There are many motorcycle styles these days, and we all have our own individual tastes of what we prefer. One of the questions I hear most often is what’s the difference between a chopper and a stock motorcycle.
Choppers are customized hand-made original motorcycles, whereby regular motorcycles are mass-produced in factories. The engine, transmission, and other regular motorcycle parts are removed, cut, welded, or replaced with third-party components to produce a chopper. The name chopper is derived from this process of chopping-up the regular motorcycle.
There is more to a chopper than meets the eye so let’s take a further look at choppers.
Choppers have been around for many decades now, and we have seen many styles of the chopper in films, on television, and at motorcycle rallies and shows.
How To Choose An Engine For Your Chopper. A Helpful Guide.
Whether you are thinking of building a chopper from scratch or you are going to convert a regular motorcycle to a chopper, you will need to figure out how you are going to choose which engine to use for your bike.
This is also one of the differences between a motorcycle and a chopper. With a regular motorcycle, the engine has been designed by a team of designers and installed at the factory for the frame the motorcycle comes with. In contrast, when building a chopper, you are free to choose which engine you want to install into the frame.
So, how do you choose an engine for your chopper?
There are three ways you can choose an engine for your chopper build:
- Purchase a motorcycle with a good running engine to use
- Purchase a brand new engine from a reputable supplier
- Purchase a custom chopper motorcycle kit
The first way could be to purchase a motorcycle that already has a good running engine, or you use a motorcycle that you already own and know the history of the engine. You will be able to clean it up, add some aftermarket accessories, get it fully serviced, and engine-wise you will be good to go!
This is one of the most common ways for people just starting to get into building their own choppers.
When Building Your Own Chopper, There Will Definitely Be A Learning Curve But Also great Fun To Be Had As Well.
The second could be to purchase a brand new engine for your chopper build from a good reputable supplier. This way, you would also be able to choose the size of the engine you wish to use. For example, you could choose to install an 80 or 110 cubic inch engine into the frame, or bigger.
You would be able to add aftermarket accessories or change parts like the air filter to one that suits the look you want to achieve, and these engines will not cost as much as purchasing a name branded engine.
Another benefit of purchasing an engine in this way from a reputable dealer is that it will also come with a warranty.
However, getting an engine this way could cost a lot more than buying a motorcycle with an engine that is in good condition and re-building it.
The third way to acquire the engine for your custom chopper build would be to purchase a chopper kit, which would include all the parts you require to build the engine for your project.
These also come with brand new engines, but with the added benefit that they are already designed to fit the frame and the other components required to build an excellently designed chopper.
Purchasing a motorcycle chopper kit is a great way to be able to build your chopper in good time. For people who may be new to building choppers, you will be able to follow the instructions and learn as you go.
Don’t think it will be easy as there will definitely be a learning curve, but you should also get a lot of satisfaction during and after the build is finished.
What Are The Different Types Of Handlebars For A Chopper?
You have decided to build yourself a custom chopper and are at the design stage of the build. Once again, this is the difference from a regular motorcycle. You can now decide which type of handlebars you want to install on your custom made chopper. If purchasing a regular motorcycle, you would have no choice but go with the original factory-built handlebars.
So, what are the different types of handlebars used for choppers?
- Ape Hangers
- T-Bars/H-Bars
- Touring/Dresser Bars
- Z-Bars
- Drag Bars
- Beach Bars
- Custom Made Bars
Ape Hangers
These handlebars have built-in risers that allow them to be bolted straight into the triple trees instead of using a clamp to secure them. These bars can vary in design, such as their shape and thickness, but all share common features in how they mount.
T-Bars / H-Bars
These handlebars have built-in risers that allow them to be bolted straight into the triple trees instead of using a clamp to secure them. These bars can vary in design, such as their shape and thickness, but all share common features in how they mount.
Touring / Dresser Bars
Touring or Dresser handlebars are quite easy to distinguish as they are usually much larger than most of the other handlebars. They are wider at the base to contain the shape and size of the fairing. It’s is common for these handlebars to have a rise height between 12″ and 20″.
Z – Bars
Z-Bars look as the name suggests. Looking straight on at them, they look like two z’s place back to back, with 90-degree angle bends at the bar’s base and peak. They also come in a range of styles and different rise heights.
Drag Bars
These commonly have no riser height and can vary in style and pullback. The pullback on these types of handlebars usually varies from moderate to mildly aggressive, which still allows for a comfortable riding position.
Beach Bars
The unique thing about these handlebars is that they have no rise height but have a long sweeping wide pullback to their style. These bars offer a very relaxed and laid-back riding position.
Stock Bars can be purchased off the shelf and have a slight variation in overall width, pullback, and riser height. The bars and styles will vary based on the required measurements, so it is important to understand how to correctly measure your bars.
Should Chopper Handlebars Be Knurled Or Smooth?
When handlebars are fitted to the chopper, the bars have to attach securely. There are two options for this. The first is to use a knurled bar, which will provide extra grip in the clamps so the bars will not slip around or rotate whilst riding.
If you are using any heavy handlebars or tall handlebars such as App Handlebars, it’s a good idea to fit handlebars with knurling for added stability.
Smooth handlebars will not have the extra texture added, so by making sure they are well clamped down and the handlebars are not too high or heavy, you should not have any concerns about them slipping.
You should also be aware that a choppers handlebar shape and grip position, or any motorcycle handlebars in this respect, will play a vital role in determining your riding position of a motorcycle and be given careful consideration.
As well as adding to the character and visual appeal of the motorcycle it will also define the comfort, the way it corners and the amount of effort required to ride the motorcycle. There are many types of handlebars available to choose from, so choose wisely.
