As much as i like to see all the new fangled motorcycle shows, there are very few of these builders that still believe in the art of building an actual chopper. By definition a chopper is a bike that started as a factory original bike. After tearing it down, geeting rid of all the unnecessary bull****, chopping and cutting what needs it, you put it all back together to fit the stile and personallity of the rider. I would love just one time to see one of these "customizers" role in an old ratty panhead or knucklehead FL and chop it into a bad***, bare bones, scooter. Instead all I've seen is a bunch of fat tire "bikes in a box" that all the poser yuppies seem to love. Indian Larry and Billy Lane are the only builders that I have seen get any credit for this old school philosophy. Indian Larry will be greatly missed, but I am sure there has to be other builders that think the same way.

KEEP LOOKING UP BRO , I WAS A VENDER AT THE BIKE SHOWS SELLING THINGS FOR MANY YEARS I KEPT TELLIN EVERYONE THE CHOPPERS WILL COME BACK , AND THEY SURE DID , AND STRONGER THAN EVER !!! I WAS COLLECTING PARTS FOR AN OLD CHOPPER I WILL BUILD SOMEDAY , STARTED AWHILE BACK WHEN THEY WERE ALMOST GIVING THE STUFF AWAY . HAVE A OLD RIDGED FRAME ,AND A SEA TRUNK FULL OF PARTS , NO MOTOR YET THOUGH , TOOK OFF A 69 BSA 650 LIGHTNING MOTOR THAT WAS CEASED-UP , HAVE A BUNCH OF PARTS FROM THAT ... IT'S BEEN A GOOD 20 YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN AGEING THE DISMANTLED CHOPPER , I HAVE RESTORED BIKE BEFORE , STOCK AND MILD CUSTOM ... SOMEDAY BRO SOMEDAY YOUR FRIEND HDBIKER4U !!!

Alright, I'm getting tired of the self-proclaimed old-school-know-it-alls here who can't go a day without yuppy bashing. I'm not one but, why do you care? Every one here knows how, when and why the chopper craze came about. So a bike appeals to yuppies and it wasn't designed the way you would do it. Who says you're right? Quit living in the past gramps. How something was originally done 40-50 years ago doesn't mean that's the only way it can be done. A style can be altered, improved upon, personalized. No matter the medium involved. Bike chopping included. There's new technology, high tech tools, materials, chemicals available to builders nowadays. Bike building is not an athletic event, or a cooking show, or a hotdog eating contest. It's an art. That's right. Visualizing, designing, applying by building something is art. Artistic interpretation applies here. All of the bikes we see on t.v. are chopped. There is no book that says it has to be done one particular way. And I haven't seen a stone where it's written on either. I like Indian Larry's and Billy Lane's and Russ Mitchell's "old-school-look" creations. I like Matt Hotch's and Joe Martin's new school ones too. It's a new day, a new age. Deal with it.

But is it really still a chopper then?
Is it not then a custom bike, and not a chopper?
Dont get me wrong some of the bikes are beyond incredible, but are they really choppers?

My point exactly. What did all these new shiny high end bikes start out as? Nothing. Some after market frame or a high cubic inch motor that some one else built, a front end that also came to them in a box, and a back tire that looks like it ought to be on a top fuel dragster. Occasionally a builder might take a piece of sheet metal and build a tank, but that does not constitute a chopper. As popular as these new bikes may be, there is a huge difference between someone who builds choppers and some one who is a bike assembler.

Dude, you going that route, EVERY bike starts out like that, bit it custom, chopper, or street bike etc.

And a lot of builders will make their frames, exhaust, and fenders by hand as well. Jesse James machines his front forks.

Just fyi for the next time.

I must not be getting across what I'm trying to say. I have owned and riden Harleys ever since I was big enough to get on one. I am well aware that all kinds of motorcycles have to be built by someone, they don't just fall out of the sky. I would just like to see one of these builders start with an at least partially complete bike and "chop" it like it is meant to be done instead of building a bike with lots of stretch and rake putting a long front end on it and calling it a chopper. When I say that these bikes start out as nothing, all I mean is that they are not built from alredy complete or semi-complete bikes. I understand that a lot of fabrication and craftsmanship go into building some of these bikes. But don't call them something their not.

You can make that case, like someone said it's a well known case, everyone knows. If you look at language it is full of words who's original meanings are lost and who's current meanings are totaly understood. The current meaning of chopper does not require the use of a 48 Harley as the departure point. In fact to be true tothe essence of real chopperdom, you would have to take a currentish Harley like a V-rod and cut it up. That would be gross.

There are lots of guys around still doing what they did 30-40 years ago. They no longer want to do something simple like cut frames in a few places and weld in tube extentions, and bolt on a ****** dangerous non-perofrming front end made of springy way over length pipe. That woould be a chopper, what's the big deal about that. These guys learned some stuff in 40 years, and that's the chopper of today, why should it remain mired in the first projects any of these guys hacked together.

It's like music: Garage bands sometimes grow up if they get the chance. Of course the results often aren't all that interestingly raw.

