how to build a chopper

[red]

found a couple for sale locally a few days ago, BEAUTIFUL bikes. 2 based off of 1300cc import cruisers and 1 based off of a harley fatboy with a 50 degree rake and lowered. custom gas tank and paint job but out of my price range. got me thinking though of building my own so i'm looking for input on the best way to go about doing it.

what bike to start with or go custom frame? thinking 1100-1300cc engine that would be reliable and easy to work on. what year bike to base it off of? really like the look of the long rake, thinking a 47-50 degree rake for the forks, no ape hanger handlebars. any ideas or opinions?

[Cheesemaker]

Keep the rake to a very minimum or you won't enjoy the ride.  Try to stay close to stock, if you can.  Go find somebody that will let you ride a chopper to see if you like it.  They don't turn very good.  Choppers look good, but ride bad!  I've known many riders that build a chopper, only to get rid of it, because they handle horrible.

Go find yourself some Easy Rider, or V-Twin mags and they have alot of advertisements that you can check out!  That will give you some ideas on frames and prices.  Go to www.denniskirk.com and get the catalogs.  They also sell frames, and other stuff from them.  Very good business to order from, never had problems!

[kneedownnate]

I'd start with a metric bike, but I really really don't like hardleys.  Waaaaay too over-rated, and waaaaay too expensive for what you get. 

[CTENG in KS]

You might be a whole lot better off going with a bobber style than a full awn chopper.  They will handle much better, easier to build from a stock platform so you don't need a custom frame, and you can still get that low, hard-tail rear end look.

[kneedownnate]

Werd.  I've long thought it would be cool to build a bobber around a sport bike 1000cc v-twin engine, then jesse james kinda did it with one of my favorites, an rc51 engine.  A ducati engine would be bitchin, but sacriligious at the same time. 

[Hammerhead]

A Duc motor would be sweet but like Nate said a bit sacreligious...


As stated above be sure that is what you want.  Choppers handle horribly so ride a few before you sink the bucks into it.  I've had a few and ridden many...   Very few would be what I call enjoyable to ride.

I've wanted to build an old school chopper from an old XS650 or maybe even a Virago (Euro/Seca 920 chain-drive)...  Never had the time or money.  Too many other projects. 

[BikerTrash]

Werd.  I've long thought it would be cool to build a bobber around a sport bike 1000cc v-twin engine, then jesse james kinda did it with one of my favorites, an rc51 engine.  A ducati engine would be bitchin, but sacriligious at the same time. 

Ducati powered choppers? Here you go.
http://www.13choppers.com/index.html

[red]

You might be a whole lot better off going with a bobber style than a full awn chopper.  They will handle much better, easier to build from a stock platform so you don't need a custom frame, and you can still get that low, hard-tail rear end look.

whats a bobber style havent heard that before.

thinking towards an import cruiser as the basic platform, at least the motor/drivetrain.

[CTENG in KS]

Much like a chopper, but you keep more of the original frame and you dont have the rake in the front forks that kills the ride.

[CTENG in KS]

The ones in the post above are pretty much full customs, but this one is an example of what you can do for a bit less modification.  It retains the stock frame and swingarm, but replaces the rear springs with solid bars to lower the rear and create a hardtail, then they switched over to a solo seat with springs.  The traditional bobber has no front fender and you mount the original front fender over the rear tire and trim it short.