Custom Motorcycles

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By exmachina


Triumph Bobber

Great example of an old style bobber
Great example of an old style bobber

Pro Street Style

Pro Street Chopper mmm nice!
Pro Street Chopper mmm nice!

Rat Bike

Rat Bike...No Thank you!
Rat Bike...No Thank you!

Choosing A Chopper

If you are like me you probbaly secretly hanker after a chopper. That feeling of freedom and the " This is what I am riding if you don't like it Tough!" attitude really appeals to me. Hopefully if you a having thoughts about getting a chopper the following article might help.. and if you asked my opinion i would say look at a bobber style they are coming back into fashion again.

The hottest trend to hit the motorcycling world has been the that choppers are now considered to be apart of main stream biking. Previously this type of bike was the preserve of many outlawed biker groups but today have become a mode of transport for lawyers and doctors. The renewed interest in these kinds of bikes has been caused by TV shows such as "The Great Biker Build Off" and "American Chopper".

Although the chopper had its heyday back in the 1970's which was probably due to the release of the movie "Easy Rider" have there been so many of these now available. Today you can either purchase them in kit for or one that has been completed to a high standard. In this article we will provide you with some hints and tips on finding the right one for you and which you will enjoy for years to come.

The first thing that you need to decide is just what kind of chopper it is you would like to have. Basically there are 3 different styles that you can pick.

The Bobber: This particular bike was being created back at the end of the Second World War by American Servicemen when they returned home. Today a bike can easily be customized to resemble a bobber by removing anything that is not needed on it. Doing this not only helps to reduce its weight but also helps to improve how the bike performs and handles. Further improvements to its handling can also be made by lowering the unsprung weight on the bike and moving the center of gravity. For the past couple of years of all the types of choppers available, the Bobber is growing more and more popular with young and old alike.

The Pro Street Chopper: Probably the most easily recognizable of all the styles of chopper now available. A good version of this bike will come with long extended forks and a fat tire on the rear. This particular bike has derived its style from the drag bikes you see. However because of the bikes geometry this can make its handling difficult especially on twisty roads. But once on a straight and open road it really shows its true colors.

The Rat Bike: Appearing in the late 1970's and early 1980's rat bikes are like something from the Movie "Mad Max " The philosophy behind them is to keep the bike on the road for the longest amount of time and spend the least amount of money possible. This often results in parts from other machines being cannibalized and added to the bike. Rat Bikes are almost exclusively Matt Black

When you have decided upon the style of chopper that you want the next step is to make a decision on the style of rear suspension it should have. You have the choice of either a hard tail or a soft tail. With a hard tail there is no rear suspension and the only comfort you will have when riding it comes from the springs built into the bikes seat. As for the soft tail this has extremely good rear suspension and so the ride is much more comfortable. If you are going to be someone who intends to spend a large part of their spare time riding their bike then a chopper with soft tail suspension would be ideal for you.

If you would like to find out more and see what's currently available in your local area please check out our Store and Blog


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firehawk46064 profile image

firehawk46064  says:
2 years ago

Just swooped in to check out the chops :)

Ernest  says:
2 years ago

Hello and Happy New Year, Nice rides Mann! I'm a Triumph chopper builder as a hobby. I used to work in a British bike shop back in the day. CC cycles in Bound Brook New Jersey. Chris was the best and his dog max. I have an original 1970 Triumph chopper with a Jammer frame, gas tank and a true Harley springer front end. Working on an old BSA lookin for one of those dangerous front ends real skinny and long. My safe Triumph is a 1974 Bonni 750 took it down this fall to repaint got to get it done for spring. Great hub!

exmachina profile image

exmachina  says:
2 years ago

Ernest,

I have spent the last few weeks looking at triumph and BSA chops for an article i am scheduled to write about alternatives to the harley Vtwin. looking forward to you publishing a hub with photos of your bike!

kenmoto  says:
2 years ago

yep, it's true I secretly hanker after a chopper! nice hub.

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