Xtremetexaschoppers Articles

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Custom Built Chopper Motorcycle

Choppers are a type of motorcycles that have been popular right from the middle of the 20th Century. They are liked mainly because of their sleek look and the speeds that they handle. The first choppers came into being after World War II veterans returned from war and did not like the regular motorcycles available at that time. They wanted to build custom built machines according to their tastes.

Choppers are so called because all the bulkier parts are chopped to make a different machine according to individual tastes. The factory vehicles which are mass produced in bulk quantity all look alike. The choppers are custom built or redesigned to make each machine different. The main part of the motorcycle- the engine – is kept as it is. All the other parts are attached and welded together to make it look sleeker.

The chopper bikes are very stylish or very unusual in design. The engine and the frame are unique. The early 1900’s and 2000’s saw the custom made bikes become a sign of fashion. Orange County Choppers, Jesse James’ West Coast Choppers, Ian Barry’s Falcon Motorcycles were all companies which made custom built bikes. Many companies have thus come up with custom made bikes. Even then, many feel that custom built choppers means that they should be built according to individual specifications in a garage. This makes a person feel that the chopper has been created for that person and feels it is his own design. In the 1970’s such bikes were very popular and Jan Bachelda built the Triumph Choppers in his company JBIKEZ.

There are many things that are changed or welded in a custom made chopper. Generally, the engine is the only thing that remains the same. The ugly looking and the unnecessary parts are all dispensed with. The turn indicators, fenders and the front brakes are done away with. The large suspended saddles, the footboards, the fuel tank, the front tires and the headlights that are thought to be too big and bulky are removed and replaced by smaller versions. This makes the machine sleeker, faster, more macho and elegant. The custom made choppers have high handle bars and raked front forks. The backseat for the passenger is much higher than the driver’s seat. The main features of a chopper are the push rod v-twin engine, the rigid frame and the big back tires. The things that are changed have to be welded to the main frame and made into the individualized, custom chopper. This needs the expertise of an experienced motorcycle designer who can redesign the original motorcycle into a customized chopper.

The chopper is built according to the individual’s requirements. The motorcycle designer asks the buyer how far and how long he will travel on the bike. He will also want to know if the machine has to be short, tall or long. The measurements of the buyer will be taken so that the frame and the handle bar fits well. A choice is given as to what the buyer wants changed. The wheels, the grips and pegs, controls and mirrors can be changed. The paint used is generally black or metallic colors. Some people go in for different kinds of painting which can be theme, graphic, flame or mural.

Nowadays Harley-Davidson and Honda add the word ‘Custom’ to their bikes. If the word custom is in capital letters then these bikes are a model that has been produced in bulk quantity and they are not the original custom made bikes. These days many companies like the American Iron Horse, Big Dog, Bourget and BMC build custom made bikes. These bikes also meet the safety standards by the D.O.T. These bikes are ‘factory customs’ that are made in the factories. They also allow the buyer to personalize his bike. There are various types of paints, engine sizes and accessories that one can choose from. The buyer also has the advantage of availing of the benefits of buying from a manufacturer such as finance and warranty options and the support of the manufacturer.

Thus, the buyer might not have all the advantages of a custom built chopper, but he has the best of both the options - custom made bike with the factory support and warranty, which will not be available in a custom made bike.

The custom built motorcycle is a reflection of a person’s individuality. The elegance of the machine and the speeds that it can be driven at makes the owner go for this type of motorbike.

All about American ironhorse Texas chopper bike

American IronHorse Motorcycles, Fort Worth, Texas is one if the forerunners among some many elite motorcycle companies. During 2005 the company manufacturing high-performance, luxury custom choppers and cruisers celebrated its 10th year in business. Over the past few years, the company has positioned itself in an enviable position in the motorcycle industry. While IronHorse's focus is on the future, it has certainly not forgotten its humble roots, its employees who have substantially contributed to its growth and, most importantly, all of its customers, way back to the very first one.

One can recall the press conference held by American IronHorse at their headquarters in Fort Worth for launch for their 2007 models. At that time, the heavily reconfigured Slammer was unveiled to the public. It was a radical design change from all previous Slammers. So much so that it left competitors experiencing a shiver down their spines to agitatedly rethink their own strategies. Now, the company has again created history as their 2008 Texas Chopper is simply matchless and much superior to all earlier versions.

