A Chopper is a motorcycle that has had its frame altered to give the motorcycle a very distinguished look. Usually these motorcycles have a long stretched out frame and a front end with long forks. Most choppers have a thinner tire in the front and a fatter one at the rear. Most have their rear suspension removed making the seat and the motor ride lower down on the frame. The gas tank is usually sleek and slim giving the motor cycle a cool look. These motorcycles are built for looks not performance and due to this some can be a challenge to ride.
The evolution of the chopper began with servicemen returning from World War 2. Wanting motorcycles like they had seen in Europe, some of these servicemen started experimenting by making changes in their motorcycle's design. Wanting lighter motorcycles, they began by removing excess parts from their motorcycles keeping only the absolute essentials which enabled the motorcycle to remain functional. These servicemen made no modifications to the bike's frame thus retaining much of its original look. Windshields, fenders, headlights and crash bars were removed and the remaining motorcycle was usually painted black. These stripped down motorcycles were called Bobbers and their main function was to be lighter and quicker than standard motorcycles. Bobbers attracted a great deal of attention!
In the 1960s and 70s other motorcycle enthusiasts picked up where World War II veterans left off and started altering the stock frames of their motorcycles by cutting and welding them to give their motorcycles a sleeker look. This chopping of the frame gave rise to the name Chopper for these kinds of motorcycles. They found that a longer front end allowed them to have better control over the motorcycle at faster speeds. They started by modifying the degree of the neck rake and lengthening the front end. A traditional chopper is constructed out of a standard factory motorcycle. The unnecessary parts are then discarded and the frame is chopped and welded so that the motor and seating can be lowered and parts added to increase the motorcycles' performance.
Today's choppers are completely modified motorcycles with individual accessories added to create a one-of-a-kind motorcycle. The main difference between a true chopper and a custom motorcycle is that a custom motorcycle usually retains the original frame while the other parts are modified. With choppers, the frame is modified as well. Plus, the raked front end extends the wheel base giving the motorcycle a more stable feel during high speeds and when going down a straight line. Changing the rake and trail of a motorcycle involves modifying the front end design and changing the angle between the neck of the motorcycle and the vertical line from the axis of the wheel.
Today there are companies that offer kits to build your own choppers. These chopper kits consist of all the necessary parts to build a chopper. The main advantage of building a chopper from one of these kits is that it is much less expensive and easier than purchasing a motorcycle, removing all the excess parts and then chopping and welding the body. You can then further customize these choppers by adding on accessories and detailing the gas tank to make your chopper stand out from other motorcycles built from similar kits.
Retrofitter.net is a new, online source for chopper kits and parts. Administered by a master chopper builder who has built chops for celebrities, legendary rock n' roll singers and chopper enthusiasts alike, Retrofitter.net is a store for bike builders by bike builders.
