The Rise and Fall of Choppers

Choppers had a meteoric rise in popularity through the 60s and 70s, only change and then die in the 2000s. Or did they die?
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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
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[@matthewmarquisee238]

One of the best things about this video is the narrator. It's a real human instead of a robot voice.

[@user-McGiver]

''robo voices'' are used by non-english speakers...

[@matthewmarquisee238]

@@user-McGiver there is one robo voice I always hear that has almost a NY accent.

[@chrislye8912]

I agree and I like his accent.

[@rupertbollywood1190]

He's most likely reading out a script generated by AI. I don't imagine any skills or effort go into his videos - just reading in front of a mic while putting shutterstock clips in sequence. He's just an algorithm jockey. He's good at working the algorithm. This channel seems like pure KZbin business, for the $. He's got one vintage bike, and is too young to be a guru on all these subjects. He Googles, researches, generates a script and reads it. Same formula on all his videos. Like Gordon Ramsay in Kitchen Nightmares. He doesn't care that I'm writing this - he's watching the analytics page. So don't cry about me telling the truth. HE doesn't. He's a businessman.

[@noahway13]

That is REALLY getting to be a big thing. The a.i. even writes it, and then it might get a little edit job before it goes out. But not always. AND THEY SUCK. Its like they are reading Wikipedia in an awful robot/human voice.

[@browngreen933]

You never mentioned the biggest influence on the radical choppers of the 1960s- 1970s -- LSD

[@terrycreech8801]

You're exactly right that's the years I grew up driving choppers that was the last of the real biker generation right there

[@teeess9551]

@@terrycreech8801 Sad ha ha Harley riders

[@AlexRye-sv6no]

​@@terrycreech8801What makes a "real" biker?

[@phil6506]

@@AlexRye-sv6no commitment to his/her lifestyle

[@pa4tim]

@@AlexRye-sv6no Only driving a motorbike in all weather and in all seasons. I switched to sidebikes because I could still ride in the snow and transport my dog and f.i. grosseries. I started in the 80's when I was 18, I'm now 61 and my main transport is still a motorbike.

[@kct9967]

My youngest is 21 and he and his friends are all in on 70s choppers, I love watch them run around looking for parts or building their own bikes!😂😂😂

[@timothyporras3720]

Tell them thank you for keeping us RAGS alive 🙏 live to ride Harley-Davidson choppers 4ever 120yrs

[@osdreadlord3205]

A lot easier to learn to work on those. 👍

[@tr4nsg0th1ca]

​@timothyporras3720 I ride a 75 ironhead done up in the 70s norcal style, and I absolutely adore it. Such a fun scoot to ride!

[@johncartwright8154]

Old English geezer here. I was a Mod, riding a Lambretta LT175 with loads of lights and mirrors, and a tank aerial (with de riguer foxtail) that caused police to ask me to remove it as it was so long it was a hazard to other rode users. I saw 'Easy Rider' when first released and bought an ex-GPO (Post Office) BSA Bantam 125cc and put Ape-hangers on it. Unfortunately I didn't think to install a longer throttle cable, so on first ride of this 'customised' sled, turning the bars to the left opened the throttle wide and I fell off. I was such a twat in my youth.

[@zipper978]

Hah my friend was my friend was a punk in London. He told me stories about hating Mods. He drove a group of Mods off the road once 😂

[@robertmartin8233]

We all were, first bike was a Garelli record 50cc, put the ape hangers on it and thought it was the coolest thing ever all my friends riding honda and Yamaha Suzuki 50cc were so jealous, now 6 months away from being 70 years old, I've been riding a Suzuki Vs 1400,1995 for the last 18 years and I can honestly say that this is the best bike ever.

[@mottthehoople693]

have you changed? I heard somewhere that us males only mature about 6 months before we die...

[@johncartwright8154]

@@mottthehoople693 no, my wife of 43 years still thinks I'm a twat!

[@gabrielmalta1962]

LMFAO I just had the same experience as a 23 year old with a Suzuki Intruder GN125. Bought it with armpit driers already and parking it was always an adventure, hitting the rev limiter on neutral whenever I had to turn left. Hasn't happened since I swapped for a cafe-racer style flat bar though.

[@WitchcraftCycleWorks]

Some of us are still building choppers just like it all began. We take a perfectly good, stock bike, and cut, chop and rake it. No huge budgets, no professional garage setups, no sponsorships. Just old school do it yourself choppers.

[@tr4nsg0th1ca]

That's how I built my 75 ironhead. Granted, she's not a true chopper since I never cut the frame, but I prefer the norcal style anyway. According to my uncle, she looks just like the bike his friend had in the 70s 😁

[@gqp3215]

I built Harley’s at York Park. in 1984. AMF sold it to Willie G Davidson and friends and we made the first evo, a great engine. I ran multi spindle screw machines that spit out most of the parts on the motorcycles. I worked right next to the bomb line. The old factory was an arsenal. New building there now. Bought an 81 AMF 1340 super glide while there. 20% employee discount and $500 rebate on a hog made my day, a leftover that didn’t sell in the 81 batch of bikes. Bike still running today😊

[@johnhill7058]

York Park quality control was legendary ( sarcasm).

[@Nicoya]

I think you missed the main seed of the chopper movement: the high bars, upright seating position and raked forks were all originally modifications aimed at improving highway / long ride comfort. Of course they quickly wrapped around to being incredibly impractical for those very same highway miles as people took things to absurd extremes, but it does nonetheless root the choppers in a practical adaptation of the motorcycle's fundamental form, the same as the cafe racers, scramblers, and so on that you mentioned.

