Choppers
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Savannah, Ga.
Just my simple view.
In 1972 I took a 1958 Triumph Trophy 650 and chopped off the rear suspension and welded on a hardtail. I fabricated a new front axle and installed a front wheel from a Jap bike (skinny, don't remember the size) and spooled up a Harley rim onto my rear hub. I also did a bunch of other stuff.
That's a chopper.
When the factory calls their model a "Chopper", I listen politely, but my inclination is to call it a "Custom".
In 1972 I took a 1958 Triumph Trophy 650 and chopped off the rear suspension and welded on a hardtail. I fabricated a new front axle and installed a front wheel from a Jap bike (skinny, don't remember the size) and spooled up a Harley rim onto my rear hub. I also did a bunch of other stuff.
That's a chopper.
When the factory calls their model a "Chopper", I listen politely, but my inclination is to call it a "Custom".
It seems to me that any thing you do to your bike(apes, drag pipes, ect.) would make it a 'custom' of some sorts, so in reality we all probably have a custom type of bike, I don't particulaly care for Big Dog bikes, to me a chopper is Easy Riders Captain America...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
The original term "chopper" came from the guys on the West Coast, who after coming home from World War II found lots of surplus motorcycles to be had for not a lot of money. The bikes had saddlebags, full fenders and seats, etc. So they " chopped off" saddlebags, full fenders, seats, etc, and the " chopper " was born. The term stuck and became the term used for other mods, including rake and trail mods, and of course now applies to some bikes as they come off the production line. I had one that I ran as my " bar hopper" back in the day, but I always had a more streetable ride for my long distance riding parked right next to it.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 63
From: Los Angeles
I think pro street means its meant for cruising. Rubber mounted engine and all that.
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