won't get you home...
Chrome won't get you home but it sure looks good rolling down the road.
Several months later Montanez saved enough to throw down on a ten-over 240 kit from McCoy Motorsports. After the wide tire he proceeded to add more chrome, integrate nitrous bottles in the tail section and add other small touches like the license plate bracket, grills and modified dirt bike triples that he fabbed at home.
Like any gearhead, Montanez soon got the itch for a change and decided he wanted to shorten the stretch and tuck a wider tire. "I went for a C&S Customs 8-over 330 kit with RC Components wheels and I finally got the look I was after," Montanez said. "The tire needed to be further under the tail and stepping up to the 330 really filled in the tail section."
Where money was lacking, ingenuity wasn't; Montanez did all of the installation work himself and looked for simple but effective solutions for a cool custom.
Underneath you'll find a custom...
Underneath you'll find a custom scrape plate and a VooDoo slip-on.
The integrated nitrous bottles...
The integrated nitrous bottles and rear camera were Jose's work. the undertail came from Hotbodies Racing.
Chrome controls, modified...
Chrome controls, modified dirt bike triples and a trick Ant Systems rear camera make up the cockpit.
Jose's nickname is Chegui...
Jose's nickname is Chegui.
"I made the mesh inserts, sprocket covers and other decals like the windscreen and lower graphics that has my nickname-Chegui. I didn't have the money for custom paint so I took what was there and worked with it."
In the land of customs some are bought and some are built. What's the better route? Only you can decide, but this home-built hero proves when money is lacking, ingenuity will prevail.
2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Front End: RC Components wheel, Avon Venom tire, chrome forks, caliper and axle plugs, spike caliper bolts
Rear End: C&S Customs 8-over 330 swingarm, RC Components wheel, Avon Venom tire, Tsubaki nickel-plated chain, Roaring Toyz lowering links, chrome rear caliper, Galfer Wave rotor
Motor: VooDoo exhaust, 30-shot of nitrous with two bottles
Body/Paint: Hotbodies Racing undertail, custom graphics and mesh inserts
Accessories: ANT Systems rear camera, HID headlights with LED halo light, chrome LED Pig Spotters, levers, frame sliders, reservoir caps, grips and modified dirt bike triple clamp, chrome lower scrape plate
Owner/Builder: Jose Montanez