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".
Not since the 1970's has the chopper been a motorcycle beloved by so many. Certainly in the 1970's this bike found a whole new league of fans due to the release of the movie "Easy Rider". Yet today you will find that the range of choppers now available is quite substantial from those available in kit form to those which are completed and can be ridden straight out of the showroom. In this article we will attempt to provide you with a guide which will help to find the right chopper and which will give you years of service and enjoyment.
One of the first things you need to decide on is what kind of chopper it you want. Today there are basically three types of chopper that you can choose from.
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: 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 bike then make sure you go to Custom Chops first. At Custom Chops we provide advice on finding the right customized bike for you.