[@dougiequick1]

Thats why the best designs of motorcycles for doing real iron butt miles look absolutely NOTHING like what you describe

[@Nicoya]

@@dougiequick1 They look nothing like the caricatured choppers that evolved out of them, that's for sure. From an ergonomics perspective they were much closer to what you'd find on a modern goldwing or adventure-touring bike.

[@abigstorm]

@@dougiequick1 not nothing, think of goldwings and hd baggers, even the adv bikes people do big miles on, they're all upright seat, medium - big rake (not so much the adv), pull back and high bars, even mini apes, it's not so far off. I agree with original commenter, origins were in making highway cruisers (with flair). Sissy bars, back rests for attaching bags to and leaning back on, high bars to rest on, highway pegs to stretch out legs.

[@amerigo88]

What about the stories I have read that wartime motorcycles had been field modified with high handlebars (ape hangers)? The idea was that if the enemy had stretched a wire across the road at the height of a motorcycle courier's throat, the handlebar would push the wire safely over his head? At the beginning of the "Colonel Blimp" movie (highly recommended), we see a wire across a road used to drag down a motorcycle courier.

[@Nicoya]

@@amerigo88 I've heard that story but I don't think there's much evidence to support it, and some of that evidence is conflicting (some say it was the Germans stringing up wires, others say it was the Japanese). The more plausible origin is that the higher style of ape hangers were used to give the rider extra leverage when lifting themselves out of the seat when going over bumps, as the bikes at the time had no meaningful rear suspension (usually only a sprung seat on a rigid frame).

[@user-KrackerJack]

Indian Larry's bikes were more ridable then the other "choppers"

[@walterfechter8080]

Once, long ago, I had a chance meeting with Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. We didn't talk too long about choppers, but he did let me in on some wisdom when it came to extended forks. "If the forks are longer than six inches over stock length, take them off, put on shorter forks and then go out and have fun on the bike." I never cared for the gaudy plastic-looking OCC bikes. A famous West coast bike builder once deemed the OCC guys "cake decorators." I couldn't agree more. Build right. Ride safe.

[@thesmokingburrito9097]

David Mann Paintings Were freakin Awesome!

[@nicholausstraach458]

“The were just regular guys like you and me, who also were creative and talented, so not like you and me” 😂😭

[@JA-zh5xi]

People quickly realized the choppers from the early 00’s were unrideable and mostly poorly built. They really are $5000 bikes. The big front tire bikes of today will be the next type of bike that will go for less than $10k in the next 5 years. Take a rideable bike and make it look dumb and less rideable.

[@dougiequick1]

Amen .....ignorance on display. Loved by? The ignorant. I was in love myself....when I was TWELVE lol...THEN I got a motorcycle, rode motorcycles worked on motorcycles and raced motorcycles and just naturally the chopper very quickly lost ALL it's alure....even the "bad ass" look evaporated into "DUMB looking"

[@MisterOcclusion]

Those big front tire baggers instantly make me think of that plastic Big Wheel kids trike. Grown men literally reliving their childhood, and looking silly doing it

[@garysavala665]

Indian Larry forever

[@stonehobson2487]

Choppers were unreliable in all decades. Always breaking down on the road, always fiddling with it. Lots of baling wire.

[@fderbar1]

I have a $5000 bike and it's perfectly rideable. It's a 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350. I've had it for 1 year and 10 months. I have 26,000 miles on it

[@stevelawrie9115]

I'm a motorcycle rider and have been my whole life. I have never made or owned a chopper but from an outsider's point of view, personally I liked Indian Larry's work best.

[@klowen7778]

Yep, and the chopper fad also grew out of a blue collar sensibility, where it became more 'Tribal' and mostly about 'Harley Davidson', than simply a 'motorcycle' thang (aka, 'ricers', 'jap crap', etc.).

[@telcobilly]

Same here! He was a decent, legit guy as well. I remember a bike build off episode where he cut the trophy in half because he said the other guy deserved it as much as he did.

[@ashdavies4200]

@@telcobilly indian larry was the greatest ... it was billy lane he beat in the bike build off ... and imho indian larry was a better bike builder.

[@Julian-yx4we]

I’m really loving this series you’ve done on biker history/culture. Please do a video on Bosozoku, it would be wild. 😁

[@ed9603]

To truly get a look at the many bike builders go research the series THE GREAT BIKER BUILD OFF WHICH THERE ARE MANY TRULY GREAT MOTORCYCLE BUILDERS AND YES A LOT OF CHOPPERS

[@francomartini4328]

My first encounter with choppers was the movie _Easy Rider,_ it was 1969 and I was 12 years old. In my teen years I was the typical penniless teenager who was into the whole custom car and bike scene (and wanted to be a rock star) but had to live these enthusiasms vicariously through magazines. With choppers it was through _Easy Riders,_ which was pure chopper porn. I got married in 1978 and life happened, so the dreams of my youth faded and were abandoned. Fast forward 25 years and along comes _American Chopper._ At first there was a sort of naive charm to this father/son team trying to start a chopper-building business but within a couple of years it had devolved into show about a dysfunctional family that build motorcycles that will never be ridden as high dollar promotional items on commission from corporate clients in between throwing furniture at each other and generally smashing up their workplace. The Teutuls were only ever reality TV stars and were never part of the traditional chopper-building scene like Arlen Ness or Indian Larry or Billy Lane. _American Chopper_ ruined American choppers.

[@dnswhh7382]

It is like Bruce Willis said: „It‘s not a motorcycle“

[@CaptainJohn]

It’s a chopper! Haha awesome reference

[@NoNonsenseFarming]

@@Manskilz Zed had it coming.