Last year, during the 2007 V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati, American IronHorse introduced their Rally Series with three new models - the Bandera, the Classic Chop and the Judge. At that time, their existing six high-end models were also still listed. The company felt nine models would prove to be too many, in the crowded American motorcycle market. For 2008, the Rally Series has been retained along with the Texas Chopper and the Slammer. This breeding program has resulted is the finest Texas Chopper ever to roll out from the manufacturer.

The company is contemplating some changes in the new Texas Chopper bike and the two most significant ones being the frame and gas tank. The frame is an elegant work of art with a low profile drop-seat design that cradles the rider in the bike instead of aboard it, with a scant 22" of seat height. On this bike, any rider can sit flat-footed with his knees bent. A massive single down tube of 2" diameter is featured with a slight curve that adds to the grace and style and allows ample display of the motor. For the 2008 bike, the designers have eliminated one of the highly recognizable Texas Chopper components and replaced their signature stretched tank with what they claim as SS-2 Chopper Tank. This attractive tank is deceptively small in size but astonishingly holds five gallons of petrol. While the front end has kept much of its original design, the rear section has received a major face-lift with a 300mm tire replacing last year’s 280 and a new LW-1 Stealth swing arm that has been further extended by 2" to provide clearance for the rubber and to facilitate more comfortable handling.

This 2008 Texas Chopper having a lowered seating position, the extra large rear rubber and the extra splash of artwork definitely makes the bike conspicuous in any crowd and arrests the attention of both the rider and non-rider alike. The ends of the grips, footpegs, and shifter peg and brake pedal are capped with identical chrome finials. The new drop-frame design places the rider’s butt on a plane equal with the top edge and the V-shaped drag bars come in just below shoulder height. The placement of the pegs and forward controls is within a comfortable reach with shifting and braking easily accomplished. The seating position is so well executed that most riders will have no problem adjusting to the skills required to break.

The new drop-frame design places the rider’s butt on a plane equal with the top edge and the V-shaped drag bars come in just below shoulder height. The placement of the pegs and forward controls is within a comfortable reach with shifting and braking easily accomplished. The seating position is so well executed that most riders will have no problem adjusting to the skills required to break. With years of experience behind them, American IronHorse has figured out how to remain a viable player during the country’s recent economic downturn without compromising on quality, research activity and innovation.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Choppers are a type of motorbikes. They came into being after World War II. The servicemen who returned after the war were used to sleek, fast bikes. They wanted to change the Harley-Davidson motorbikes that were popular then into fast bikes. So, they changed the various parts that they thought unnecessary and built custom made bikes which came to be known as choppers. They are called choppers because they made changes to the factory frame of the motorbikes and they chopped off some parts and restyled them to make these bikes.

The wholesale motorbikes such as the Harley-Davidson were converted into choppers. Many of the parts were changed. Anything that made the bike heavy and big and was not functionally useful was removed. The fenders, the turn indicators and even the front brakes were removed. To sit as low as possible on the motorbike, the large suspended saddles were removed. Large footboards were replaced by forwards mounted foot pegs. The front tires, the fuel tank and the headlights in the original bikes were large. These were replaced by smaller versions. The choppers were either painted black or in shiny metallic colors. The handle bars were high, and had raked front forks. The exhaust pipes were custom built. The passenger sat on a vertical backrest that was much higher than the rider's head.

So, people who preferred choppers considered many things unnecessary in the regular motorbikes. These things were changed or custom built to suit individual tastes. This made the choppers fast and sleek, because of the lesser weight and low position of the seats. Designing the rake and trail of a chopper is quite a task and needs a motorcycle designer to do so, who can make the necessary changes. The chopper needs to be stable at high speeds. The main reason is due to the raked front end, which makes people travel at high speeds.

