Talk:Chopper (motorcycle)

Untitled
Choppers as we know them, were being created in the late 50s in California. A simple search will bring up info and photos of chopped bikes with ape-hangers, etc. The Road Regents MC, for example, were pioneers in this area. The "Bob-job Era" section here needs to be changed to reflect all this. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Saturn Five (talk • contribs) 08:25, 29 May 2017 (UTC)

The truth
I understand what is being said today...I am just trying to clear up the lies and give the public the truth. Mondo Porras is not a pioneer of the chopper. My Dad, Denver Mullins is the pioneer. At least put my dad's name first. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.63.189.215 (talk • contribs) 18:35, 27 April 2006


 * *A* pioneer, yes. "The" pioneer ? You'll get a lot of flack on that one :) Have to agree with you on "Mondo Porras" tho. Who the heck was he ? And yes, I worked in a shop building and selling performance parts for bikes back in 1970. Kosman Specialties predated about 98% of the 'chopper builders' running around today claiming credit.

Cafe racers
Can we mention cafe racers at the same time? This was another stripped motorcycle, albeit a separate style with separate objectives... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.147.114.130 (talk • contribs) 22:06, 5 May 2006

Work needed
Wow, this page needs work. There's no pictures of modern choppers (AKA O.C.C.) or anything else. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.252.122.207 (talk • contribs) 22:41, 21 June 2006
 * That's because there are none. When the straights look over and say, "Oh cool, it's a dentist having a midlife crisis" this is no longer a chopper. 210.22.142.82 (talk) 05:42, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
 * But anyone who has an understanding of what a true 21st century chopper is, (and that is subjective) is completely free to take some outstanding photos of modern choppers, and add them to this article. Standards of "reliable sources" are far less stringent for images than for text, and images are judged mostly on aesthetics and illustrative value. I am not a dentist, and actually need to see a dentist for tooth care. But I am also not a longtime biker. Call me a "wannabe" if you wish, but I am ready, willing and able to assist any biker editor to improve any motorcycling article on this encyclopedia. Take that to the bank.  Cullen 328  Let's discuss it  06:03, 24 August 2013 (UTC)

Chopper Time Line Needed
This page is really bad. It has pictures of trikes which is in no way are choppers. The page touches on the origins of choppers and the trend of custom bikes being mistaken as choppers. The wild man shop is completely inaccurate. I would like to see a timeline done on this page of the different style of choppers and innovative chopper builders in these time periods.

Ex. 60’s style American choppers to

70’s Added ape hangers and large rakes to

80’s style over done paint jobs to

90’s- early millennium fat tire and billet trend to

Current recent revival of back street choppers cut down look and style with today’s performance parts.

Real chopper pictures are needed to show looks of these chopper trends.

"To build or chop a traditional chopper an unmodified factory bike is used (usually a rigid Harley Davidson)"?? Only "usually" in the USA. I've seen many many chops built using Japanese and British engines - even a bmw, although that did look a little odd. Many show-class choppers are Harley's I'll admit, but there's a lot of us out there that haven't got that sort of money or even prefer other engines. The whole point is individuality. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.105.16.209 (talk) 11:54, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

I agree with the above comments. This article could use a lot of improvement. I like the idea of a decade by decade breakdown. There certainly are chopper styles of the 1960s, 1970s, I'm not sure what differentiates the 1980s and the 1990s. I think the 2000's was the decade of the fat wheel choppers, and also when the choppers on TV thing started. What year was Jessie's first show? — Preceding unsigned comment added by ZeroXero (talk • contribs) 19:09, 20 July 2013 (UTC)

Chopper Pictures
The pictures on the chopper page is not a chopper. Does any one have rights to pictures that are choppers. Espcially the different era's of choppers. HunterIrrigation 17:12, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Traditonal Chopper
Since the write up on chopper was so all over the place as the current use of the term. I have inculded a complete write up of a Traditional Chopper and the history behind. Source from many magazine, books and personal interviews from year of following the scene. HunterIrrigation 17:48, 24 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Hey all,
 * As someone with minimal chopper knowledge, I'd like to interject with my two cents - If I understand correctly after reading this article, the technical seperation between what is and isn't a chopper relies on if the frame has been modified. If that's so, the intro paragraph could be more clear and direct - a lot of people don't read beyond it. just a suggestion! Jodamn 06:21, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

Wrong definition
The article says "a chopper is a radically customized motorcycle", witch is wrong. A chopper is not necessary customized. Stock bikes such as Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail, Kawasaki Vulcan, Honda Valkyrie, Suzuki Intruder, Yamaha Midnight Star etc. are called choppers. Netrat (talk) 11:35, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

The article's definition is correct, the motorcycles you list are referred to as factory customs. Woogaus (talk) 04:46, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

The definition is incorrect. The key word in "chopper" is "chop." A motorcycle handbuilt from scratch to have a certain appearance would be called a custom built bike. To build a "chop"per, you must first start with a factory production bike. The factory bike is then cut, modified, (usually requires welding) and chopped. The finished product is a chopper. The builder chooses what style he likes and builds the bike accordingly. This could or not include "raking" the front-end, stretching the frame, or installing ape-hangers, etc. Choppers are built from original bikes, not built from a catalog and out of a box. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cb75078 (talk • contribs) 20:46, 11 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia editors don't make up word definitions. That's what Urban Dictionary is for. It's true that chopper has its origins in the act of cutting a factory frame, but over time the commonly accepted definition of the word has been broadened. Old timers can and will complain that things were better in the old days, but Wikipedia isn't here to judge. We just look up what the sources say and summarize that. Even if it isn't consistent with the original word. --Dennis Bratland (talk) 20:58, 11 June 2012 (UTC)

High handlebars
Can someone explain the purpose of high handlebars? 220.76.15.216 (talk) 20:12, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I found this reference: Bicycle_handlebar, but it still doesn't explain the purpose of these handlebars. 220.76.15.180 (talk) 16:00, 13 March 2009 (UTC)

High handlebars or ape hangers as they are more commonly known, have no real purpose, they are a just a styling point. Woogaus (talk) 04:33, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Anyone recognize ths source for these photos?
I've seen copies of this photo set on many sites: http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/wild-childs-custom-shop/wild-childs-custom-/ File:FirstChopperMotorcycle.JPG is on Commons licensed CC-by-SA, uploaded by, the accounts only contribution. The set above, © Rik Hoving Kustoms, is three years newer (2009) than the one uploaded to Wikipedia, 2006. But I'd like to know where the scans orignated, and if they were published elsewhere, presumably under copyright. --Dennis Bratland (talk) 04:16, 11 June 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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