[@CB-fn3me]

@@Manskilz Zed probably wasn't dead at that time. Just in agony from having a red hot poker up his Khyber Pass...

[@jamescole9767]

It's a chopper baby, Zed's dead....😂

[@Trash2000s]

Yep. That movie proves choppers were well known and established before Occ. obviously easy rider too, just sayin.

[@jamesparsons5212]

Choppers were originally built not only for the artistic expression of the ridet but also to give the rider a more relaxed and laid back riding position. The longer front forks made the chopper more stable on the highways, but it does make them harder to corner. Sugarbear builds his front ends to actually handle better than most chopper front ends.

[@montyscribner700]

My first chopper build was in the mid 70s. It was built out a Triumph and looked pretty much the same as Indian Larry's version mentioned in this video. And, indeed the things you mentioned such as it was a ridged frame, the ride being terrible, the handling being awful I didn't have a speedometer so I had to be super conscious of my speed and also it didn't have a gas gauge of any kind so if I didnt want to have to push it I had to be really tuned into the distance I traveled since my last fill up. But cool? Oh yah, baby, I would not have traded it for any other bike on the road.

[@Mike-jv8bv]

they never really fell. i still see choppers to this day, Motorcycles never go out of fashion.

[@cleon5766]

Most definitely did as a kid I would see them here n there now I don't see them at all I think baggers is the new trend for bikers

[@stevenwilliams1805]

Are you sure many of these choppers you see aren't just factory bikes with a bunch of aftermarket bolt on parts. I understand it could be a bunch of real choppers around the area that you live in but, I don't see many in my area. And I'm new to riding so I notice bikes a lot more now.

[@tattoowho]

​@@cleon5766seems to me the number of chopper shows that are still pulling decent crowds would indicate that they are still relevant. They may have have a big boom when the TV shows were popular, but they didn't go away, just leveled back off.

[@oikkuoek]

The key into Chopper is that they are unrideable for common folk. Also they don't fit on your regular pick-up bed or van, so they are less likely to get stolen when parked on side of a street. When you ride your chopper to a clubhouse or bike meet, you will be judged as a person by your chopper. How far have you come, how much rake can you handle, can you hold on to ape hangers, where and how you pack your gear? It's the showcase of your ability and stamina as a rider, more than skill level of a designer, which is also on the spot too. If you REALLY know what you are doing, you can build a smooth and steady long distance cruiser that looks absolutely ridiculous. Those who know, know. And they will salute you.

[@braapchop5925]

My man…..awesome comment. Respect. 👊🏻

[@NickTaylorRickPowers]

It's not how you stand by your chopper It's how you struggle to do a 3 point turn with your chopper

[@johnhill7058]

full points for justification of a basically poor design and your admiration for criminals.

[@braapchop5925]

@@NickTaylorRickPowers Not all men are dainty are weak like yourself, and for those men, it’s no struggle. 😁

[@tonynewton2250]

They are less likely to get stolen because criminals have too much self respect to be seen on one. They don't really like being laughed at as they ride along, so they steal real bikes, not this hacked about shit.

[@ronm6585]

A chopper is "Your Style". Thanks bart.

[@joachimlagerstrom8958]

Great video! I often ride my chopper to work even though it takes 10 minutes more to get there. It is 10 minutes more of me with a big smile so it is definetly worth it. Can't explain why but it is a true joy riding it. Bad handling, noisy, awkward riding position... Love it!

[@larsblankenfjell9814]

If I feel bad for whatever reasons, I take a Ride on my Chopper, and have a smile all over my face

[@rickvia8435]

When I got a 1973 Sportster in '78, this 19 YO had gone to Heaven early. It went thru MANY iterations before I grew up 6 years later and bought an Electra Glide. That Sportster was my real 1st love and I'd love to own another someday.

[@trippkklimka3283]

I have two 1974 ironhead sportsters you may be interested in.

[@oldphart-zc3jz]

They're dirt cheap to buy so go for it. The best Sporty in functional terms and ease of wrenching is the five speed solid mount (not the four speed with the unfortunate "clutchernator" charging system though you can stick a five speed engine in their frames if you move the kickstand mount which is easy work. Ironheads are cheap to buy but expensive to (properly) overhaul and not as durable as the later solidmount Evos which may be HDs most refined engine. See the xlforum for everything there is to know about Sportsters of any generation. Solidmount five speeds in "get on and ride" condition go in high teens to mid-twos in much of the US with many low-mileage examples remaining.

[@ryankelly7562]

Wow, this was so well put together, thank you. I watched it start to finish. And for anyone worrying, choppers are still very alive and well, and they ain't goin nowhere

[@BrandonLeeBrown]

I remember when choppers were hugely popular in the 1960's. They started fading out of style in the 1970's and then sports bikes became huge in the 1980's. In the 1960's there were kids' bicycles styled like choppers, but the bicycle boom of the 1970's made 10 speed bikes more popular.

[@danamuise4117]

Gotta love the no front brakes!

[@sammylacks4937]

You don't really need them do you?

[@John_Ridley]

Probably not a problem since most of these bikes aren't safe to ride over about 40 MPH anyway. Also, most of this type of rider believe that the lightest touch on the front brake lever will immediately cause you to crash.

[@braapchop5925]

@@John_RidleyJust a takes a man with tremendous talent to tame the beast…..and most men simply aren’t cut out for it.

[@TheWolfsnack]

I rode with minimal or no front brake for a couple of decades....(the old FL front brakes were more a suggestion)....mechanical brake on the back....so back then you learned to effectively use compression instead of brakes to slow down....still do, even with dual disc front and disc rear....