Another option to consider in choppers is the raked trees. The design of the raked tree is such that the lower tree sticks out more than the upper tree. This increases the rake of the forks when seen in relation to the steering head rake. Due to this the position of the axle is closer to the frame rake measurement line, and the trail is shortened. If the frame of a bike already has a short rake and trail then adding raked trees will shorten the already short trail measurement. This will make the chopper unstable at high speeds. So, a lot of research must be done and care should be taken when adding raked trees.

To the general frame of the wholesale motorbike, the choppers make changes to make is personalized. The general things that are common to choppers are the big rear tires, a rigid frame and push rod v-twin engine.

Choppers have been in vogue since the World War II. The main attraction is the high speeds that choppers can handle. Although they have undergone a lot of changes and people consider changing many things to make the chopper personalized, it is still a favorite with many people. This also looks sleek. The main point to consider is that the changes should be made by a person having knowledge about motorbike design and care should be taken that it is done properly. Then, the wholesale motorbike will be a redesigned chopper.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

As we are all aware motorcycles have been in vogue for a long time and men have always enjoyed the excitement of riding heavy chopper motorbikes which are rugged and tough. Choppers are a type of motorcycle that became popular immediately after the end of the Second World War. Soldiers who fought in the Second World War were used to light motorcycles made in Britain and when these soldiers returned home they were not happy with the big heavy types of motorcycle. They wanted something different and removed certain parts that appeared heavy and made the riding tough. Fenders, front brakes, windshields and turn indicators were removed. The saddle was was also made smaller. This made the motorcycle lighter, faster and more maneuverable. These choppers have now bwcome popular and are now being made by big companies also.

Choppers are now widely manufactured and used the world over. These choppers are not restricted to be used only by the big, burly, hefty guys but by anyone who loves these types of bikes. Since choppers are manufactured the world over, all types of people, big and small, use these custom made choppers. Although the ride is certainly risky, the high speeds definitely thrill the chopper riders who love their choppers. Anyone interested in riding the chopper can do so by buying a stock custom motorcycle off the showroom floor or having one of the many custom motorcycle builders make you a one of a kind chopper from scratch.

There are a few buying tips for your very own custom motorbike chopper. Be clear in your mind never to compromise on the features you want in your chopper. You should follow what you think is right and not let any sales person misguide you. There are a lot of custom motorcycle and chopper makers in the market. OCC and West Coast Choppers are some of the big well-known names, but mom-and-pop custom motorcycle of Nowhere, Georgia can still give you that same excitement and thrill at a more affordable price.

The riding features of a chopper are important. You should always experience a little discomfort while riding but the vehicle should be safe otherwise. There is no need for any concern as OCC or mom-and-pop bikes are veteran manufacturers and know what they are doing when putting your bike together safely. If you ever fell unsafe about the bike, or consider your riding skills inadequate, then you should try to pull over or stop and regain confidence. Motorcycle and choppers can be dangerous, but you should acquire the necessary riding skills if you want to be a proud chopper owner.

If you wanted to buy a chopper barely a decade ago, you had to build yourself one. You needed your own well-stocked garage and the professional expertise on everything from welding to fabrication, or you had to contract the job out to some local mechanic who would try to get to help you do it. It is estimated that more custom motorcycles are being sold now and there are countless manufacturers competing to offer you a variety of choppers of different styles and at different prices. Don't be fooled into thinking that build your own chopper from a kit and it is an easy day's work. It is said that 40% of custom chopper kits purchased by aspiring builders never saw the road and these kits are now in the back of some garage rusting away. Buy a copy of the 2007 Factory Chopper Buyer's Guide that concentrates on a selection of choppers from some of the major custom motorcycle manufacturers. There's usually a fair amount of hard bargaining involved in buying a custom motorcycle from a local dealer and the discounts can be substantial if you know how to bargain. The custom factories offer you choppers in a wide range of colors and usually give you a bevy of choices of seats, handlebars, exhaust systems, etc. You can certainly get your ideal chopper and riding exactly how you wanted to.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Before you venture to ride a chopper bike, you need to learn how to operate a chopper bike safely and responsibly. You should not take your bike out until you are familiar what to do if you run into trouble. Please study carefully the booklet that that is given to you when you buy the chopper bike. The book contains valuable information how to operate the chopper. You will also find helpful information on battery maintenance, air pressure for the tires, and as well other important information. If not, visit the manufacturer’s website to ascertain what kinds of guidelines are provided there for chopper bike owners.

