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Are choppers everyday riders?

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#41 · (Edited)
NO, a real home built chopper is not a good commuter bike. Iron Horse Choppers, Big Dog Choppers, etc are not choppers! Those are just another factory bike that would make a decent commuter bike. I have built a few bikes and tried to commute on them. They're fine for a while, but the boss can only take so much of "my bike broke down stories" Stuff rattles loose and falls off on a ridged chopper, I dont care how much lock tight and re-checking of bolts you do.

Dont get me wrong, Ive rode thousands of miles on a chopper and not had many problems with em. But when it comes to makin money dont count on your 58 Panhead to get you to work on time every day.
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#42 ·
TheExtreme said:
Some may be more comfortable, but nothing feels as good riding as a custom.
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dude....no doubt....im 38 yrs old. and just picked up a killer...I mean "killer" deal on a rigid chopper that I just couldnt pass up. My buddies always told me "dude, you dont want a rigid chopper, it will beat you to death"....bull crap. I freakin' love this thing! Yeah, if it had no seat it would suck but its got conventional front forks*(suspension) and a nice padded seat that looks great and I just smile bigger when I hit bumps in the road. Makes me feel that much more connected to the road- its an experience ....If im going to take a long trip somewhere...I take my truck. I just refuse to pay big bucks for a bike that gets lost in a parking lot! :) buy a custom if its comparable to the price of a stocker or cheaper like in my case-
 
#43 ·
I prefer the style and ride of my 2006 chrome framed texas chopper, mind you I've owed a couple, this last one I built over the 2009/10 winter using parts from the defunkt IRONHORSE close out as well as a Baker tranny and chrome Demon 114 power plant. I've owned probably 50 or so bikes, including a couple Honda Runes and a T-Rex, Harleys, ect, ect. The ride on my Texas is awesome, rides straight and true. Had er up to licence loosing 170MPH without a hint of a wobble this summer, still wanted to go, too spooky for me.
 
#45 ·
While everyday riding of a "chopper" can, has and is being done, it wouldn't be my preference. Comfort would be one issue for me, the other would be handling. While I agree with comments from others regarding proper design and set up having a lot to do with good handling, I'm not convinced that you can set them up to handle as well as 'touring' or 'cruising' setups. On the ride home from AR this summer we came up I-79 through the mountains of WV, running anywhere from 80 to 90 mph. Not sure I'd want to try that on a big azzed rear tired, stretched out chopper; even if it was a softail.
 
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#49 ·
that depends on what you consider a chopper. I personally do not consider the "Factory Choppers" real choppers. To me, its NOT a chopper if ya didnt chop it!

No offence to the guys rollin the BIG DOGS or American Ironhorse Texas Chopper.

I ride a 58 Pan and would not reccomend it as a daily rider. you can, but you better be prepared for some road side repairs a couple times a month.
 
#50 ·
Ratz inc. said:
QUOTE:IMO, its usaully not the type of bike that stops someone from riding, its the person himself finding reasons not to ride.

X6
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X7, it isn't the bike it's the rider that determines the frequency of use. Case in point, I am installing an SE 120R in a bike I will ride almost daily. Do hot rods have quirks, you bet they do but I bought and built my bikes to ride not to look at.
 
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#51 ·
I ride my Shovel everyday I can. Original Shovel, too, not S&S. My frame is set up pretty sweet, 34* rake, 6 up 3 out with 6 over front and is damn comfortable. I have 10" apes and it all fits my 5'11" frame real good, but then again I built it to fit me. I ride in any weather except ice and snow, whether its hot or cold out. Doesnt matter. Set up is the most important things. I am more comfortable on my sled than I am on my Cousin's '08 Wide Glide. Ive riddent all kinds, but I feel most comfortable on my jockey shiftin, leakin old chopper
 
#52 · (Edited)
berserker said:
Can you even find a 10 a year old chopper with 20k miles on it?
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09 XBones said:
@gree:mad:gree:mad:gree:

Choppers = eye candy.

LOOKY MEEEEEEEE!
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May be true to an extent. I'm not at ten years old or 20k miles however, I see 2-5 year old V-Twins for sale all the time with very low mileage 1k-3k miles. When I had my Wide Glide I bought it to ride it. In the three years I had logged 15k miles. I ride my bikes...
The chopper will come out every chance I get. 2 yrs old (two short ridin seasons) 10,587 miles...Long distance no problems.

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#53 ·
I've put 1000 miles on my ultra groundpounder in 2 weeks! 10 over front end with 40 deg. rake. 113 S&S. I have never ridden another street bike cept a buddies sporty and that didnt impress me much. and yeah i got stuff fallin off and comin loose and leakin but i was raised around bikes so i just always assumed it was gonna be that way! its a way to get to know your bike if you didnt build it yourself and form a bond with it. jmo
 
#54 ·
I have a 04 Bourget chopper that I ride everyday in the summer. I bought it 2 yrs. ago with 4063 mls. and it now has 9000 mls. I also ride a 95 Harley dyna when riding with the wife. The chop is not a great 2 up bike. Can be done, but not fun.
 
#55 ·
Fredly said:
I guess there has always been this grey line drawn in my mind between riding your chopper everyday and riding it casually. I'm interested in your opinions. Would you ride your custom built chopper as much as say a manufactured Harley? What are your thoughts?

I know if I buy a new bike I am going to want to ride it as much as I want, which will more than likely be everyday. I like the looks of choppers and would love to be riding that, way more than a cookie cutter Harley. (Nothing against Harleys, I love em all the same)
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No offense but if you have to ask,then probably not.
 
#57 ·
I'm going to daily drive my Chopper...

I've got a newer model Chevy Silverado Crew Cab truck and as much as I love the comfort and feel of my truck, the gas is KILLING me. Now I have the BEST reason to ride daily. I am building my Chopper right now, and I will have a 330 soft tail WITH a springer seat. I will make sure that beast rides like a Caddy, yet have the style of society's reject child. You only live once, and if you have life changing events happening like I do, you would ride as much as you can. I should have been riding years ago, but the damned thing called "a responsible life" made sure I didn't have time for riding. Now the rules for me have changed, and it's time to release the beast...

"Live Free Ride Free"
@gree:
 
#58 ·
Boogey_Man said:
I've got a newer model Chevy Silverado Crew Cab truck and as much as I love the comfort and feel of my truck, the gas is KILLING me. Now I have the BEST reason to ride daily.
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THE main reason I just bought my bike....I've got a GMC Sierra that drinks gas like a Big Gulp !

Good luck with the build :cheers:
 
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