[@ccave-ss8lj]

Chopper philosophy: cant leave well enough alone

[@BonelessVR]

Better than big wheel baggers and stretched 600's.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

Yeah, Vincent Black Shadow with ape hangers!

[@dougiequick1]

@@blacksquirrel4008 SACRILIDGE! dont even say that! man!

[@MisterOcclusion]

@@dougiequick1the moment Bart mentioned a chopped Vincent, my chest tightened…

[@rickrandom6734]

If I win in lottery I will buy restored Brough Superior and let to Orange County Choppers customize it.

[@chassisresearchkid]

Orange county CRAP!!!!!

[@dougiequick1]

Amen!

[@ulanarni8804]

Yes this is the truth. It was nothing, only a big air number. Einfach nur Bockmist mit großen Mäulern.

[@jamiemoffatt50]

They’re more than you’ll ever be! 🖕🤡🖕

[@calysagora3615]

@@dougiequick1 More like B-men actually. xD

[@p.kuansuwan2070]

8:23 An HRD in a chopper video? Very cool. There’s always something to learn, the rich history and diversity of these machines are what first got me into cars and now motorcycles.

[@KitLaughlin]

A fantastic documentary, Bart. Thank you.

[@DouglasStudzinskideSouza]

Practically everything made in the 2000s has aged very poorly. From cars, motorcycles and fashion.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

Yeaaah but Choppers aren't from the 2000's. They're from the 1950's. Yeah, some of them took a weird turn in the 2000's, but plenty of people still build real, traditional choppers which are nothing like anything made by OCC.

[@ellwoodwolf]

Yeah... My frosted tips, large ball-chain necklace and Jnco jeans that cover my airwalks have aged so much better.

[@peterthoms1438]

What are you talking about? The 2000s were the golden age of motorcycles where especially sport bikes reached their peak before they were neutered by electronics and emission standards. Bikes like the Daytona 675 and the GSXR 1000 K5 are not possible today and still can hold up by today’s standards. The 2004 ZX10R and the Daytona still look great today. The 2007 street triple is still the best lookin until now. 2001 Triumph reintroduced the Bonneville. The Ducati 1098 is one often most beautiful Ducati’s ever made and I prefer it to the Panigale (especially the rear).They are many great looking bikes even if you disregard the fact that it was the peak point of technology.

[@914050]

I think there is a dead zone between "retro" and "modern," which the mid-late 2000's are currently residing in. In the mid 90's, the late 70's were the height of tackiness, while the 60's seemed cool (bell bottoms made a comeback). Then by the early 2000's, the 80's were hilarious in how tacky they were, and the 70's started to seem cool again. More recently, some of Gen Z have gotten into the Y2K fashion aesthetic (late 90's-early 2000's), and some retro technology items. In terms of cars from that time, VW R32 Golf, Honda S2000, BMW E46 M3, and the Aston Martin Vanquish have aged well.

[@tsoliot5913]

It'll come around again. The 2000s were very much a hangover from the retro rages of the 90s. Everything aesthetically was kind of bankrupt after the early 90s, and we're still kind of finding our feet looking for substance in style. I predict a form over function and return to the honest anesthetic appeal of the gilded age, neoclassical, and art nouveau/deco styles soon.

[@914050]

11:40 - One of the key things about the Easy Rider "Western" concept is that instead of the traditional East-to-West direction, they travel from West-to-East. This is reversal and rejection of the traditional narrative of Westward expansion and the American Dream, and one of the reasons the film is so impactful. As the characters travel east looking for freedom or enlightenment or whatever, they become increasingly disillusioned by the country they experience along the way.

[@dougiequick1]

Like Fonda's character said before their tragic end "...we blew it man" or a line very close to that....wrong way

[@Cabalero24]

интересное замечание!

[@MisterOcclusion]

Gauche is the word that comes to mind with commercial choppers, especially the branded or themed ones. About as “cringe” as buying a Harley Davidson branded Ford F150

[@ratthechicken]

I was introduced to choppers by the 2000s era skulls and fire boomer hyper cringe. So no matter how much history I learn about early choppers and customs, I can't shake how much my skin crawls seeing a chopper.

[@mynameisnobody211]

Haha Yep, they’re gay, boomer cringe

[@mywhatahampster]

Great video! The chopper and to some degree the cafe racer/scrambler are great platforms for people who don't want to just ride, but also want to build. It's the process of building these bikes that people learn to weld, paint, fabricate, etc... and there's no cooler bike in the world than the one you fabbed parts for, welded the frame, and painted yourself. Also I agree 100% the simpler "garage built" chopper aesthetic is way cooler than the lavish OCC stuff.

[@MrCracker0316]

A chopper to me is like setting in your recliner, nice an relaxed cruising down the highway.

[@davidcantwell2489]

As a sport bike rider, that's what we call the "Human Parachute " position.

[@michaelsmith2733]

Mr. Cracker, I feel the same as you, I've owned many motor cycles in my life one was a slightly leaky AMF Sportster built with about the same dimensions as Fondas easy rider bike, but with a flame paint job. I used to ride it all over the Pacific Northwest and I felt quite comfortable riding it. My wife how ever was in tears on the back. She never did complain or whine about it and only let me know when I traded it years later for an Electra Gluide. She's a good sport, I had no idea she was suffering so.

[@JohnMcClain-p9t]

I started building chops in the 70's, built my own last in the nineties, still riding it these days. 90 in STD panhead, Delkron cases in a custom built frame built on my own tubing bender and frame table. I've got a frame bent up and ready to weld in my machine shop right now. I've been rebuilding old 60's triumphs lately to get some younger generation into the scene. Got my young niece working on her 61 T100 Triumph. Locked and cocked and ready to rock! Down here in eastern NC. John McClain, GySgt, USMC ret.