I like what you said and I wish I could come up with the same "answers" that you did. (I always think of stuff later, sometimes MUCH later) You need to be writing speeches! I salute you !!

I use to use the word "chopper" if a bike had a raked out front end, and ape hangers, now I just call them "custom bikes". I really don't think true choppers exist much anymore, even though everyone still uses the word "chopper" over and over again. My understanding is that you take a stock bike, and chop off anything that adds weight, and stuff that really isn't nessessary, then it's considered a "chopper".

sea,
go to www.thehorsemag.com
There are still some "old School" chops out there. These are guys that spend less on their bikes than OCC spends on a set of billet wheels. These bikes are built in garages and basements, with whatever can be found, bought cheap, or made with tools at hand.
"Choppers Rule"

We just had Street Vibrations up in Reno a couple of weeks ago and there was a new company there this year. The company name was NASH and it was real old choppers. Not old school, but old choppers (not replicas). One was made out of a early 70 sportster and another was a late 60s triumph. All rigid frames and bare bones. They were great.

taking chopper building back to its roots does not mean that they have to be dangerous. I have never been a fan of real long front ends. They dont handle right and they can be a little shaky if they're not built right. Not all choppers built back in the day had long springers. As for the reference to V-Rods, I don't even consider them Harleys. The drive train was built by Porche.

I would like to know where this Nash is out of so I can check them out.

Hollywood402,

I didn't pick up any contact information for Nash, but Street Vibrations is put on by Road-Show out of Reno and I'll post their contact information below. Just give them a call and they can look them up in their vender file.

Roadshows, Inc.
P. O. Box 2994
Reno, Nevada 89505-2994

775-329-SHOW (7469)

800-200-4557

To start I think TV has done great things for the custom motorcycle industry. All the new shows have seemed to draw in alot of new business for the small bike shops and even the small bike builders. But, I also think the traditional chopper idea is being lost in the glame and glare. In my opinion a chopper isn't a bike that has specific "chopper parts", like springers, ape hangers, pre-evo engines, etc., but a chopper is a bike that someone has built with a budget they can afford, and handles, preforms, and looks how they wanted to. I ride an Ironhead Sporty which is in a stock chassis, mildly built motor, and custom tins and paint. I also ride a rigid Shovel which I built from a FL. The Shovel is fast and reliable, for a shovel, handles and and stops great, and has taken a few trophies. The Shovel's cost to built was only about 10 grand, and built in my dad's garage by the both of us with.
True "chopper" guys are still out there, don't worry.

If all your stuff is from Drag Specialties, Custom Chrome, Ness, J&P,S&S,Etc, is it really a chopper or a custom? If the builder is a licenced motorcycle manufacturer that has VIN numbers and Titles and product support and all that, then it is just another mark just like H-D, Victory, Buell, Honda and so on.

The customs out there now have not had a thing 'chopped' off them, and may need more added to them to meet various local requirements to make them 'street legal'!

Saying a bike has to be stripped down and built like they were 40 years ago to be called a chopper is like turning your back on technology. Look at the Hot Rods. Back in the 40's Hot Rods where done just like your saying Choppers where done. If it didn't produce Horse power it was removed to save wieght. Today Hot Rods have evolved and actually have creture comforts but still have performance. Just as theres a group saying the new bike arn't choppers there groups saying the new cars arn't hot rods. Most people call the old style hot rod a rat rod. You can call the new bikes customs choppers or whatever there stlye someones blood and sweat and deserve respect. Once you chop all that stuff off a bike to make it a chopper isn't it a custom then? I mean it's not factory anymore and it was customized by an individual to meet his needs and desire wasn't it?

They are all "MOTORCYCLES",CHOPPERS,CUSTOMS,HOGS,TRUMPS,bottom line.Doesn't matter if it's off the showroom floor are your garage floor.It is still a cycle,2 wheels,3 wheels,still a cycle.The point of custom V chopper can be debated in congress for now on.Guess what they are all cycles.I am going to build a custom chopper kawasaki trike.But after all is said and done it will still only be a cycle.YALL keep the rubber down.LAFOOT

Street Chopper mag had an article on this a year or 2 ago. The fact is that "CHOPPER" means something different in each part of the country and just about everyone looks at it differently. Yeah it started as bobbers which any bike built like those are still called bobbers and yes choppers. I personally don't call em choppers unless they are tall and long.

I agree. There is not one thing wrong with todays customs. And the people who can't read or just what to see things only their way are dolts. I like seeing todays customs they are great machines. But a chopper built from a stock bike is and can be an awsome ordeal. It is not easy you gamble on some parts fitting and if not you send it back, modify, or pay to have it modified. No it is not all in a box. And wheather it is or not both ways once complete are rewarding because you built this machine. And it is harder to chop a stock bike because you first have to take it apart than you start to chop. There is wireing, cutting, welding, drilling, painting and what ever else you have to modify to make it work right and look good. I took what you said was just wanting to see someone do just that. Or may-be I'm the dolt that can't read. NOT!