Never attempt carrying a second or third person on the bike, since the motor is not sturdy enough to handle this kind of load. This type of misadventure may cause the driver to lose control and almost certainly lead to an accident.

Make sure to use all driver safety tools, like a helmet, for instance, when you drive on public roads. Ride only on that part of the road or path, which you are supposed to, and scrupulously stay away from the areas, which are actually prohibited for bikes use. Avoid all acrobatics and other heroic tricks like riding without hands to merely win the admiration of onlookers. Make sure your bike is in road worthy condition when you take it out in public.

It is basic human psychology that most people resent being told what they should do. Well, as you might expect, many bikers dislike the helmet laws and their enforcement. Helmets might be somewhat uncomfortable to wear but the government is not wrong when insisting on riders to wear the helmets. Please understand that this is less uncomfortable than skidding and knocking your head on the pavement. You should be wearing a jacket, pants and boots along with your helmet since your head is certainly not the only part that will hurt if you fall off the bike.

You must however buy a jacket that fits well since is important for a comfortable ride and it works hand in hand with safety. If you cannot freely move your hands and elbows, you will not be able to effectively control your bike. You should have no problem finding a style you will find comfortable as there are many types and designs available in the market. The old-fashioned, basic, black leather motorcycle boot with rubber soles are definitely an option. Motorcycle boots have to be compulsorily worn unless you do not care for the safety of your feet and ankles.

The list of safety tools contains the basic protective gear and a host of other items that will allow you to enjoy a ride that will be safer and more comfortable. Get a trip computer or a Dick Tracy-style watch or handlebar attachment, saddlebags for carrying stuff, repair kits etc.

Many of us wonder how the chopper bicycles was first conceived and who designed it. The story goes that Raleigh's chief designer Alan Oakley sketched the first Raleigh Chopper on the reverse side of a used envelope while on his return flight from the west coast of America. His original Chopper design made it less stable than a conventional bike design and was lot trickier to ride. It was slow and heavy and not meant for long distance riding. It had a long seat for giving lifts to others and this made the vehicle more accident-prone. The chopper bikes have to be built according to a set of rules. They should be roadworthy and should be such that they are not too heavy but strong and sturdy enough for riding on roads. In the United States the custom made choppers are given license to be used on the highway. Not many countries give them this license.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

There are books to learn motorcycle riding available free at any DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), Driver Registry and other government offices in charge of issuing licenses. The book is not only meant to help you pass your written/computer motorcycle test for obtaining your learners license, but it will also enable you learn the basics of motorcycle safety, motor cycle riding and the vehicle’s control devices.

Licensing varies from one state to another even within the country. Within Canada and the USA you need to first obtain a learner's permit before you can undertake the motorcycle safety foundation course or even ride a bike on the road. Please note that riding a motorcycle without a valid license is both unlawful and risky. Before you consider buying or riding a motorbike, you must gain necessary expertise to save your life, to extend your motorcycling career, to make motorcycling more pleasant and enjoyable. Never consider riding a motorbike without undergoing the training course.

Start off by wearing the right outfit consisting of all safety devices you can afford. They are steel-toed construction boots, helmet, jeans and a leather motorcycle jacket and gloves. It is all designed to save your life and lessen the severity of damage you may have to sustain. It is everybody’s knowledge that all things will not be in your favor during your first year of riding. You will probably fall down a couple of times and so it is advisable to wear something that will protect you. The majority of us get nervous and scared when things go out of our control but you have to get back up on the bike even if it is just to get rid of the fear never to ride again.

Depending on the area you reside in, you will have the opportunity to upgrade your learner’s license. In some areas you may have to go though graduated licensing and in other areas, you get your full license straightaway. If you are not required to go though graduated licensing, it is still desirable that you self-impose a graduated licensing system and qualify. Restrict yourself to a engine size category like anything below 500cc or consider no fellow passenger policy for your first year. By adopting these self-imposed restrictions, you will learn at a pace that is right and perfect for you. It is understood that in some places in Europe, you are not allowed by law to carry a passenger, but you are by law restricted to ride only bikes under 125cc and 30hp.