[@teamgonzo9289]

Team Gonzo here. "Bobbers"= police motorcycles, that was strip down. The reason we wanted extended forks on the big Harley-Davidsons. Is much simpler than you think. The scavenging pump, on these engines are in the rear of the crankcase. Raising the front end insured a constant flow of oil, breaking and leaning it in corners. California was going to outlaw extended forks until, a writer took a chopper from Barstow to Vegas across the desert and made it without crashing. So the DMV said if it can make it from Barstow to Vegas across the sand, it's good to go!!! 👍🇱🇷 Let me see how many movies of choppers made it into the Congressional library in Congress!???? Oh yeah that's right "Easy Rider"!!! I haven't read this guy's book yet. But being raised in the Coachella Valley, where you can ride all year round at sea level. There were many clubs. The whole thing about choppers is being free brother. A personal expression. Just saying....................

[@stevegappa2959]

"The reason we wanted extended forks on the big Harley-Davidsons. Is much simpler than you think. The scavenging pump, on these engines are in the rear of the crankcase. Raising the front end insured a constant flow of oil, breaking and leaning it in corners. " might be a side benefit, but I never heard any chopper builder saying I want extended forks to increase oil flow...just saying..

[@gregoryscott7088]

@@stevegappa2959 And neither "breaking" and leaning it in corners" would be a side benefit to extend forks.

[@DocSolstice]

Love my Wide Glide...

[@spacetruckin6555]

I still want an Exile Cycle/Russell Mitchell bike to this day. They were just so mean and clean.

[@seanmakesthings]

I understand why you might think the chopper scene is just "art on two wheels" but it's so so so much more than that. Nearly every real chopper goes in deep on performance in some aspect, and yes there are show bikes, but 90% of guys aren't building those, they're building bikes that can handle well for long distances at high speeds, while still looking awesome and unique

[@braapchop5925]

So true….those that get it, get it.

[@stephenmay1982]

Billy Lane is an expert in old motorcycles,he is the one to watch ,that guy is talented.

[@larsblankenfjell9814]

He is in the same category as Indian Larry, watch his bike, "King of New York" amazing bike

[@stephenmay1982]

@@larsblankenfjell9814 ,I agree

[@Masterkill45588]

What I like about alot of the bikes Jessie James builds, and he's brought it up in interviews too, is he does alot of stuff where he wants it to almost look like it couldn't run, he hides wiring, you don't see oil tanks, etc. He has said people will look at his bikes and guys will ne standing around talking about how it couldn't run and he walks over and fires it up and they just go whoaa. It's just so clean

[@gaydes1012]

the 2000s didn't kill choppers, it just buried them, it's gone back to being a grassroots movement, Weems Motor Co is a great channel to get a look into the "chopper revival" that's happening, it's just cool dudes building bikes in their garages, going to shows to share them with other people, riding them all across the country, and just enjoying the experience of riding and building bikes, other good channels to look at include 947 Works, The Motorcycle Archives, and The Eazy Co.

[@HasRedBeard]

I just picked up a 77 CB750 hard tail springer, it's a Mullins survivor. Not a daily rider but I love it.

[@braapchop5925]

Before long, it’ll become your daily…..and riding anything else will just feel boring.

[@daverose2279]

good video the purpose of a chopper is a state of mind, it may not be the best preformance bike but it feeds your soul. when you get on an 8 or 9 food chopper you have to totally focus on controling the beast. the rest of the world is gone. also on a long straight road they are soo comfortable. sorry i have a bias if you cant tell. :-) please make more videos this was good

[@braapchop5925]

So true…..👊🏻

[@Paughco]

I've had my '50 Pan since 1962. It was stock when we bought it off this old guy, and I rode it to high school. Crashed it in '65. Got it running again in '59 Swing-arm frame. Now she's a bobber/chopper. Still with the handshift and suicide clutch (not the treadle - the clutch is made from a shifter off a '71 Superglide. Dentist mirror for a rear view. No apes. Just drag bars on 6" risers.

[@dougiequick1]

"no apes" ....well at least that part sounds great

[@rickswan6437]

How could you forget Rick Fairless from Dallas Texas? He has a bike shop/bar/restaurant that feels like you've gone back to a better time when owning a bike ment something. When you had to ride that bike, no matter what the weather was. Freezing cold, take your breath away heat, skin piercing rain, the good old days.

[@braapchop5925]

Are you in Dallas? If so, see you this weekend. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@GlennDuke-yc5ky]

If you are riding on two wheels you are a real biker. Ride safe and happy trails!

[@YepImThatGuy66]

About a month ago, some riders came into town and one of the guys was on a chopper, loved it.

[@hokogan]

Something I learned from one of the Cycle World podcasts was the chopper aesthetic came from drag racing bikes. I still don’t really care for choppers, but I can give them a little more respect now. 😂

[@truantray]

That makes no sense unless you drag a chopper backwards.

[@brandonszekeres3761]

Maybe you should take a look at old 50's gassers ​@@truantray

[@hokogan]

@@truantray They’re made to go straight over short distances and suspension doesn’t matter much. Hence the rake, the tiny tank, little to no suspension travel, etc. The apes and forward controls were stylistic choices, for sure.

[@RaymondMonasmith]

A proper nod to both John Harmon AND Harry Blake. I got to know Harry when we both lived in the Placerville area. I watched him bend up a springer front end out of 1in tubing totally by eye. "I've still got it" was his comment.

