Topic: Chopper Madness (and sadness....) a few musings

[Jonesy]

(This is more of a personal rambling, but some of you guys might have been thinking the same thing. If not, I'll run for cover when the rocks start flying!)

I was at the local bike nite and nowadays it seems like everywhere bikes congregate you can almost bet your shirt you will see at least 10 choppers in the group. Now before I go on, I have nothing against choppers of the people who ride them and think they are pretty cool, especially the one-of-a-kinds, although I think we all agree that some are classier than others (just look at a few "Hideous eBay Bike Fridays"). But as I looked at these bikes, I noticed that they don't seem to strike me as being as special or unique anymore. They now seem almost commonplace, something you'd tend to walk past rather than stop to admire. Now you can even go to motorcycle insurance websites for estimates and "West Coast Chopper" is included in the pull-down menu for the manufacturers. With the popularity of OCC, West Coast Choppers, etc. If you've got the coin you can have one of these beasts without even breaking a sweat or getting your hands dirty. At the price you pay for one, I sometimes wonder if it's become more of a game of one-upsmanship- as if to say, "HaHa, Harley owner! Even YOU can't afford one of THESE babies!!", rather than a personal statement of expression (except for wealth?). I'm sure this isn't the case with most folks, but I still can't help but wonder... Whatever happened to buying a cheap bike and turning it into something all your own?

[dusterdude]

yep you`re right.cookie cutter bikes.

[Dave Wyatt]

I wonder what they will be worth in 10 years, when the owners figure out they are not good for long hauls?  Will there still be  a market or will they just be oddities of an era?

[MikeDeB]

Back in the '70s the chief complaint made by the Hardley riders was that with owning a Jap bike you would almost always see yourself coming the other way (meaning there was a huge proliferation of Jap bikes at the time).  Now, that the  tide has changed I wonder what their complaint is about Jap bikes today?   

[Cvillechopper]

I couldn't agree more with the annoyance at "cookie cutter" bikes.  I imagine the guys riding most of those take their machine in to the shop for routine oil changes instead of getting dirty doing it yourself.  I know there are some that just want something radical but don't have the patience, time, skill, or any combo to do it themselves but still are willing to get to know the bike the way you only can with some manual labor from time to time, but have not seen this to be the rule.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE choppers.  I just wish more people took the time to work on their own machines; create their own designs, etc.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "You're building a chopper?  What?  You think you're Paulie or Jesse or something?"  I am glad these guys are doing so well and promoting interest in riding in general.  It's just unfortunate that most of the newly indoctrinated prefer something they don't have to work on, bother with adjustments, etc.  It's sad, really.  Until you've taken something broken and fixed it, something cold and shapeless and given it form, even something slightly off tune and given it the precision it was lacking, it's hard to understand how rewarding it can be.  The sense of accomplishment is worth the time, sweat, blood, and tears associated with learning to do it right.  Of course, I am a little biased so sorry if I'm offending any one.

[dusterdude]

shoot cville look at my cookie cutter bike.

[Jonesy]

I wonder what they will be worth in 10 years, when the owners figure out they are not good for long hauls? Will there still be a market or will they just be oddities of an era?

...Hopefully they'll appreciate in value. After all, those medical bills for all the back problems they'll have will need to be paid for somehow. As the old saying goes, "Only young guys ride choppers".

I couldn't agree more with the annoyance at "cookie cutter" bikes. I imagine the guys riding most of those take their machine in to the shop for routine oil changes instead of getting dirty doing it yourself. I know there are some that just want something radical but don't have the patience, time, skill, or any combo to do it themselves but still are willing to get to know the bike the way you only can with some manual labor from time to time, but have not seen this to be the rule. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE choppers. I just wish more people took the time to work on their own machines; create their own designs, etc.

I thought of this in a way. It's good that these shops exist. There might be someone who has a great vision of what they want, but don't have the talent or tools to make it reality. Chopper shops help these folks take thier dream and work with them to help make it real. But it bugs me when they are purchased to be nothing more than a status symbol. I don't know how many guys I've overheard bragging about how much money they poured into their bikes- and the only way to earn respect is to pay more than the other guy. One fellow was going on and on about all the mods he had done and quarter mile times, etc. Partway into the conversation I find out he doesn't even know how to ride a motorcycle!!! He just has it for the bragging rights. I dunno.....

[Cvillechopper]

That exhaust is awesome duster.  That your ride?

[dusterdude]

yea,thanks

[Raul CB750K1]

With the proliferation of chopper books, I recommend the "How to build a cheap chopper" book. There are a few examples on how, with a donor bike and a new frame, you can recycle most of the original components into the chopper, thus saving money.

From my point of view, if people have the dough to spend it on expensive choppers they can do what they please. Even if they don't have it and have to get a credit, it's their lives. But if I were Shaq or Goldberg or Kid Rock I probably would have not one chopper but a few, along with some Harleys, Hondas, Kawas, Ducatis and Triumphs.

Raul

[Uncle Ernie]

duster- Nice bike! However- I'm not up on the newer bikes. What model of Honda is that?

[hillbillychoppers]

Well here's my first post, I don't care much for the new chopper fade. It keeps pushing up parts prices, it'll will die in a couple years, anybody remember how back before discovery channels chooper craze parts were cheap and you could build a nice bike, with just a little money. Here's my chopper, not a west coast or big dog, just a hillbilly delux

[Uncle Ernie]

How 'com nobody puts where they're from in their profile?  Tell me how you like your grits and beans, and I'll figure out where you're from. Damn nice sled, though.  Real tasty.