After obtaining your license, you well have to proceed getting in place all things required by law. These things are crucial steps for getting you and your bike on the road and you will want insurance – in most cases it is mandatory - to protect you and your bike from harm.

Liability insurance, also known as Third Party Insurance, means coverage for you if someone else is injured or killed. It also provides coverage if their property is damaged as a result of an automobile accident. If you are uninsured, you will be charged with driving without insurance, and you may be fined. You may also have your driver's license suspended until you have made satisfactory arrangements to repay the liability amount. Collision coverage protects your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident. This coverage is optional as at times, strangely the cost of insuring some older vehicles could be higher than the value of the vehicle itself. Comprehensive Motorcycle coverage protects your vehicle against loss or damage other than the collision coverage. This would include falling or flying objects, missiles, vandalism and theft.

After obtaining insurance cover you have to get your motorcycle a license plate and an insurance sticker. Usually getting your license plate is a government procedure that you do in person since they have lots of questions to ask you before they give you one. If you do not know where to get your license plate in your area, ask your insurance company and they will be happy to let you know.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Chopper bikes are the latest in the biking trend. This of course interests people of all age groups. In the biker's world, chopper bikes are growing in motor cycle market today. The chopper bikes are the bikes for which bike riders are pretty crazy about. Teenagers are in love with chopper bikes. Most of the people think it is pretty cool and secure. Always wear a helmet and safety pads when you ride to have a cool and safe experience.

Red Chopper Bike

Quality Chopper Bikes are available with 100% secure ordering and Money back guarantee. Red Chopper bikes are available for a price you quote. The Cool Geek series chopper bikes are on the show and are extraordinary. The chopper bike 'The American Chopper bikes' feature a generous number of chrome-plated pieces, a steerable front fork, and motion wheels. They give a pictureof highly unique and recognizable custom chopper bikes. The West Coast Chopper bikes are highly popular.

Amazing Choppers Bike

Mini choppers are the popular chopper bikes which attracts more popularity and craze among the young bikers. Affordability is an advantage of the mini chopper bikes. The Soft Tail Mini chopper bike is the scooter everyone wants! Modeled after the highly popular West Coast Chopper, this mini Chopper has been one of the most popular models on the market especially designed for younger age riders. With a big 49cc engine, full suspension, and a splendid design this will be the ultimate Mini Chopper for the little biker!

This bike features chain driven, over sized frame and a single rear wheel for extra balance, directional signals, large headlights with high and low beams, taillights, real gas tank, triple illuminated gauges, alloy wheels, rubber inflated tires, triple padded leather upholstered seat, flame kit, key start and much more custom ideas. This serves as a perfect gift for the kids. With mini chopper bikes you can get ready for the family fun with its cool and secure features. The new Schwinn Girl's Sting-Ray chopper bikes are cool for the youngest fans. Custom designed chopper-style training wheels are cool for a ride.

An adjustable flat-back saddle with built-in sissy bar gives a comfortable ride. The Girls Schwinn StingRay Chopper features stretched chopper frame, gas tank gusset detail, chopper-style training wheels, adjustable flat-back saddle, coaster brakes, junior-size Big Boa Drag Tire, low-rider drag bars, signature sting-ray chain guard, snake eyes valve caps, clear coated Schwinn flame decals with machined aluminum head badge and Schwinn lifetime guarantee.

You can see how to make a cool chopper/low-rider bike in specified sites. These sites instruct on how to build a chopper bike on a budget. Custom designed chopper bikes are stylish and keep the cool idea running throughout the bike. Custom designed chopper bikes are made by recycling as many parts as possible, and using some scrap materials. You can convert any type of old bikes to chopper bikes that are a bit out of the ordinary bikes. A custom made chopper bike is unique by all means. Motorcycle owners are usually passionate about how to customize their bikes to suit their own thoughts, requirement, style and taste. Everyone has different options in customizing their bikes. There is no specific rule about making your customizing idea into reality. You just customize as you prefer and enjoy a cool and secure ride.

Xtreme Texas Choppers