[@resin8n]

Enjoyed this vid. I've built and ridden a few choppers in the 70's & 80's. I enjoy all forms of motorcycling, though now I ride more comfortable bikes with suspension!

[@danewood2309]

Choppers are still very Popular in the UK and Europe, with variations over the years ...... inluding the 90's British Street Fighters which featured heavily alongside more traditional Choppers in Magasines such as "Back Street Heroes" and "A.W.O.L" (A Way Of Life) , and which also featured many of the N.C.C ( National Chopper Club) Bikes and other Club Bikes . and the black and white section where you mention the "stingray" , is a clip from the British Childrens show Blue Peter showing Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves riding the " Raleigh Chopper" Bicycles

[@telcobilly]

I caught that too. I lived in the US when the Schwinn Krate bikes came out in the 60s and then our family moved to South Africa where the Raleigh chopper bikes came out in the early 70s. Two different bikes, same idea.

[@basedury]

I'm in Denver and there are always a few choppers at bike night. Most of the ones I see are that 60s/70s style, which I love. Glad the fat tire chromed out 90s/2000s choppers are mostly gone.

[@mikemeier7228]

beatiful video man, when I was 16 I first came in contact with them and it's a slippery slope. I am 27 now and have built multiple bikes myself, just how the did it back then. The information is correct and I don't find anything wrong in the video. However, this is a personal guess, the long handlebars and sissybars along with the long forks in the 60s where not for show only. Like you said many vets adopted a life on the open road. The layed back position really shines when you want to ride for a long time. If you have a sissy bar and a backpack you can lean back without having to do any core muscle work. If you pair it with high pullback handle bars you really sit on those bikes like you would in a car. My long distance bike is an 80 inch shovel with a hardtail frame, 12 over springer, mid apes and a high sissy of course. I can tell you I can spend an eternity on that bike. Feet forwards are the natural succesor of the motorcycle. It can surpass any bike in terms of comfort and power. While power is definitely something that is desired, they pretty much maxed out comfort in the 60s with the choppers.

[@chrismoody1342]

Bart; you should really consider making a coffee table history of motorcycles book. Your writing is A number one IMO. Just package up all Your KZbin stuff and put it to paper. As far as the chopper esthetic, the Tuttle family along with Hollywood put a knife in and killed the chopper. I’m a lifetime motorcyclist starting clear back in 67’. As of today choppers leave a nasty taste in my mouth thanks to them. Well same goes for Harley Davidson motorcycles in general. They would be the last produce I’d ever spend money on. There’s just so many better motorcycles offered.

[@dougiequick1]

"put a knife in and killed the chopper" ....if so? LOL GOOD RIDANCE!

[@sportyonetaubert5923]

We all ride for personal and different reasons so I respect your opinion that there are better motorcycles than Harley's for you. But for me, I ride mainly to relax, so the slower reving big twin with its authentic look, feel, sound and laid back attitude keeps me riding. 😊

[@peterholthoffman]

Something I didn't hear mentioned in the video is that the original purpose of extending the forks was to try to get a little extra cornering clearance. Also, it sounded as if "four feet" was mentioned in how over stock the extending was? That would have been 48" which would be crazy. Probably it was 4" which was a typical mild amount. Not mentioned much in the video is the fact many choppers were built because someone had no money but wanted a bike. They would gather the parts from various sources and then assemble it themselves. As there was not a single source for parts, that created a sort of style in itself. You found a Panhead frame, but you had a Shovelhead motor and a Bonneville tank & headlight. No worries, that will get you on the road!

[@braapchop5925]

Well said my friend.

[@wilburross9709]

I agree! Originally that's what long forks were all about

[@yippeethreeeight]

I've always wanted a motorcycle, but it was never a high enough priority for me to actually get one. But, if I did get one, I'd want it to be a '70s style chopper. Not as radical as something like Captain America with the really high tank and super long forks. But a slightly milder version of that.

[@chrislaws4785]

I grew up watching American Chopper, and while i cant afford these expensive choppers, i WAS able to buy a Harley Sportster. It has the old school peanut tank, with the high back rest like you would see on a lot of the old choppers. Im also fixing to put some ape hangers on it, So i TRY and keep some of that old school styling on my bike.

[@hooniganruiz5613]

Im 27 and am obsessed with frisco style choppers... there really wasnt a fall in choppers there was a fall in creativity

[@nickchapman8474]

It's insane that no one else is saying that 97% of having a motorcycle is because it looked cool. That's why choppers exist. They look cool, and people like looking at cool things.

[@briandauphinais7894]

In 1969 when I was 10 years old, I saw a guy in my neighborhood on a chopper wearing a bandana and an army jacket. As he stopped at the stop sign in front of me, I took a mental snap-shot and knew... I would someday be a rider. Excellent video, thank you!

[@dirkdiggler5164]

Personal expression of a chopper: "I don't / can't ride this motorcycle more than 15 miles from my house, but you better say I'm a biker or I'll punch you in the face."

[@TheDesmoto]

You clearly have no clue. We ride em (not the glam choppers, genuine ones).

[@dirkdiggler5164]

@@TheDesmoto Yeah. You ride them. From bar to bar. 15 minutes at a time.

[@nonyabiz1209]

​​@@dirkdiggler5164How is that any different than owning a touring bike and a bobber? You taking your bobber on a week long road trip? Doubt it. Btw, I don't own 'a chopper'. I do have a 96 superglide I ride often '15 -30 mins at a time. Nice change up to a heavier tour bike.

