What To Look For In A Chopper?
In recent years there has been a resurgence in the number of people now riding choppers. Which until the introduction of such shows as “American Chopper” and “The Great Biker Build Off” were associated with biker gangs. So today you are actually more likely to see them being ridden by doctors and lawyers rather than an outlaw biker.
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: A bobber is the original style of chopper that was first created by American Servicemen returning from the Second World War. The bike is customized by removing anything that isn’t needed. This helps to reduce the weight and increase the performance. Handling can also be improved by lowering the unsprung weight and moving the center of gravity. Over the past couple of years the Bobber has started to grow in popularity.
The Pro Street Chopper: This style of chopper is very easy to distinguish from the many others. All will come with fat tires on the rear as well as long extended forks the kind that you would have seen been ridden by Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider. Although the actual design of the bike is derived from that used on drag bikes. But because of its design and geometry handling on a twisty road can be a bit awkward. But once on a flat straight road it really does come into its own element.
The Rat Bike: First started appear on the motorcycle scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s of the 20th Century and is similar in looks to those used in the movie “Max Max”. For those that own such a bike the whole aim is to keep it on the road for as long as possible without actually spending too much cash on it. Often this may mean that they will take parts from other machines and add them to their own. Unlike Bobber and Pro Street Choppers which are usually quite colorful these are usually Matt Black only.
As soon as you have decided on the style of chopper for you the next decision you need to make regards the type of suspension it will have at the rear. The hard tail style as the name suggest does not have any suspension at the rear and the rider solely relies on the springs in the seat to provide them with some form of comfort when riding it. Whilst soft tails have good suspension at the rear and are certainly a lot more comfortable to rid. So if you are someone who is intending to cover a lot of miles on theirs then a soft tail would be the ideal choice for you.
If you are interested in learning more about these bikes and to see what is currently available in your local area, then please check out the details for our store below.
If you are seriously considering buying a customized motorcycle then make sure you go to Custom Chops first. At Custom Chops we provide advice on findig the right customized motorcycle for you.
