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Chopper Bicycles are Chopped
and Ridden With Style!
LOOK AT ME! Chopper bicycles will get you the
attention you crave. Believe me, I will tell you no lies.
A chopper bicycle is no ordinary bike. Its one BAD
piece of hardware, and it's guaranteed to get you looks no matter
where you go. If you're looking to become the coolest kid (or
adult!) on your block, this is the bike for
you!
"Whose motorcycle is this? --
It's a chopper,
baby"
Bruce Willis - Pulp Fiction
Bruce knew the difference, and there really is
no comparison. Remember the movie Low Rider? Peter Fonda and Dennis
Hopper cruise the back roads of America in search of the American
Dream. And they do it in style. Yeah, Fonda's ride ROCKED. That's
what a chopper is all about...style.
Each one is created in and reflects the style of
the builder. Not to make them sound wimpy, but chopper bicycles are
examples of pure artistic expression. Although mass production is
increasing, the essence of the chopper is found by getting your
hands dirty and doing it yourself.
If you'd like
to learn how to build your very own, check out Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza. It's an
incredible resource, especially for the novice.
No matter how
you acquire a chopper bicycle, you're going to become REAL attached
REAL fast. Chances are good you'll be the only one you know with
one. People will whisper about the new kid in town...until your
bicycle gets stolen. I came across a statistic the other
day:
It takes seven seconds to steal a locked
bike.
Stop by the National Bike Registry to protect your bicycle.
Also, if you want
some help when you go to buy, check out Bike Buying.
It's a great guide written to help you get more for your
money.
A Quick
History
Chopper bicycles got their start in the
1950s when World War II veterans began modifying their motorcycles.
They'd seen lighter, better handling bikes overseas, and
POOF!...parts started coming off. A fender here, a mirror there, and
soon a strangely hip bike immerged.
These changes kept
occurring over the years...lose the windshield & crash bar!
Wheel size changed, as well, with the front tire becoming smaller
and the rear tire getting nice and fat. The biggest change was the
raised handlebars which were called
APE HANGERS.
I love that term, and it
makes sense too.
And so THE CHOPPER WAS BORN {A
Space Odyssey 2001 theme plays...}
*Get
it? Chopping stuff off your bike? --- Chopper?*
These
changes were all taking place in the late 60s and early 70s. Easy
Rider was really on the cutting edge huh? But when did bicycles
start to enter this hip picture? Let me tell you...
California
Dreamin'
Of course, bicycle choppers
would HAVE to come from Cali, everything cool comes from there. And
they were being built earlier than you might think.
In the
early 1960s, kids out west were already fiddling with their
bicycles, creating elongated saddles and those awesome APE HANGARS.
Boredom? Creative genius? Who knows, but it didn't take long for
major bicycle manufacturers to take notice and soon the Schwinn
Stingray was born.
And it Was
So
Style continued to evolve and UK
based company Raleigh created the Raleigh Chopper, the 1st chopper
bicycle. (no creative genius on that
name)
Interesting note: When this bicycle was released
in the United Kingdom, there was a good amount of public rage. A
good part of this was over how the seat could easily hold two
people...namely a BOY and GIRL. Ewwwww!
Well, many other
chopper bicycles are on the market, and with 70s style becoming
popular again, you're sure to see more and more of these on the
street. Is a chopper bicycle right for you? Hop on one and try it
out! I'll see you on the street, ya delinquent!
This
book is incredible! It teaches you everything you want to know about
bicycle building. From welding basics to scrounging up cheap
materials, it's all in here! AND Amazon's new feature lets you look
at what's inside before you buy it. Just check out the table of
contents on this one...
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