[@dirkdiggler5164]

@@nonyabiz1209 Well, I don't own a Bobber, not that there's anything wrong with owning a Bobber. A Superglide , you think of that as a chopper? I don't think of a Superglide as a chopper. That's got proper front and back suspension, a huge seat, pretty standard handlebars. I'm talking about bikes like in the video. Those silly Easy Rider movie bikes, the OCC stuff and all that. Nobody really rides bikes like that for any distance. OK, maybe there was 1 guy who went to Sturgis on it in 1976, I get it.

[@frethand101]

For those of us who were building before American Choppers first aired, OCC was the portal that opened a floodgate that resulted in countless Posers entering into the Chopper scene.. 😂

[@SportingDrivesinColorado]

Thanks for putting this together!

[@jerryandnancywertzbaugher7778]

“Wouldn’t work right or be comfortable.” That pretty much sums up all choppers in my view. The added caveat, “but they look cool” doesn’t cut it for guys like me who love to ride motorcycles far and fast. Choppers seem to speak to non-riders or novices who think biking is about looks and not performance. It’s a wholly different culture. Not one I even notice, let alone care about.

[@Vanabond]

Big yikes. Total opposite of what you've just said.

[@mrballpython2105]

I agree

[@DouglasStudzinskideSouza]

I disagree. It's not about making things faster, more comfortable or easier. It's about doing the same things, including traveling in a cooler way that anyone wouldn't do.

[@Ramonatho]

I can't expect everyone to agree that sometimes it hurts to look good, but that's part of the appeal of cruisers just as much as it's part of the appeal of so many things people choose to do in life.

[@Geezer65]

but you don"t care enough to not be here commenting on the video??

[@stevemason5173]

I think choppers somewhere, somewhere along the line became a form of art. I have seen some really wild and goofy looking choppers that look like they would in no way be road worthy. I bought a 1958 Sporster back in 1975 that was chopped and raked a bit with a beautiful chromed springer front end and a high backed seat and chrome sissy bar. It was comfortable to the max to sit on and maybe even to sleep on, but to ride that thing on a 100 mile trip was a "TRIP". My back hurt for a month later and my hands had a slight viberating feeling and numb fingers for at least a week later from hanging on to the double "Z" handle bars and grips. It was a beautiful looking bike for sure, but I sold it and bought a Honda. Like going from a baja VW Beetle to a Cadillac...

[@Doc_89]

The problem with the OCC show or "commercialized" choppers, is the fact that they are too "clean". Like you mentioned, building a chopper becomes a self expression, so dirt & dust, oil & grease, and "questionable" design choices becomes beauty in itself.

[@8153max]

It was great to find out that 2 black men came up with that iconic chopper look and we’re responsible for the Captain America chopper ❤

[@John_shepard]

Also a shame they were not given credit. Pretty sad to find out about that

[@mattg432]

@@John_shepard Shame that you believe woke lies.

[@mattg432]

It was Fonda's idea to use the Stars&Stripes Captain America look, and it was painted by Dean Lanza. No black involved, paint or otherwise.

[@Yelwas]

I had a Big Dog Chopper factory mass production chopper, S&S engine, it was awesome, the detail was amazing. Now I ride a 2024 Sport Glide.

[@YerGoodBuddyKeith]

I adore choppers since i was a kid. Everyone tried talking me out of them but I'm glad i pushed on. It's a unique thing that i completely understand not being usable for everyone. I'm currently chopping a cn750 into a denver chopper inspired build, and I'm buying a magna v65 to build a high speed david mann inspired build

[@Madgardian]

Form and function is always a balancing act. Some go too far one way or the other, and that is a good thing. The motorcycle is a symbol for freedom after all. Your ride is as personal to you as you want it to be. As an owner of a 2018 Fatbob (my first HD) I can say that it doesn't handle as well as my former race bikes, but it doesn't have to. On a side note the "sit up and beg" sitting position on many choppers is the most comfortable ride position imho.

[@westcoast3595]

Well built chopper rides well. Orange County choppers from the show look like they ride like crap. Jesse built riders. Indian Larry built riders. Sugar Bear built riders.

[@ArmstrongArmory]

Right, I don't think it's fair to paint all choppers with the same brush n say, they "suck". Secondly, they will NEVER go away, just as soon as enough yuppies quit riding them, ill probably be back on one lol. But I've always been counter culture🤷🏻‍♂️

[@gabrielmalta1962]

They're never meant to be rode, just look good on TV. It's the equivalent of SEMA builds with bluetooth driveshafts.

[@mikeyg6631]

I'm up in Toronto Canada and we had a guy bring an actual OCC bike for his final road test and exam. The funny thing is is he brought it on the back of a trailer and he couldn't use it because the rear lights weren't visible enough for the instructor to see. This bike was huge and orange btw!

[@adamm1998]

One thing about ww2 and vietnam that isnt mentioned is that returning vets had extensive experience at repairing machines. These guys spent years fixing machinery to save their lives and those skills are seen on the street rides they drove

[@freedomformen2548]

The honda shadow 600 was amazing ❤

[@jonloder]

I got my '93 Shovel-head about 85% complete and then lost my working facility. It's been sitting in storage for the last 6 years. This vid may be the motivation I need to clean my garage and get to work! Thanks for posting.

[@buckybucky8596]

Who knew poor handling, unreliable, and very uncomfortable bikes aren't that desirable?