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

Grits creamy but not cooked to death, Put in on the plate and mix in two eggs over easy, a dash of salt, bacon is better.  eat until full

Beans Cooked for days until creamy.  What kind of bean?

[Gordon]

Hmm, let's see...

Grits:  Lots of butter and a dash of salt (but I didn't grow up eating them).
Beans:  Pinto or black, extra spicy with a big side of cornbread.

Where am I from?

[Brookesy]

Choppers are cool.
Homebuilt choppers are cooler - more personal
Bobbers are the coolest

Have you seen Alphabeast? - have a look in the new gallery - awesome
see what can happen when original thoughts and the skill to create stuff comes together
want something different - now that's different.

I have nothing against v-twin choppers either - whether they're HD or Metric based.
there are some pretty amzing combinations getting around.

I think anything that gets bums on seats - even if the seat is uncomfortable after 20mins. - is a good thing.
the more exposure bikes get, the more kids look at cool bikes and admire them - desire them
the better off we all are

long live choppers - the art of creating something special and individuality

[Uncle Ernie]

This could be sort of like "where did this part come from?"
You're both Northerners, which means anybody not from the South-
Quail- you have working-class-hero roots. I'd say you're from the midwest to the East like Indiana, Ohio, PA.
Gordo- you're a yuppie who likes to feel adventurous with little things like this. Maybe get together with friends for a "South" night. Everybody has to bring something. I'm going to guess CO, AZ, or CA/SoCal

How'd I do?

[Terry in Australia]

I like choppers, same as I like "Cafe Racers". The arguments about comfort on long hauls and back problems etc are equally redundant for both types of bike, as they're a definite "Form over Function" thing, and aren't meant for long hauls, as far as I'm concerned.

The only time I despair is when I say some dick who's bought/inherited a mint or near mint, CB750 and butchered it. I've got no problem with finding a rusty wreck like James has and turning it into a chopper or cafe, but people who do that to bikes that have survived intact for so long just #$%* me to tears. I have seen smaller sohc's chopped, but I think they just look silly. Cheers, Terry.

[Jonesy]

The only time I despair is when I say some dick who's bought/inherited a mint or near mint, CB750 and butchered it. I've got no problem with finding a rusty wreck like James has and turning it into a chopper or cafe, but people who do that to bikes that have survived intact for so long just #$%* me to tears...

Amen Terry! That goes through my mind whenever I see a ton of eBay parts from a "running, ridable bike" that was parted out for profit. Yes, the parts are nice, but a little work and the whole bike would have been nice too.

Guys, don't get me wrong. I like choppers too and think it's groovy thier popularity is raising interest in motorcycling. They just don't seem unique anymore, and I've always felt that (uniqueness) was the main source of thier appeal.

[hillbillychoppers]

How 'com nobody puts where they're from in their profile?  Tell me how you like your grits and beans, and I'll figure out where you're from. Damn nice sled, though.  Real tasty.

I didn't think nothing about a profile, but I don't like grits, beans pintos cooked in fatback, or white half runners green beans with new potatoes, so where I'm I from? I'll fill out the profile in a day or two.

[Brookesy]

Jeez Terry - you should see what i've got in store for my K1...
prepare to be a bit teary (?) and #$%*ty

No, just kidding,
that's why a want another frame - so i don't have to hack this baby up.
I want to build my "special" but this bike is 99.9% original
anyone want to donate a K frame to a mad Queenslander?

Did i mention that i'm the third owner of the K1 - honest
Did i mention that all 3 owners live within 5km of each other
Did i mention that i'm going to try to get a photo of all 3 of us with the bike...

Musta forgot -

I've taken some pics of my bikes and i'll try to post them tonight - in the gallery probably

[Terry in Australia]

Well I hope you keep all the original parts mate, but why hack up a frame, there are specialist frame builders all over Oz who will build you a real chopper frame, not some half-assed weld on hardtail bodge, and then you can go wild with no fear of the compromises that you'll invariably have with using a butchered original frame?

That way you can just pull your engine out and park your rolling chassis in one corner for when sanity returns, er, I mean when you get off your meds, er, I mean when your swollen brain returns to normal size, er, oh is that my phone ringing? I better go, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

[Uncle Ernie]

Hillbilly- southern Ohio/Kentucky/maybe Tennessee.

                          GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK

               

[hillbillychoppers]

Hillbilly- southern Ohio/Kentucky/maybe Tennessee.

                          GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK

               

You're close southwest Va. 10 miles from WVa. 30 miles from Ky. 60 miles from Tn.

[Gordon]

You're both Northerners, which means anybody not from the South-
Quail- you have working-class-hero roots. I'd say you're from the midwest to the East like Indiana, Ohio, PA.
Gordo- you're a yuppie who likes to feel adventurous with little things like this. Maybe get together with friends for a "South" night. Everybody has to bring something. I'm going to guess CO, AZ, or CA/SoCal

How'd I do?

You're sort of close.  Well, not really...
I'm from Texas.  Mainly Austin and Dallas.
And I ain't no stinkin' yuppie! 
I may be young and urban, but I'm definitely no professional.  Plus, I'm broke!