By: unknown
The hottest trend to hit the motorcycling world has been the that choppers are now considered to be apart of main stream biking. Previously this type of bike was the preserve of many outlawed biker groups but today have become a mode of transport for lawyers and doctors. The renewed interest in these kinds of bikes has been caused by TV shows such as "The Great Biker Build Off" and "American Chopper".
Not since the heyday of choppers in the 70's, no doubt fuelled by the iconic movie Easy Rider, have you been able to find such a large range of choppers available in either kit form or already completed. In this article we will attempt to guide you through the process of finding the right chopper that will give you years of service.
One of the first things you need to decide on is what kind of chopper it you want. Today there are basically three types of chopper that you can choose from.
The Bobber: This is what an original style chopper would have looked like and which were being built by US Servicemen upon their return home after the Second World War. This bike is provided with its distinctive by removing those parts which are not needed. Not only does this reduce the weight of the bike but also helps to improve its performance levels. Also to further improve its handling then lowering the unsprung weight as well as moving its center of gravity can help. Certainly the last couple of years there has been a steady increase in the popularity of the Bobber chopper.
The Pro Street Chopper: Probably the most easily recognizable of all the styles of chopper now available. A good version of this bike will come with long extended forks and a fat tire on the rear. This particular bike has derived its style from the drag bikes you see. However because of the bikes geometry this can make its handling difficult especially on twisty roads. But once on a straight and open road it really shows its true colors.
The Rat Bike: First started appear on the motorcycle scene in the late 70's and early 80's of the 20th Century and is similar in looks to those used in the movie "Max Max". For those that own such a bike the whole aim is to keep it on the road for as long as possible without actually spending too much cash on it. Often this may mean that they will take parts from other machines and add them to their own. Unlike Bobber and Pro Street Choppers which are usually quite colorful these are usually Matt Black only.
When you have decided upon the style of chopper that you want the next step is to make a decision on the style of rear suspension it should have. You have the choice of either a hard tail or a soft tail. With a hard tail there is no rear suspension and the only comfort you will have when riding it comes from the springs built into the bikes seat. As for the soft tail this has extremely good rear suspension and so the ride is much more comfortable. If you are going to be someone who intends to spend a large part of their spare time riding their bike then a chopper with soft tail suspension would be ideal for you.