[@John_shepard]

Choppers will always still be relevant to a certain kind of people. The 2000’s they kinda became mainstream and every middle age boomer with more money than brains paid ridiculous amounts to fit in. Then they realized they weren’t about the chopper life. Those same people ended up on big wheel baggers and now onto “performance baggers”

[@G58]

The only chopper designer builder I respect (and the only one who is worthy of mention) is Russell Mitchell of Exile Cycles. He literally exemplifies the whole chopper ethos. First and foremost he’s an outsider who chose, and took his own path. His designs are original, and he doesn’t pander to the masses for acceptance. Those ridiculous OC things, and the vastly overpriced nonsense they churned out were impossible to take seriously. Nothing they did was even close to a rideable motorcycle. And only cretin with no taste whatsoever would even attempt to call it art. Just ludicrous. Just an embarrassing example of everything that’s wrong with modern so-called ‘culture’.

[@Wootangtw]

I really loved the 1970’s chopper’s.. that’s what got me always loving motorcycles…

[@KickstandOptional]

Sporty chops are coming back now that the Evo is dead.

[@dandersonjr]

My first exposure to Choppers was the Easy Rider movie when I was a kid and many of my friends would have someone weld multiple bicycle forks together to chop them out but I was never personally attracted to this look. To me the drawings and paintings of the time were more attractive than the actual machines.

[@gwwayner]

Trust me on this one; you would never want to ride a hard-tail chopper on the frost-heaved backroads around here, simply spine-crushing.

[@Stroke-it-2Handed]

I had a HD chopper in the late 90's. Never again. What an absolute waste of what could've been good, comfortable, enjoyable motorcycle time. 😂

[@browngreen933]

TRUTH. I built a '48 Panhead chopper in my dad's garage in 1971. I suffered through it for 3 seasons then put it back to stock. Luckily I saved all the original parts and didn't cut up the fork or frame. A stock Harley is a MILLION times better!

[@dougiequick1]

Glad you learned something at least! Best way to learn sometimes is doing it wrong...lol...As long as you survive it anyway! Like marrying the wrong the woman first? to learn what to look for in a woman afterwards? Again provided you SURVIVE such! lol...ask me how I know THAT lol

[@Highairboarder]

How ​@@dougiequick1

[@nikdrown]

I got an 03 softail standard with numbered paint set flames. Really not my style but good looking still. Had some blah bull horn bars and basic Harley seat that made your nuts part of your speedometer. Recently put a Drag Specialties seat and some Burley narrow 16” apes on it as homage to that old chopper vibe. Came out really cool and makes me like the bike paint look a lot more. Get compliments all the time when I’m out.

[@brucebenioff]

bart is child in a mans world.

[@braapchop5925]

Lol

[@darrenanderson4921]

When I was a kid, one of my friends ran my Yamaha Enduro 80 into a tree. My dad and my friend dad, turned the bent forks around. I had a chopper at the age of eight for the rest of the weekend! We put new forks on before we went out into the woods again. For a weekend, I was cool!

[@travezripley]

2000’s Choppers can be defined as… Too Much CNC Machining.

[@karlcritchley7373]

Chops have become less noticeable before. They never truly died...... The National Copper Club has been strong and proud since 1973.

[@cassiusdio6048]

I was pre teen in the 70s and my friend lived next door to a motorcycle club, his sister dated one of them, also had access to easy riders magazines, anyway I fell in love with choppers and will turn my 89 soft tail into one soon.

[@imstressed8388]

I just built an 06 Sporter. Frisco style and you had me sweating at first 😅 I did drop a ton of weight when I chopped it. Got rid of all the unnecessary shit. Now I rip. It's super sketchy cause I lose random bolts every week but that's what it's all about. Sketchy choppers

[@maxheadflow]

While choppers and bobbers can be a bike for the individual. What really killed it off was the EPA is that shops could no longer build a custom bike for a customer without ever meeting more stringent requirements. HD (and others) also did a good by being able to build bike that satisfied the EPA.

[@alexandrecerqueira3023]

I have 50 years old and have a customized chopper, like the 21:17 . Very confortable, and dont give the pain in my back when i ride about two hours long, like the 20:02 or the 20:08 (sport) style. In my age, a sport is out of my reach. It's not about look only.

[@stevemolina8801]

In June in Orange County Southern California is an event called Born Free. Nothing but old bikes from everywhere It is really Bitchen!

[@posteroonie]

I have always liked looking at choppers and have never wanted to sit on one, much less ride it. Style is for looking at, and function is for using. A front end made for washing out in turns takes away the fun of speed. But yes they can look cool. One chopper sub-category you missed is the rat bike, maybe my favorite with its Mad Max vibe.

[@jimkraft9445]

Great video. Been riding since I was 8 years old in 1947. Started on a Whizzer motor bike. When I was 14, I got my first Harley, a 1942 "45" Flat head. I am now 83 years old and ride a 99 Harley Softail Custom. I rode an 84 Iron Head Sportster for 23 years. As long as guys love building their own bikes from parts there will always be choppers and bobbers. They are a part of the American landscape. To say they are unrideable is ridiculous. Guys ride them across country. My 42 was a hard tail. No rear suspension. Springs in the seat.

[@jala6707]

Thanks for another great video, Bart!! Fascinating stuff. And as a Guzzi owner myself, I was happy to spot a Moto Guzzi Stelvio at 16:28 as more or less the only non-chopper in this video! 🙂

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

Great video Bart, I've loved choppers since the 70's.

[@BusterKitten]

as a Harley rider since 1971 and racing motorcycles since the late 60s, I've learned a few things about motorcycle history. I must say, this video is pretty good at accurately (for the most part) conveying what most of us old farts grew up with. Appreciate your acknowledgement of Ben Hardy and Cliff Vaughs. Not many people today know about these two artists. P.S. and you're right, choppers aren't bought, they're built.