thinking about going in a new motorcycling direction
 

It seems that going fast and taking corners at super fast speeds, while fun, is something I'm kinda finding isnt what I want to do as a rider long term. granted I enjoy twisties, I want something different, and more day to day oriented than racebike derived. I suppose you could say I'm just becoming a more or less mature rider, and wanting something I can enjoy seeing the sights on. call me nuts, but I want to go slower and enjoy life.


Taking a new 1200 sportster, and making a chopper. I was at the harley dealer looking at em today, and they just had two older ones with this certain look that jsut begged to be raked out a few degrees or so.

Now the idea is really churning in my head, and I want to try and come up with some ideas on how to make a chopper thta looks cool, but is also practical as an everyday bike.

Right now I'm envisioning something like the captain america chopper from the easy rider movie, but with a less extreme front end.

what say y'all?

Gee I wouldn't know anything about this topic.

But I will tell you this. Chopper and everyday bike don't go hand in hand.

If you want a chopper and really do. Consider just buying a factory custom. Right now you can get a 2 yr old bdm for about 50% of new. Or in the mid teens. Its crazy right now.

Honestly... for me to type out everything on this subject is just crazy. I'm more than willing to give you my phone number and we can chat on the subject...

But remember I don't know anything about the topic.... :D

After my build
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../Flight006.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...202008/029.jpg

I should mention this will be like a 2nd bike that I could take when I feel the urge to ride it. I realize that it'll have that lack of rear suspension, and be unpleasant in that aspect at least. Maybe I'll just find something of an old sporty and just ride it.

I kinda expected you to chime in GM.

The chopper idea is just one of those you see a bike that has a certain look and just visualize it raked out a bit, and the right pipes. its just that you see it and the vision comes forth from the fog. Its not something I'm dead set on doing, but if I found the right project bike I'd probably build one.

Ultimately, I just need a change from plastic wrapped police magnets.

Don't start with a new bike. Given your love of tinkering, go find a hardtail frame that will accept a Sportster engine and look for a crashed donor bike or two. Remember... Buell XB's use Sportster engines ;)

AYYYYMEN!

I've ridden a few back when I had the urge.....but ONLY consider one if it's a 2nd 3rd or 10th bike as it won't hardly EVER be ridden

I'm seriously considering a CBR 750 Four chopper build....just because I like OLD SKOOL choppers and not so much the "fluff" of the new


Especially after riding my buddies big dog

I'm about at this point as well. My next bike will most likely not be a sportbike. Haven't nailed down exactly what I want. But I have a couple in mind.

Agreed.

No offense to GM or anyone else that rode or "built" a modern chopper but those are a bastardation of the meaning of the word.

A true chopper is a bike that has had parts chopped off, welded on, cannibalized from other bikes and has more man hours invested than dollars.

I think the sporty build sounds great. :dthumb:

PRECISELY my feelings. Its one thing to go out and buy a pre built chopper, but its 10000000X more fun to begin with a bike you like, and have vision for, and build it YOUR way. The whole point is to build something unique to your style and tastes.


in my ideal chopper, I'll actually keep rear suspension in the interests of having functionality and style.

Why not try out like a bandit 1200 or fz or something like that before you 1000% switch styles. A standard is the ultimate day to day bike.

Dont like the bandits, and not real into the FZ. Its just time for me to make a major life change in bikes. only fully faired bike I'll even bother with is a VFR or an FJR1300.

Lately, I think its more that the V twin rumble from a harley has really grown on me immensely, and I'm falling in love with it.

did you get married and just haven't told us yet?

I lived the chopper experience and it cannot be a primary bike. I also feel that the over the top chopper look is kind of dead. Fatbaggers and highly customized harleys are more the norm. Look at some of the stuff Roland Sands has done to softails or FBI with roadkings.

Manly rigid, swing arms are for sissys........so I thought.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...g/CIMG0245.jpg

I highly doubt this one. unless I am and nobody told me.

That style looks ok to me, but I greatly prefer the hand built cobbled together from 70 other bikes look, kinda raw and unfinished so to speak.

To me, an enjoyable bike is smooth, comfortable, can go around a corner with no fuss, can pass a row of cars going up a steep hill, and keeps the wind blast off me. And to me, the sights would include Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. A chopper wouldn't do it for me, and a Goldwing is just too much. My CBR1000F is close at doing it all, but an 1,100cc Blackbird would be even better.

No worries, sounds like you need a connie 14.

yep.....

"Chopper"
http://www.twowheelfix.com/attachmen...1&d=1236302392
05 Shadow 750, total spent in mods(not counting the tools) $300 fork extensions & adjustable struts. Rest is by hand and tool.

Gee I think I might know abt this....

I'm well aware of the difference between old and new school. The new factory customs are a dieing breed. The old school choppers are back in style. More so in the bobber look. You aren't going to educate me on the topic.

Of coarse... that is also what is in style now.

I can't stand choppers personally as I think they are total poser mobiles...With that said, if you want a bike you can ride around that isn't all about carving corners, get a cruiser like a HD Nighttrain.

I love stuff thats built from parts honestly, which is kinda why I want to make my own bike by repurposing one.

IF I actually had freakin TWISTIES near me, I"d get another sportbike, like a little 500, I dont need a lot of power in a sportbike. but my roads are primarily flat and straight, and BLAH really, which influences my thinking. Its wasteful to have all that cornering potential and no roads to use it on.

I may just get a sportster and leave it alone, other than a windshield and jsut RIDE The thing.

What is your skill level mechanically?

Consider a nightster? or really any of the dark night HD series.

Mechanically? Nothing is beyond my ability, I dont remember if I mentioned it here, but I built my 1000R from 9 boxes of parts, including the motor, which should say everything you need to know about my level of knowledge.

Can you weld? Cause if so then the possibilites are endless. Could take a bobber frame and put it together with a buell motor/trans and front forks, and front wheel brakes.

I still have to learn welding, Right now I'm not exactly good at it. I kinda wish my grandfather was still around to teach me this shit. Oxy acetelyne and arc/mig/tig are still outside my range of knowledge for now. so odds are I'll just find something I like out of the box, ride it, and later on buy another to spend years modifying.

A few years ago i bought a cambel housefeld 125 mig welder, and a book, welding for dummies. Its actually easier than it looks. It probably took me a few hours to learn how to make a passable weld, and a few weeks to do it pretty good. I think the total investment was close to $300 to get started.

That's fucking sick, I love it.

have you been introduced to.......

http://www.redneckengineering.com/mutant_drag.htm

They have tons of possibilities n their site. essentially a buell or sportster donor is all you need to get started.

welcome to the "you should have seen how fast I was club" :rockwoot: we're gonna live longer now and pay fewer fines. ............maybe, I do know (first hand)that a HD will wheelie. LOL