Immediate Future of Harley Chopper Motorcycle

[Buzz Kanter]

I am seeing fewer choppers on the road these days and am wondering what the future of them is.

I do see them on display in bike shows and parked at bike nights, but not much on the road here in Connecticut. How about where you live?

[Bigincher]

Buzz, the attraction for "real" choppers will always be there. The "fad choppers" have a limitied life expectancy, if you ask me, but the old 'period' choppers will never change. There are a few around where I live, if you count mine.

[shovelmike]

I believe there will always be a dedicated core group who will ride choppers. There for a while, in the heyday of American Chopper and Biker Build off etc. they were in the mainstream....hey what good is a chopper if you don't turn a few heads...cause people to hide their daughters
I don't see near as many around here, which is OK, they're supposed to stand out from the crowd.

[unclepsycho]

I see a few of the shiney "fad" choppers like mine roll thru town, but like big and shovel said, the true choppers willl allways be around.

[frisco-rigid]

It depends on what you call a chopper..

Back in time a chopper was built/chopped/bobbed (whatever) by the Man riding it..
He did it to His own liking..
It was usually "unique" to Him and his part of the country..
He started it with a "basket" or acquired parts or maybe simply with a used Dresser..
It was His and His alone.. He would never have thought to ride somebody elses creation----------A FACTORY chopper????????? Freakin Never baby..!!
NO Such Thing...............It Don't Exist.....................

The reason you don't see many anymore is cuz the riders of today aren't the same,,,, they want to buy & ride somebody else's goofy idea of what a sickle looks & rides like..

That should explain why I carry such High respect for BikerBitch,,, she's the real deal baby------Something from Nothing..
Go ahead on baby..

[unclepsycho]

Good point frisco,
I think even I use the word chopper a little loosly.
somewhere, probly on another forum, the "fad" bikes were brought up and described as Factory Customs...not choppers at all.....
I guess thats why I have a shovel project on the horizon...so I can get to work on my own chopper.
just a couple more payments and I'll be on my way to building that shovel....

[texan321]

Frisco is right - when I got out of the service in 69 - I moved to Orange county California - it was the time that the really great choppers were around and ridden by the 1%'ers - Hell's Angels - they were some really cool bikes and they were uniquely their own. I loved seeing them - I lived in Hunting Beach near a Hell's Angels club house and used to wonder across the street to look at the bikes....... those were "choppers" not the crap that you can't ride except to bars and then turn on those stupid lights... Biker Bitch is the old school - she is great..........I wish I had the talent to build something like that but I don't - I have learned my limitations over the years... ride on.....

[unclepsycho]

I havent mentioned this bike cuz it's a Metric.....

I got it for $100 with a blown motor. Bought another motor off e-bay and started on it.




Then I srtipped it to the frame and cut off all the "extra crap"





Then I got to work re-assembling it. It aint done yet, but it is close.



So, back to the question. What is the definition of a chopper???
Does it hafta be made in america???
this particular bike was originally "assembled in Ohio"

When it is done, I will give it to a friend of mine.


Since this is a Harley forum,... i guess a metric dont really fit the subject exactly..........

[unclepsycho]

As I re-read my last post, I realized the title of the thread was.... "What is the future of the Harley Chopper"

So maybe I answered it a little with,..,.. uh..... the metrics are out there and a lot cheeper. I still dont like the water cooled motors..... the radiator takes away from the bike, alot.

This build started when I was flat broke, so I went with a cheep bike. I am a little ahead now... not rich be any means, but I will be able to finish this and move on.

[frisco-rigid]

Unc

You know those things I sugg'd are what make a "chopper"..
Well, I'd say that your Metric sickle will prob end up being all those things..

Work-it daddio and make it your baby..